I'm getting new wheels and tires just in time for Easter Jeep Safari, and after much research I posted a thread here for suggestions. I received some help on what tires and wheels to get.

33/10.5/15

So I take that info to my local Discount Tire, the guy tells me the stock 17 inch wheels have bigger brakes and the 15 inch wheel won't work. He suggested the 285/70/17 wheels and tires.

The cost difference is almost $700 dollars between the two.

BFG AT T/A KO 33/10.5/15 tires x 5 @ $153 = $765
Unique 297 black 33/10.5/15 wheels x 5 @ $55 = $275
Total = $1040 (quoted somewhere around $1240, TPMS rebuild, taxes, etc)


BFG AT T/A KO 285/70/17 tires x 5 @ $244 = $1120
Unique 297 black 285/70/17 wheels x 5 @ $80 = $400
Total = $1520 (quoted $1950 grand total.)

My question... can I do 15 inch wheels? I don't ever remember anyone here having problems with 15 inch wheels, maybe it's the brand?

Help.

 

There is a thread I am sure someone will post a link to discussing 15" wheels regarding what will and what will NOT work.

Keep in mind the Rubicon has a larger caliper on the front axle so you may have a problem with fitment when others didnt. If you dont have a rubicon then don't worry as much.

 

All JK's have the same size brakes. The ONLY different is Rubicon calipers are slightly different shaped. So there is a bigger chance of them rubbing.

Personally, I went with 16" wheels. They fit with zero issues, and the tires are a lot cheaper than 17's. Although still a bit more than 15's.

What back spacing do the 15's have? That is the big question as to whether they will fit or not.

If the discount tire is local to you, and they have those wheels in stock, any way you can get them to test fit one up front? The rear brakes are a no-issue. Its the fronts that may or may not clear with some 15" wheels.

 

I have an X, so the larger calipers are not an issue. I searched for 16 inch at Discount Tire Direct and they didn't have anything, but Nitto tires.

So it looks like I'm going to go with the 17 inch, however I think I will ask them to put a 15 inch wheel on the front just to test the fitment... would this be a reasonable request, or would I become the asshole customer?

$700 is a lot of money if I can save that.

 

Try this one...

https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/modified-jk-tech-2/15-wheels-what-fits-what-rubs-find-out-here-94709/

Go with a 3.75 BS on the 15" rims and you should be ok. The bad part is that you have to order them in, so if they don't clear, you're stuck with grinding a bit. (quite a few people say that grinding is ok because the areas that need to be ground down are thick on the JK... ?)

I went with 16" rims and tires at Discount. They carry, or can get, just about any size/type you want. You just have to ask instead of wandering around the website.

 

I bought a 15 inch wheel from them to test fit it at home. They told me if it didn't fit I could return it. It fit so I bought four more wheels and tires.

 

BryGuy's thread convinced me to go with 15s. I had to grind a little, but it was so little that I ended up being able to use a dremel to do it. So, I say go for the 15s.

 

GO WITH THE 15's

 

i have 15x8 pro comp rock crawlers with 3.75 backspacing and they fit just fine with no rubbing at all. guy at my local 4 wheel parts told me the same thing but i had already purchased the rims. mounted on pro comp MTs 35x12.50R15

 

Take 1 rim home and get a grinding disk and clearance your brake calpier it is worth the money savings and you dont take off much material. I had to grind mine and I have a rubi. the 5 mins was worth the 500+ bucks I saved and I like the performance and the look of a 15" rim not to mention the availibility of tires and such