I am a couple of weeks away from getting my new JK Unlimited (3rd jeep overall). I have seen that there are quite a few people running 33x12.50's on the stock 17" wheels. During my shopping around I have had a couple of different tire shops refuse to put this size tire on the 7.5" stock wheel. One of them being a national chain. My question is, is it really that big of a deal ? Any help and suggestions are welcome.

 

It shouldn't be a problem, but the shops will only do what the tire companies allow and go by their 'recommendations'. The tire companies are running scared after the Firestone debacle.

I too had trouble finding a place that would put 12.5 width on my stock 7.5 width rims. They would do an 11 or 11.5 inch width, but even that is on the hairy edge according to the manufacturers.

According to what I've read, it seems that putting a 12.5 width on the 7.5 rim should cause no problem at all, that the side wall forces required to pop the bead would have to be even greater that if it was a wider rim.

BUT.... I'm no expert, and I am in no way telling you what to do, and all that other legal stuff....!

I just bought the dang rims and avoided all the running around and hassle.

 

You will need spacers...1.25" at least. Discount Tire will not mount them with spacers either.

Best Bet, go to a local guy.

 

I ran 35 x 12.5 on my stock rims (with 1.5" wheel spacers) for about 6 months before I got my new wheels (which are 9" wide now). The 12.5" tire WILL fit just fine on the stock 17" rims. Most tire/wheel companies have a "standard" as to how wide your rim should be for certain width tires. Yes, most all of them say for 12.5" wide tires, you should have at least a 10" rim. They fit fine though, and I had no problems at all with mine. A lot of guys I know run narrower rims than what is recommended.

 

I agree that your best bet is to find a local shop. A guy I work with went to Costco to put some BFG AT's on, but they won't mount tires if they are over 3% bigger than the factory tire size.