Originally Posted by Rob 12B1P

As a guy thats actually had his stock Rubi wheels and tires in the rocks, I believe the "Rule of thumb" to be wise. My wheels are Fubar'd. Ive only had it on 2 what I would call very rocky trails (Bull Frog in Johnson Valley and Red Lake near Shaver Lake) and they are scratched all to hell. I think with more tire height and width the wheels wouldnt be nearly as beat up as they are. I also believe that the reason Jeep went with 17 and 18 inch wheels on stock vehicles is they are better handling on road, not because they are in any way better off road, especially with the iddy biddy stock rubber. Just because a manufacturer does something doesnt mean its the best way to do it. If Jeep really wanted to do it right they would have put 3" of lift, 35's, reinforced the C's and sleeved the axles, and geared my Rubi correctly right from the factory. Not that a stock Jeep isnt capable of a lot but they can be so much more with not a whole lot of mods that I think should have been built into the original design.

Rob