Wheel and Tire Recommendations for JK Axles

[NJW]

Todays the first day I’ve been up and back to feeling like normal. Freaking nasty virus.

While I was down, I made some decisions about my build. My good deal streak with TJ's has come to an end. It's time for me to pay to play like everyone else.

I purchased a set of built JK 44’s from a buddies build that saw very little use before going to tons. Tera 44 housings, 35 spline shafts, ARB lockers, High Steer knuckles, brakes, etc. paid $4500 - price seemed fair, maybe not a deal, but they were available now. I dropped my Jeep off at the shop that's doing the axle swap and coilovers, drained my discretionary savings, and things are finally underway.

My axle width is going to increase 5in. I'm going to need new wheels and tires. I'm not really coming across any new combos for under 5K. I'm already way over budget, by like 10K.
Do you guys have any recommendations on wheels? I'm still debating on what backspacing to go with. Prefer a real beadlock, but at this point - I need to start saving money.

I'm leaning towards the 37 Mickey Thompson Baja Boss's. But open to suggestions. Or leads to deals if you have them!

And yes, I just did all the steering, balljoints, u joints, and unit bearings just to rip it all out not even 100 miles later.

 

[PNW_LJ]

I really like the Hutchinson Rock Monsters, they're one of the only "true" beadlock wheels out there. They are pretty heavy though, which combined with 37s is going to be detrimental to the weak JK outers. I haven't personally run JK axles on 37s, but I would make wheel/tire weight and scrub radius, a major consideration if I went this route.

@B00mb00m has direct experience with the swap and may have some good input.

 

[macleanflood]

Nate at Dirt Lifestyle on YouTube swears by Method's beadgrip wheels.

https://www.methodracewheels.com/pages/bead-grip
Much lighter. Much cheaper.

I'd do 17"s on JK axles with a big brake kit.

If I had any money we would have bought a set for my wife's JK before we bought her a set of Mickey's... they're on 18s now and it's meh on 35s.

-Mac

 

[NJW]

I really like the Hutchinson Rock Monsters, they're one of the only "true" beadlock wheels out there. They are pretty heavy though, which combined with 37s is going to be detrimental to the weak JK outers. I haven't personally run JK axles on 37s, but I would make wheel/tire weight and scrub radius, a major consideration if I went this route.

@B00mb00m has direct experience with the swap and may have some good input.

My understanding was that the Tera 44 housing addressed the weak outer issue?

 

[Mike_H]

Nate at Dirt Lifestyle on YouTube swears by Method's beadgrip wheels.

https://www.methodracewheels.com/pages/bead-grip
Much lighter. Much cheaper.

I'd do 17"s on JK axles with a big brake kit.

If I had any money we would have bought a set for my wife's JK before we bought her a set of Mickey's... they're on 18s now and it's meh on 35s.

-Mac

Nate on dirtlifestyle will swear by anything, if that company pays him enough...

 

[JMT]

Todays the first day I’ve been up and back to feeling like normal. Freaking nasty virus.

While I was down, I made some decisions about my build. My good deal streak with TJ's has come to an end. It's time for me to pay to play like everyone else.

I purchased a set of built JK 44’s from a buddies build that saw very little use before going to tons. Tera 44 housings, 35 spline shafts, ARB lockers, High Steer knuckles, brakes, etc. paid $4500 - price seemed fair, maybe not a deal, but they were available now. I dropped my Jeep off at the shop that's doing the axle swap and coilovers, drained my discretionary savings, and things are finally underway.

My axle width is going to increase 5in. I'm going to need new wheels and tires. I'm not really coming across any new combos for under 5K. I'm already way over budget, by like 10K.
Do you guys have any recommendations on wheels? I'm still debating on what backspacing to go with. Prefer a real beadlock, but at this point - I need to start saving money.

I'm leaning towards the 37 Mickey Thompson Baja Boss's. But open to suggestions. Or leads to deals if you have them!

And yes, I just did all the steering, balljoints, u joints, and unit bearings just to rip it all out not even 100 miles later.

View attachment 423546

Tires cost what tires cost. The same size tire in different model and make only differ up to $30-40/ tire, so it’s only max $150 savings. Beadlocks are beadlocks. Raceline are the only ones that repeatedly have 15% off. If you’re looking for a 17” they have some good offerings in the $500 range/wheel. They are the cheapest I’ve found. You can also look at Trail Ready, Walker Evans, and Hutchinson.

