I need some help if someone can answer my questions- I have the 4-door Rubicon on order and wanted to start ordering some stuff so its ready. I am not an offroader, but I love an "offroad" look. If I bought the following wheels and tires (with a 3" suspension lift) would it work?

TIRES: ProComp XTerrain
315x75x16
WHEELS: ProComp XTreme Alloys
16x8, 5x5 bolt circle, 0 offset, 4.5" backspacing

Do I need wheelspacers? I also wouldn't mind having 15" rims if I could find some I like. If I found a 15" rim (with everything else the same as above) would that work? Are there going to be issues with 15" versus a 16" rim, or does that not matter?

I don't want to go buying all this stuff if there is much more I need to do- I hear people talk about larger tires and gearing, etc. If I lifted the jeep and put 35's on, do I need to change the gears or ANYTHING else? Basically, I'm a girl and don't know what I am talking about when it comes to all this. I would appreciate it if anyone could help me out. Thanks.

 

Hi lindsaythomp, welcome to JK-Forum - it's good to have you here

Now, in spite of the fact that you're not an off-roader (yet ) and that you're "a girl" (means nothing to me), it actually sounds a lot like you've done your homework.

Yes, the setup you've got listed will do you just fine and yes, you can get away with some 15" wheels (steel rock crawler types for sure). Don't know about all of them though as some aluminum wheels may be thicker and may interfere with the brakes.

Let us know if you have any other questions

 

Check out Procomps extreme MT's the tires are new or 07...

 

So I don't need to buy new gears? Will I also need to buy a new spare tire carrier with that large of a tire? Thanks for all the help!

 

Since you're getting a Rubicon which comes with 4.10 gears, you probably won't "need" to get new gears, but without them, you will feel some power loss. As far as a spare goes, yes, you really should get a full size one to match the rest. Not only do Jeeps with tiny spares look ridiculous, it also won't help you at all.

 

Welcome to the forum!!! I think your choices reflect your homework as well, good choices. I might suggest that you stick with a 16 inch wheel instead of a 15 inch wheel. Most of us here know the STEEL 15 inch wheels have been fit without a problem, I agree that an alloy wheel of the same size may rub the brake caliper. A 16" wheel shouldn't pose any problems at all. Further, as it sounds like it will spend much of it's time on the road and not off, I think a 16" wheel will make the Jeep more drivable, and a 17" wheel even more so. THe reason is you will have less tire between your wheel and the road, so it will bounce less on bumps, wobble or "roll-over" less in corners.

I'm afraid I disagree with this statement. I strongly discourage you from EVER using a spare tire that is a different size then the rest of your tires. When driving down the road, it is going to be hard to steer and handle with different size tires. Make sure your spare matches the rest, you won't regret it when that inevitable flat occurs. Once the spare is on, you won't have to drive 5-10 miles per hour, and you can take your time getting the spare fixed at a more convenient pace.

Excellent choice of vehicle, by the way. What color did you choose? 2 door, or 4 door, manual or stick-shift?

Tom
Bryson City, NC

 

I am getting a 4-door white Rubicon. It is has the power convenience group and it is an automatic. I am very excited! I ordered it in the beginning of October, so I am not sure when I will be getting it- hopefully soon. So a 17" wheel would be better than a 16"? Are 12.50 tires too wide for a rim that is 8 inches wide? Do you go with a 9 or a 10" wide rim? I know, so many questions. Oh, and just for the record- I am not a total retard. Of course I would buy a spare the same size as the rest of the tires. That seems like common sense, not to mention I don't like how it looks when the spare doesn't match the rest of the tires. I was asking about the "spare tire carrier." Do I need a new carrier with a 35 tire? Sounds like I will. Thanks!

 

Not before me! I've had the exact same Jeep on order since July 10th and was told I may not see it until late January to early February :sad:

Not necessarily. A taller wheel will give you better on road performance but a bit more side wall can sometimes be an advantage on the trail. Of course, a 15" wheel will give you the biggest tire selection and at a lower price.

Not at all. In fact, an 8" wide wheel is pretty much the standard when it comes to off-roading.

Sorry, I must have just misunderstood your earlier comment. Regarding "spare tire carriers", you will most likely need something other than stock as your new 35" tire will hit the bumper. Now, I've talked to Bestop and they are making an aftermarket tire carrier that attaches to the tail gate and is supposed to support a 35" tire. They say the new JK tailgate is much stronger than the older TJ and can also support the weight. But, if you can afford it, the smarter thing to do is to get an aftermarket rear bumper with swing away tire carrier. That way you can carry a bigger tire and take the weight of it off the tail gate and put it onto the frame where it belongs

Let us know if you have any other questions.

 

Thank you for all the help- I really do appreciate it!

 

Hey, you're very welcome. On a side note, I just noticed that you're in Henderson, NV. My family and I are heading out there today to visit the inlaws over Thanksgiving. Small world ain't it.