So i'm about to buy 35" tires and i'm wondering what size wheels I want to get. I was always under the impression that if I planned on offroading, the smaller the wheel the more tire was common knowledge. However I see a lot of people with 16", 17", 18" and even 19" wheels. Whats the general consensus for wheel size with larger tires?

 

Mostly personal preference to be honest. Just remember, the larger rim size you go with means a more expensive tire and less rubber... I'm running 17' with 35's now and wished I'd have gone with a 15-16" rim instead. I love my rims, but my wallet doesn't much care for them when it's time for tires....

Also, once you get into an 18" rim and bigger, your tire choice starts to diminish as well. The most variety (tires) will be found in a 15-16" rim, but still a decent amount of choices in 17".

Example: I can buy a average 35" tire for $230-$280 for a 15-16" rim and spend $300-$400 on the same tire for my 17" rim... Hope this makes sense and helps...

 

It all depends on what you want to spend and what type of off roading you do. I went with 18" wheels and 33" tires I only go on the beach we don't have much off road options in NY

 

I am planning to buy the teraflex big brake kit in the future once I'm done installing all the steel stuff (bumpers and stuff), therefore my choice will be 17" wheels. Plan ahead and stick with 17" if you plan on upgrading brakes. If not then I would definitely choose the 15" wheels in a heartbeat for cheaper tires!

 

Yes it depends on what you want to do.

Smaller wheels are better for off-road, but larger wheels give better handling on-road. The general rule for the sweet spot between the two on and off-road considerations is a wheel that is half the size of the rubber. Or a 32" tire on a 16" wheel.

If you are more concerned with off-road then you go an inch smaller than the halfway point assuming you can still clear rotors with the smaller wheel.

If you are more concerned with street handling you pick a wheel an inch or two larger than halfway and go with a 17" or 18" wheel.

If you are running 35" tires, then 17" wheels is the halfway point. If you are running 37" tires, 18" wheels is the halfway point.

 

From a looks standpoint I think jeep put 17-18" wheels on the jk platform for a reason, they "fit" the shape and size of the vehicle. Smaller jeeps like cj's yj's and even tj's look great with 15-16" wheels but anything larger on them starts looking too big. The jk being larger the bigger wheels just flow with the design better. Just my opinion

 

I agree with PORTERS and RYAN0260, I'm also in the process of buying wheels but it all depends on what your intentions are with the jeep. Do it once so you don't spend more money than needed. A lot of people go 18"s than they go back to 15"s, I personally will be upgrading to 18"s because of the wheels that I like they only make them in 18's or larger, with 35"s and later on I'll be up grading to 37"s but of course I'll have to re-gear (513 gears) maybe drive shafts. It's all in your budget and you can do it one step at a time. Unless you have money to spare than do it all at once. Which not a lot of people do. I hope this helps you a little on your future decisions. Take care