OEM 15 x 6 Steelies & 215/80R15 Combo

[Vtx531]

My only light of hope is that these wheels were offered stock on our TJ, so why they should have any negative impact on suspension, sorry my knowledge in this area is almost nonexistent 😀.

Those wheels were only offered with 205-75-15 tires. The offset on those wheels is designed for that specific tire height. If you went up to factory 225-75-15 tire, those would come with different wheels with a little less offset, to keep the steering geometry in spec. Then if you went up to 30-9.50-15, those came with yet a different set of wheel and a little less offset than the other ones. Rubicon came out and same thing, taller tires, they had to spec new wheels with less offset.

So, yes they did come from factory but they came from factory with 27" tall wheels. If you run 27" tall tires on those wheels, you will be golden. If you run a taller tire with those wheels, the steering geometry will not be optimal - maybe you will be able to notice, maybe not. Can't say for sure. The taller the tire, the less offset you need to maintain the optimal steering geometry.

Here is a photo I screenshot that shows an example. If you draw a line (red) through the upper and lower ball joints, that is your steering pivot axis. Now look where the center of the tire contact patch is on the road (blue arrow). Imagine the force it applies to the steering when you hit a bump with all that leverage acting on the steering angle. You situation of trying to run those 15x6 stock rims would be similar but opposite...tires tucked too far inside the steering axis.

 

[AutoCrat]

Those wheels were only offered with 205-75-15 tires. The offset on those wheels is designed for that specific tire height. If you went up to factory 225-75-15 tire, those would come with different wheels with a little less offset, to keep the steering geometry in spec. Then if you went up to 30-9.50-15, those came with yet a different set of wheel and a little less offset than the other ones. Rubicon came out and same thing, taller tires, they had to spec new wheels with less offset.

So, yes they did come from factory but they came from factory with 27" tall wheels. If you run 27" tall tires on those wheels, you will be golden. If you run a taller tire with those wheels, the steering geometry will not be optimal - maybe you will be able to notice, maybe not. Can't say for sure. The taller the tire, the less offset you need to maintain the optimal steering geometry.

Here is a photo I screenshot that shows an example. If you draw a line (red) through the upper and lower ball joints, that is your steering pivot axis. Now look where the center of the tire contact patch is on the road (blue arrow). Imagine the force it applies to the steering when you hit a bump with all that leverage acting on the steering angle. You situation of trying to run those 15x6 stock rims would be similar but opposite...tires tucked too far inside the steering axis.

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Thanks once again. This definitely helped me to understand the wheel & tyre concept much better now. Jeep also used these wheels on 2004/2005 Willys Editions that came with 215/75/R15 from the factory so hopefully I am not too far off with 215/80/R15 🙄.

 

[Vtx531]

Thanks once again. This definitely helped me to understand the wheel & tyre concept much better now. Jeep also used these wheels on 2004/2005 Willys Editions that came with 215/75/R15 from the factory so hopefully I am not too far off with 215/80/R15 🙄.

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That may have just been pre production for the photo shoot? All the ones I have ever seen have green painted wheels like the similar style I suggested earlier in post #2(that have less offset, 15x7, and are made for the 225-75-15 tires). I googled 2004 Wrangler Willys and didn't see any with the rectangular windows.

 

[AutoCrat]

Managed to find some information on OEM 15x6 Steelies (9 Slots). Since there is not much details available anywhere, posting it here for any future reference.

Backspacing - 5 Inch
Offset - E25
Weight - 17.9 Lbs

 

[AutoCrat]

That may have just been pre production for the photo shoot? All the ones I have ever seen have green painted wheels like the similar style I suggested earlier in post #2(that have less offset, 15x7, and are made for the 225-75-15 tires). I googled 2004 Wrangler Willys and didn't see any with the rectangular windows.

View attachment 416159

Yes, I too couldn’t see any production Willys with 15x6 Wheels, however they were also offered on some 2004 / 2005 special editions in Japan. There is one set of off 2004 in chrome in existence there, that I am trying to purchase and ship it over to New Zealand. No success yet 🤦‍♂️

Update: Also found out even 15x7 steel wheel has the same E25 offset. It’s just the wheel width and backspacing is the difference between them 😌.

 

[Vtx531]

Managed to find some information on OEM 15x6 Steelies (9 Slots). Since there is not much details available anywhere, posting it here for any future reference.

Backspacing - 5 Inch
Offset - E25
Weight - 17.9 Lbs


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I not sure that 25 number is the offset. In my experience the 15x7s are 31.75.

 

[AutoCrat]

I not sure that 25 number is the offset. In my experience the 15x7s are 31.75.

It measures 38 for both the wheels as per this offset converter - https://tiresize.com/wheel-offset-calculator/

By the way I love TJ canyon wheels in your profile picture. They are my favourite but almost impossible to find them in NZ. I can find Cherokee version of canyons here but they don’t quite look the same 🤦‍♂️

 

[Vtx531]

It measures 38 for both the wheels as per this offset converter - https://tiresize.com/wheel-offset-calculator/

By the way I love TJ canyon wheels in your profile picture. They are my favourite but almost impossible to find them in NZ. I can find Cherokee version of canyons here but they don’t quite look the same 🤦‍♂️

38 would make sense - smaller tire, more offset to keep the center of tire contact lined up correctly with the steering angle. I know what you mean about the Grand Cherokee canyons...close but not quite the same. They are 15x7 which I almost like better though! Too bad the TJ canyons are hard to find, they are available used all over the place here but not in that great of condition usually.

 

[AutoCrat]

Finally made some progress in wheels department, still working on tyres. These OEM Mopar steelies are real beauties.

 

[Gilaguy23]

Im running the wheels your looking at on our YJ with 31's. I found a set of 5 for $50 locally, shit canning the china quadratec 15x8's for them. Couldn't be happier especially in the snow,mud or rain. Eventually I'll space out the stops so the tires dont rub on full turn.

 

[machoheadgames]

Im running the wheels your looking at on our YJ with 31's. I found a set of 5 for $50 locally, shit canning the china quadratec 15x8's for them. Couldn't be happier especially in the snow,mud or rain. Eventually I'll space out the stops so the tires dont rub on full turn.

Yeah, the concerns about scrub radius are valid but real world, going from a 205/75R15 to a 215/80R15 is not going to affect handling in any noticeable way.

I'm not sure what the stock scrub radius is but I'd imagine it's around 20-30 mm or so, making it to where you can upsize tires significantly before the steering feeling weird from going into negative scrub radius territory happens.

 

[AutoCrat]

Here in New Zealand only Dunlop offers 215/80/15 AT tyres with white side letters and at the moment there are none in stock in the country. My other preferred candidate “Bridgestone Dueler 604V” is very heavy (44lbs in 9R15 size). Also very limited choices in 225/75/15, so checking other options such as 235/75/15 or 30/9.50/15.

BFG KO2 are insanely expensive here and Goodyear SilentTrac does not have many good reviews. So far newest Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme (RF12) is looking awesome on papers and reviews are very favourable. Did I mention it’s one awesome looking tyre too 😎.

 

[AutoCrat]

Im running the wheels your looking at on our YJ with 31's. I found a set of 5 for $50 locally, shit canning the china quadratec 15x8's for them. Couldn't be happier especially in the snow,mud or rain. Eventually I'll space out the stops so the tires dont rub on full turn.

5 for $50 🤔. Only you lucky people in USA can pull off such deals. These never made it to New Zealand, so I imported them from Japan 😇.