15/16/17/18!!!!!!!!!

[Strider]

My wife's Jeep is going to need new tires soon. I'd say, considering it has small street tires that are for some reason called ATs, it needed new tires long ago...

Anyway...

The Jeep (2009 Wrangler Unlimited Sahara, Auto) has 18" wheels and tires are a lot more for that size. So I am thinking the following:

I am going to sell my 1997 TJ which has brand new BFG ATs 33x10.5/15s. I still have the old 33s so I have thought of getting 15s for the JK and swapping the new BFGs into it. BUT... I have heard everything from they won't fit to grind the calipers to go with alloy wheels and they will fit, to it will stress out the bearings/axles...

The JK, along with the FJC, are destined for the OME suspension, bull bar, tire rack, roof rack, and towing (the FJ a small camper and the JK a teardrop or a military type trailer).

My 2008 FJC has 17" wheels so I have considered going with used steel 17s for the Jeep. The tires seem to be cheaper and vehicles can use same tires-maybe?

I'm trying to go with the tallest, narrowest tire possible, hopefully in the BFG AT, but the whole metric tire measurement thing I find utterly maddening.

She drives it to work daily but I want to be able to take it safely to places like Moab, North Rim, and generally overland with it. In fact, a friend of mine will be driving it and we will be in the FJ for a trip to CO, Moab, North Rim... this summer.

I look forward to the input. Thanks!

:safari-rig:

 

[jaxs1984]

Just my opinion , sell ALL your wheels and tires and purchase off craigslist some Rubicon 17 take off for next to nothing and then buy brand new BFG KO2 34x10.5/17 and call it a day or 255/80/17 [33.333x10.5/17]

Yes technically, the 15' and tires would fit , but you are then limiting yourself for future upgrades because of newer [bigger] rotors/pads, etc and certain "lift" kits would interfere with the "odd" size for a JK , won't fit, etc..

Also depending on your gear ratio [not sure if the Sahara comes with 3.7 or 3.2] you might need to re-gear if you bigger then or 35'.

A good setup for exploring" would be an AEV 2.5 lift with correction bracket and 33/34x10.5 tires. on 17' w 8" or 9'" wide. [Jeep stock wheels are 7.5]

 

[Strider]

I won't go over 33s in either vehicles, but it seems the 17" wheels may indeed be the best bet.

 

[highdesertranger]

I hate all these 17's, 18's, nonsense. give me good ole 16's and I am a happy camper. readily available anywhere. highdesertranger

 

[Strider]

I wish I could use 15s! 16s would be nice too, but they seem to be difficult or impractical for either the FJC or the JK. It is really irritating.

 

[Strider]

I have been looking online at tires. The 18" wheel styles are just disgustingly overpriced. The choices in both 17 and 18 are almost none. Tirerack and discount tire have very few types to pick from. Maybe I am looking wrong?
Also trying to find simple steel 17" wheels for the Jk but no luck.
Very frustrating.

 

[freshlikesushi]

17" jeep takeoffs. all you need.

 

[Kiriesh]

16 or 17s for sure. 15s run into far too many clearance issues and issues upgrading later on. 16s are good if you never plan to run above 35s but I've found 17s to have much more options in larger tire sizes. Clearly this being a DD you may not want larger tires but no point in limiting yourself for the future. I struggled to find 37s on a 16" rim and found a much larger variety of tires on a 17" rim in an assortment of sizes. 18s are just too big. My rig came with 33s on 18" rim and it made the tires look tiny and offered practically no sidewall flex.


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[Strider]

Thanks for all the input everybody. Will go with 17 steel wheels asap, though I don't foresee going any bigger than 33s.
Thank you!
:Astrologist::shakin:

 

[codesertrat]

For off road use, the more sidewall you have, the better the traction and ride. My opinion is run 15's, even on a JK, and 16 is fine too.

Limited upgrade opportunities for 15's and 16's? Only if you plan on going larger than 35", and if that is your plan, then a new set of 17" rims is a drop in the bucket with all the other drivetrain, suspension, and steering upgrades which also need to be done to reliably run 37"+ tires on a JK.

Brake caliper clearance is an issue with some 15" rims on JK's, do some research over on the JK forums to find out what hits and what fits.

 

[Fargo]

Just my opinion , sell ALL your wheels and tires and purchase off craigslist some Rubicon 17 take off for next to nothing and then buy brand new BFG KO2 34x10.5/17 and call it a day or 255/80/17 [33.333x10.5/17]

Yes technically, the 15' and tires would fit , but you are then limiting yourself for future upgrades because of newer [bigger] rotors/pads, etc and certain "lift" kits would interfere with the "odd" size for a JK , won't fit, etc..

Also depending on your gear ratio [not sure if the Sahara comes with 3.7 or 3.2] you might need to re-gear if you bigger then or 35'.

A good setup for exploring" would be an AEV 2.5 lift with correction bracket and 33/34x10.5 tires. on 17' w 8" or 9'" wide. [Jeep stock wheels are 7.5]

Right here is some of the best advice I have seen on any forum in a long time. If you get wheels with the proper offset, those 34x10.5R17 will tuck in nicely on both vehicles. And with both vehicles running the same tire, flats are less of a concern. Look at the BFG tire thread. I believe there is a picture in there of an FJC running the new 34x10.5R17. Also that AEV 2.5" lift is amazing on a JK. I have a friend with a 4door JKU and this lift setup with 35s. It impresses me on road and offroad.