This should be something I should know but I am stuck. I got my 2010 Wrangler this spring it has 255/55/17 all seasons on it. I wanted to buy snow tires and Canadian Tire (I am in Canada) is selling goodyear wrangler snow tires buy 3 get the 4th free that is like $200 off. I wanted to know could I get any size as long as they are 17 to fit on the same rim (don't have money for spare rims right now) ? The identical 255/55/17 are over $300 each.
Thanks

 

The 255/55/17 is a pretty small diameter for a Jeep; only about 28". See if you can figure out the axle ratio in your Jeep. if it is 3.21, go for a 30"-31" diameter tire. If the ratio is 3.73, use a 32"-33" tire. The actual tire size to get these diameters will vary depending on the aspect ratio.

The sizes recommended above by Karl are great for the 3.73, and they would still work with a 3.21. If you have an automatic, the 3.21 with 285/70r17 will make it hard to use O.D. very much.

These sizes assume you want snow tires for a daily driver. If you were buying tires to crawl trails and climb rocks, its a different story.

 

That's for the info. I made a mistake the tire on my jeep is 255/75/17. I'm guessing the 75 is how high the tire sits off the ground and 255 is the width. Just wondering if a 235 would work. I am trying to figure out if as long as the last number is 17 would it fit?

 

In that case keep it simple and use the stock tire diameter. Easiest way to get there is to use the same 255/75/17 size tire. Other diameters will fit the rim, but the speedometer will be off and if you have an auto the shift points won't be right on.

Again, this assumes you want a snow tire for daily driving and don't want to get into using a tuner/programmer to adjust the Jeep's computer settings for a different diameter tire.

Normally a 255 is about the narrowest tire you'd want on a Jeep, but if these snow tires are for winter only, and you live in a heavy snow area, then a narrower tire would work better. When I lived in the mountains of B.C. with 13' feet of snow annually, the most popular winter 4x4 tire was a 215/85. Trouble is, I haven't seen a tall narrow tire for 17" rims.

Your guess about the size is correct. The tread width is 255mm, and the "75" sidewall means the sidewall height is 75% of the tread width, or around 191mm.

 

Yeh, you are right Karl. If this tire swap is for winter only, and if the OP wants to run with narrow winter tires, then a second set of "winter wheels" should be used. Otherwise just run 255s. I don't think Ontario gets crazy snow like B.C. anyway.

 

I'll throw in another size to consider just for kicks. 245 70 17 Not sure what load ratings you'll find, as they all may be D or E which I personally think is too stiff for the JK. They would be about an inch and a half shorter and a little narrower than the OE 255s but wouldn't throw the speedo off much. I don't see a problem with them on the 7.5inch wheels either, as the base model 225s come on a 7inch wheel.

All this being said, I'd stick with the 255 75 17s or some 265 70 17s