I was planning to put some rubber on the stock 17" rims that came with my jeep, but after doing a lot of reading and talking to tire guys, I can't beleive how much I'm going to wind up spending. Plus the need for spacers on top of that, and I was thinking of painting them, so there is more money (and time). Do you guys think I should just get some rims too? I feel like for the extra couple hundred I'm going to be a lot happier in the long run, but I'm having trouble getting out of the mindset of using the stock wheels. Any experience with this is welcomed.

 

there are quite a few people who kept there stock wheels and tires and have no problems or anything and i don't know much about backspacing and all that non sense. but if it were me i would just try and find a sweet deal on a rim and tire package from one of the venders. i only spent like 1100 bucks and i got some pro comp wheels and tires. and im super happy with the decesion that i made. plust i sold the stock wheels and tires and got a front bumper with the money. you can always do something like that.

hope this helps you some what

 

lower tire better balance,if you are not rock crawling stick with that bigger rim. it is only a matter of time that the tires with less meat on them are going to cost less (less material used,less pollution-environment that we get charged for ....?)

 

1" of difference is really not THAT much of a difference performance-wise either way. That said, you're right about the 16's being alot cheaper. Adding the fact that you're planning on painting them and you'll need the spacers, you probably would be better off in the long run going with the 16's. Heck, if you're willing to test fit 15's until you find one that fits and you're not planning on doing any high speed cornering, then go with 15's!

 

I'm in the same boat. I wanted 15's because my old Jeep had 15's and I think it looks "right" with 33" tires. Also, tires for 15" wheels are cheaper. Unfortunately, I'm having clearance issues with all the 15" wheels I try. One more will be here soon, if that doesn't fit it's going to be 16's for me.

I have the stock 17's but they will not fit 12.5" wide tires without using spacers which I do not want to use.

I'll likely end up with some inexpensive 16" steel wheels. They'll cost about $75 each for the ones I'm looking at (US Wheel 84-7850L 16x8 w/4.25" BS). This is less than I'd pay to get spacers and my current wheels powdercoated.

And then 33's are about $205 and about $230 for 35's.

Not as cheap as tires for the 15's but not nearly as expensive as the same tires for the 17's (about $50-75 cheaper per tire).

Good luck with your decision!

 

Well I took the plunge today and ordered some rims and tires.

Rims - American Eagle Series 137 -16X8



Tires - BFGoodrich KM2 - 285/75/16

 

Better get those shoes siped if you plan on rolling on them next winter.

 

Bad in the snow? Hadn't really thought about that... We don't get much snow here anyways though, roads have snow on them a few days a year usually.

 

Definitely troublesome in the snow as are most MTs also slippery on wet pavement. I'd still get them siped.