Rough Country 1.5" Wheel Spacers.

 

no offense to the 1.5" wheel spacer guys, but I really think adding a spacer vs getting the correct backspacing wheel is a bad idea for these already longer axles on the JK's.

your extending the axles 3" more which can cause stress on the axles/housing if you wheel hard. But if you are a mall crawler then F#$% it...Spacers would be ok in that case.

Do it right the first time and never look back.

 

I am no expert but cannot see any difference on the axle load by using spacers or different rims with less backspacing either way you are extending the wheel base

 

True story.

 

my thoughts.... the rim is one piece supporting a tire, spacers are another add on and possible weak point plus extra weight. Correct backspacing rims seem to me to be the right way to go for a solid dependable situation.

Its my opinion and it could be wrong, but It could be right also.

 

Definitely rims are the right way to go if you have the money but spacers work and many people have used them for long periods of time with no problems.

 

The duratracs also come in 275/65/18 which is exactly the same diameter as the stock set up.

I'm planning on 18" aftermarket wheels with 275/65/18 duratrac since I will not be doing a lift and i want to avoid them sticking out past the fenders.

 

I agree with Dirtman as well.

Have you done a price comparison between the 16-17" tires vs. the 18"? In some cases it can be as much as $100 more per tire, especially in the 35" range. Plus, if you have to buy spacers to accommodate a wider tire, there's another $150-300 or whatever they cost.

I have 315/70/R17 Duratracs, and for what it's worth height wise, I'm anywhere between 34" and 33.25" depending on what psi I'm running, and this is on a 9 inch rim. The height of these tires did fit under my stock unlimited suspension....no room for flexing, but will work, so your 275/285 height should be fine.

my backspacing is 4.5" in lieu of the stock rims at 6" or whatever it is....and I have zero issues with rubbing.

As far as the question above regarding road noise, I've heard none. Maybe with the top and doors off on the hwy, there might be a slight humm, but it's enjoyable.

 

But If I remember right, the 275/65/18 may be the same diameter, but are significantly wider than stock.

 

After reading a ton of threads on tires I've decided to go with the 315/70/17 Duratracs. I don't plan on wheeling all that often, my Jeep is my DD, but we do have a cabin in South Lake Tahoe I visit often (snow).

As for the wheels - I went with 17" XD Addicts. Got them on eBay for about $150 a piece. The way I see it, when I sell my stock Rubicon tires and wheels it should almost cover the entire purchase price of the Addicts.

No spacers, a cool looking wheel (In my opinion), at almost no cost to me = .

FWIW I went the lift route, but from yout original post I think you are trying to avoid that....