Rim size vs. tire cost
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JK Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Lugoff, SC
Rim size vs. tire cost
Someone please explain to me why I can buy the same exact tire in a 15" tire for way less than the 17" and I am getting more rubber in the 15" tire. I feel that I need to lube up prior to putting tires on my Jeep for the daily driver stuff if I keep the factory 17" wheels. Nothing special, just something that gets good highway wear in the 33"-34" range. $237 each not M/B. I have found 15" tire and wheel combos that beat that...
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 15,665
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From: Hammond Louisiana
By in large 15in rims have been thrown to the wayside because of the bigger brake systems on newr vehicles( my theory anyway) You can get 15in rims to work on a jk with either the proper backspacing and/or grinding abit off your brake calipers. Jk's brake systems are basically designed for 16in and up rims. 15in rims are cheaper because they are less wanted now. Tires are cheaper for the same reason. Supply and demand. You'll prolly have a hard time finding a good selection of tires that fit a 15in rim in 5-10 yrs. Off-road tires anyway. Hell, its kinda that way now.
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 358
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From: Lugoff, SC
By in large 15in rims have been thrown to the wayside because of the bigger brake systems on newr vehicles( my theory anyway) You can get 15in rims to work on a jk with either the proper backspacing and/or grinding abit off your brake calipers. Jk's brake systems are basically designed for 16in and up rims. 15in rims are cheaper because they are less wanted now. Tires are cheaper for the same reason. Supply and demand. You'll prolly have a hard time finding a good selection of tires that fit a 15in rim in 5-10 yrs. Off-road tires anyway. Hell, its kinda that way now.
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 15,665
Likes: 4
From: Hammond Louisiana
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JK Jedi Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 15,665
Likes: 4
From: Hammond Louisiana
By in large 15in rims have been thrown to the wayside because of the bigger brake systems on newr vehicles( my theory anyway) You can get 15in rims to work on a jk with either the proper backspacing and/or grinding abit off your brake calipers. Jk's brake systems are basically designed for 16in and up rims. 15in rims are cheaper because they are less wanted now. Tires are cheaper for the same reason. Supply and demand. You'll prolly have a hard time finding a good selection of tires that fit a 15in rim in 5-10 yrs. Off-road tires anyway. Hell, its kinda that way now.
The supply of tires for 15s in 31, 33, and 35s should always be large due to the demand from all the non-JK wranglers, pre-WK cherokees, and toyota, ford, and nissan compact truck owners out there.
One reason tires for 15s are so much less expensive is that the are 6 ply load range C instead of 8 or 10 ply load range D and E tires.
The 15s are designed to be run at 35 psi at max load. The others are designed to be run at 55 to 80 psi at max load.
The extra material for the additional plus and the design to, for example, handle 4400 lbs each at 80 psi instead of maybe 2400 lbs at 35 psi makes for a more expensive tire to manufacture.
Another reason for the price differential is that the market for the 15s is so large that the design expenses are spread over a larger volume and the production expenses are also spread over a larger volume.
Oversized tires for 17" wheels are designed primarily for late model lifted full size trucks. So there is a smaller market with smaller volumes compared to the jeeps, compact trucks, older model full size trucks, etc. that have been modified sufficient to run oversized tires.
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One reason tires for 15s are so much less expensive is that the are 6 ply load range C instead of 8 or 10 ply load range D and E tires.
The 15s are designed to be run at 35 psi at max load. The others are designed to be run at 55 to 80 psi at max load.
The extra material for the additional plus and the design to, for example, handle 4400 lbs each at 80 psi instead of maybe 2400 lbs at 35 psi makes for a more expensive tire to manufacture.
Another reason for the price differential is that the market for the 15s is so large that the design expenses are spread over a larger volume and the production expenses are also spread over a larger volume.
Oversized tires for 17" wheels are designed primarily for late model lifted full size trucks. So there is a smaller market with smaller volumes compared to the jeeps, compact trucks, older model full size trucks, etc. that have been modified sufficient to run oversized tires.
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Planman= KingofthePuck&WheelMaster
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Dallas, TX
This whole price difference is the reason when I started looking at aftermarket wheels, I was really looking for a 16" wheel. On a Jeep, I like the smaller wheel/bigger tire look, and on top of that, in some instances the same 33" tire was almost $50 cheaper for a 16" than a 17". So for the price of 5 tires, you're looking at about $250 less. That'll pay for one of two of the new wheels. 
JK Newbie
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 66
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From: Berlin, New Hampshire
i gonna guess theres less demand for them??? i never really understood it either, i feel your pain though. im used to buying tires for 15" wheels and now i am looking to get a set of 15"s on my JK