I'm wondering what is the widest tire I can run on my Stock 17x9" Moab's. Could I get away with running 13.5" and if so what backspacing would I have to run??

Thanks for any help you can give

 

The specs list on the tire mfg's website will have a recommended rim width range. Some tire shops won't mount wide tires on rims that are narrower than the mfg's spec, so be sure to check. It shouldn't be a problem though.

Backspacing will depend on the height also. 4.50 might work, but I'd probably go down around 4. And if you decide on 15's, go for 3.75.

 

Rule of thumb is at least half the with of the tire should be rim... You could do it stock but it will be tight ....run a spacer.

 

I played this game too before I got my wheels. If you go the manufacturer's website for whichever tire you are looking at, they should give you the recommended wheel width for that tire size. I believe websites like discount tire or similar will have that info too. I went 4" BS on my 16x8's for a wider stance and clearance for a future lift.

 

The stock wheels aren't 17"x9", they're 17"x7.5". But to answer your question, with 13.5" tires, you're definitely going to rub - probably even with spacers. I've seen people running a 12.5" wide tire, but not bigger.

 

All of the above. Stock wheel width is 7.5", don't reccommend a tire wider than 12.5", spacers will be needed.

 

The minimum is 70% of the tire tread, not half.

 

I have 37x12.5's on my stock 17x7.5 wheels with 1.5" spacers. I had to add 1/2" thick spacers to my steering stops to keep them off my sway bars / frame. It still turns okay but without the wheel spacers I would probably have the turning radius of an F-250. With 13.5" of width it would be worse.

 

What kind of lift do you have with those tires?

 

I have ~2.25" of lift (Unlimited coils + 1" coil spacers), trimmed stock flares, and I cut the rock rails and pinch seams for tire clearance. I added longer shocks, extended bump stops, extended brake line brackets, extended sway bar links, a rear trackbar bracket, rear adj. upper control arms and adjusted my steering stops.

I made a custom stubby rear bumper (flush to the rear body) and I'm working on a custom front stubby now. I moved my radiator back a couple of inches and I'm mounting my winch inverted back under the grille so I can cut a few inches off the front frame rails. : )