 

[The4bangertj]

Nate on dirtlifestyle will swear by anything, if that company pays him enough...

Guess Milestar didn’t pay him enough then.

 

[PNW_LJ]

My understanding was that the Tera 44 housing addressed the weak outer issue?

By outers I mean ball joints and unit bearings. Those are a major weakpoint of the JK axles on 37s+

 

[Mike_H]

Guess Milestar didn’t pay him enough then.

Or, they quit paying him, so he decided to tell us what he really felt. Regardless of the circumstance...people that "review" products are always be taken with a grain of salt. They might be honest...but anytime someone makes their living by creating content, you should always think about how and why that content is being created.

 

[NJW]

Tires cost what tires cost. The same size tire in different model and make only differ up to $30-40/ tire, so it’s only max $150 savings. Beadlocks are beadlocks. Raceline are the only ones that repeatedly have 15% off. If you’re looking for a 17” they have some good offerings in the $500 range/wheel. They are the cheapest I’ve found. You can also look at Trail Ready, Walker Evans, and Hutchinson.

I mean, Milestars are $230 and the Baja’s are more than double that. But I’m not really considering those, so still agree.

Looking into Racelines. Appreciate the recommendations.

Any thoughts on DirtyLife, Vision or the BattleBorn gatekeepers? They seem to be coming in the cheapest.

 

[NJW]

This is what I wound up with - in case anyone is wondering.

https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/dirty...te-black-9303-7973mb12/_/R-HCLL-9303-7973MB12 - I'll have to buy the beadlock rings separately if I want to run true beadlocks. Interesting design I thought.

And the 37 Mickey Thompson Baja Boss's.

This is where things get interesting though - 4WP was offering 10% off. Rakuten, which is a cash back add on, had a 15% Cash Back offer.

Total came to $4,562.13 before tax.

Cash Back 627.88 - From Rakuten (Full disclosure, this is my referral link, not the reason for the post, but I do get a kickback if you use it. So do you though! Honestly have never gotten a referral, but I have received a total of $3,595 over the years. Definitely worth it IMO)

But here's the real kicker, 4WP will pricematch. I found these these wheels and tires at Jeepandtruckparts.com - prices seem to good to be true and can't find a lot about it online, but 4WP price matched them.

My total comes out to 2,957.02 after it's all said and done. A $1500+ savings. Just thought others might be interested.

 

[B00mb00m]

My understanding was that the Tera 44 housing addressed the weak outer issue?

Teraflex does have a Dana 60 outer kit but I doubt you got that given the price. Otherwise he means the JK wheel bearings and balljoints are a bit undersized for 37s. Even then the balljoints wouod still be JK. Get the highest backspace you can fit. I’m running 4.5”.

I have the baja bosses, they seem okay so far. The method bead grip wheels would be nice so that you get free balancing. Beadlocks are a pita most shops won’t take them off the rig to balance.

 

[NJW]

Teraflex does have a Dana 60 outer kit but I doubt you got that given the price. Otherwise he means the JK wheel bearings and balljoints are a bit undersized for 37s. Even then the balljoints wouod still be JK. Get the highest backspace you can fit. I’m running 4.5”.

I have the baja bosses, they seem okay so far. The method bead grip wheels would be nice so that you get free balancing. Beadlocks are a pita most shops won’t take them off the rig to balance.

Thanks for the information. Any thoughts on ball joint deletes?

 

[NJW]

These wheels can be run as a bead lock, or a regular wheel depending on the ring you use. They were a great price/compromise, but more shocking to me was how quick they shipped! Was told they were 3-4 weeks backordered. Placed the order late Wednesday night, like 7pm. Showed up on Friday.

They’re a 3.5 backspace, I was hoping to find closer to 4, but most options were 3.5 or 4.5, and 4.5 didn’t give me quite enough clearance. Hoping it doesn’t make a major detrimental difference.

 

[B00mb00m]

Thanks for the information. Any thoughts on ball joint deletes?

I put the deletes in my axle this spring. No thoughts on them yet. The RareParts joints did well for me. 8k miles and they still had life left.