So I am trying to decide if I want to get new tires and stay with the stock 18's (for now) and get spacers; get new wheels later... OR do I want to just save up the money get new wheels and tires and no spacers.. OR WAIT... Do I have to have spacers if I have new wheels? (I don't think so, but I have never asked either)

What do you guys suggest I do?

 

I guess it just depends on your funds.Nope do not need spacers with new wheels as long as you get the correct backspacing on the new wheel.Ask these guys (or do a search for correct backspacing)what the best backspacing is for however wide of a new tire you decide to go with.

hope that helps.

 

Having been through this myself...
I know that you will end up finding that it's cheaper to buy a new set of 15 or 16" rims AND tires,
than to put new tires on your 18" rims. You won't need spacers if you get the right wheels.

 

Ok maybe a bit of a dumb question..

How do I know the correct backspacing?

 

JeepGal - Take a look here, particularly at the Tires / Wheels section. WayOfLife has done an excellent job putting this information together in one place for all of us, and reading through this once or twice should help explain what spacers and backspacing will do for you, as well as indicating the appropriate numbers you should look for...

Click here for the Tech FAQ thread.

 

What fish said. Depends on money. Good wheel spacers, $200 a set, or new wheels with correct backspacing for $350 a set and up, depending on size, type, brand etc.. It just depends on what you want to do or whether you like your wheels or want something different.

 

I hear you on how expensive the 18" tires with any hight to them are, I am also leaning towards 16's with new tires once I burn off the stock tires.

 

If it were me, I would buy spacers and tires, which is what I plan on doing as soon as the stock tires wear out.

Reason: I like the 16" aluminum wheels that are on my Jeep, and I only want to run 265/75-16 or 285/75-16 tires.

Price:
5 x 285/75-16 Firestone Destination M/T (from Tirerack) = $840
2 x Spydertrax Spacer Set (from Quadratec) = $198
1 x Spydertrax Spacer (from for-sale forum) = $50
Total (without mounting/etc) = $1088

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Price of new wheels/tires:
5 x AEV Bridger 16x8 (from Quadratec) = $895
5 x 285/75-16 Firestone Destination M/T (from Tirerack) = 840
Total (without mounting/etc) = $1735

To me, the extra $647 isn't worth it because I don't plan on ever going larger than a 285/75-16 tire.

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I just looked at the prices for 18" BFG M/T = $381 Wow! Maybe going a smaller wheel is the better route.

 

Well, with spacers, you'd probably want to go with 1.5". 4.5" of backspacing on a new wheel is probably ideal (factory is 6.25"), but you can get by with more. MY first set of wheels had 5.25" and they were fine with my 35's, no rubbing issues. MY current are 3.5" because that's all they are made in.

First set of 18's with 5.25".....


Current 18's with 3.25" of backspacing.....


And these stick out from underneath the fender flares a good bit.

 

Thanks for that link, don't have time to read up on it right now but I will definetly get around to it...

I will probably just end up buying wheels at the same time and down sizing to 17's. MAYBE even 16's.... But spacers was a new idea that was brought to my attention recently so I was just curious what others thought!