I've got a tough one here, and could use some input from the peanut gallery. I am currently still running 4 of the factory 225/75R16 Wrangler ST tires on factory 16x7 steel wheels (tire #5 had a blowout during my last trip to Rausch Creek and essentially ended all my wheeling for the time being). I have 27k miles on them and although they are small and skinny, they have been good street tires for me. Not the best tires by any stretch, but they got me through this past winter in the north east with little to no drama so they can't be that bad.

I also have a set of 5 low mileage take off BFG KM's sitting in the garage with no wheels that are 255/75R17. Here is the dilemma........I can't wheel till I get those tires onto a set of wheels, and I'm having a hell of a time making the decision. I've narrowed it down to these 3 selections, but all have their pluses and minuses.

Option 1 ~$372.70
Buy a set of Cragar Soft 8's (17x8 4.5"BS) strictly for wheeling with the KM's, and switch back to my street wheels and tires when I get home. I would consider running the KM's all the time, but I have a long commute (120 miles per day). Although I only drive my Jeep 1-2 days a week, when I do it is usually poor weather and I'm not sure I can trust a MT tire with the potential hydroplaning and other performance compromises you have to make with that type of tire. This option would also allow me to keep a set of wheels/tires strictly for wheeling so I wouldn't have worry about wheel and tire damage possibly preventing me from easily getting to work on Monday. Once my Factory Wrangler ST's wear out (hopefully another ~20-30k miles), I think I would buy a set of good AT tires in a moderately sized 265/75R16 to put on the factory steel wheels and keep on rolling.

Option 2 ~$556.45
Buy a set of Pro Comp 7069's (17x9 4.5"BS) for the KM's and run them all the time, and just replace them with something else when they wear out. My two issues with this is that the 255/75R17 KM's are only rated for up to a 8.5" rim width. I most likely would be OK, but I'm not sure I'm willing to take that gamble. This width thing would also prevent me from airing down very much offroad due to easily damaging a wheel or popping a bead. My 2nd issue is that a 9" wheel with 4.5" backspacing will put the edge of the tire out past the fender. That is a "no no" here in PA. Once again, I would probably be OK, but the last thing I need is another reason for getting hassled by the cops (already got hassled for driving without my doors). Too many local cops around here with nothing better to do.

Option 3 ~$1,045.00
Buy a set of AEV Pintlers (17x8.5 4.7"BS) for the KM's and run them all the time, and just replace them with something else when they wear out. This solves the tire sticking out past the fenders and the tire Vs. wheel width issues, but I would still be stuck driving highway miles on the KM's. Not to mention......FUCK, they are expensive! I'm not sure I want to spend that much just so I can trash them on the trails. Also, due to the cost, I think I would have to hold off on buying them until next winter. Which means I wouldn't even be able to sniff a trail until next spring.

I also considered picking up a set of takeoff 17" wheels, but everyone wants too much $$$ for them considering the backspacing is anything but ideal for wider tires and a future lift. So unless I can come up with a set of those for damn near nothing, I have scratched them off the list in favor of getting something with a little better backspacing.

We have the PA Jeep show coming up here in 2 weeks, and its only 15 min from my house. I have every intention of pulling the trigger on something either at the show, or the following Monday. That will all depend on what deals I can find. Either way......that is my dilemma, and I could use some input. Please feel free to cuss and discuss.

 

If you are planning to lift and go to wider tires you are going have the tires outside the stock fenders eventually anyway. Might as well buy the wheels with the backspacing you will need for that and mount the KMs for the time being.
I ran the stock KMs for over 60K in rain, ice, snow, mud and never had any problems. They looked great when I took them off but I got tired of waiting for them to wear out.
When I lifted I went to 35X12.50R17 Goodyear MT/R Kevlars on stock Rubi wheels with 1 1/2" spacers. The tire and wheel width don't exactly match but that's done all the time. The tread is less than an inch past the fender.
Good luck.

 

Not sure what the used part situation is in your neck of the woods, but where I live it was cheaper for me just to buy the Cragar Soft 8, than pay what the used market was getting for take-off Rubi 17" wheels. I went with 15" wheels and tires, which saved me a lot of coin in the end. They fit with no rubbing, and I figured I didn't need load range D, or E tires for mt 2 door JK.

So, I'd sell your BFG KM's, throw on a 2.5" spacer lift, and save up for some 35" tires.

 

Option 1 -- 24/7 including the commute.

 

I'm not sure that is the case, and I have no intention of ever running around with my tires out past the stock fenders. Legally, I can't do it in PA, and more importantly, I don't want to. I'm sure I can find a guy that would slap an inspection sticker on it every year, but if there are options out there that keep me legal, why not just go that route and avoid the potential hassle? I have seen guys with 35's on the Pintlers and they don't stick out past the fenders. That should also be the case with the Soft 8's I have listed above. It all has to do with the wheel width Vs. backspacing with reference to the hub. For instance with the Soft 8's. If you buy the 17x9 4.5"BS wheel, then it will push the tire out from under the fender, but if you buy the 17x8 4.5"BS wheel, then it will keep the tire tucked up under the fender. I'm dorky enough to have a sheet of graph paper here with all of the measurements to compare wheel widths and backspacing for all of the wheels I have considered. The extra inch of wheel width on the 9" Soft 8 is added directly to the outside of the wheel, so it literally pushed the tire 1" further out. The limitation here is that you would end up having too narrow of a wheel to properly run a 35" tire, but I'm not really concerned with that too much. I might end up on 35's some day, but I don't think it will be anytime soon. I have a lot of other things I want/need to do first before I worry about stuffing that much rubber under my little 2-door.

Thanks for the input guys. I'm leaning pretty heavily towards the Soft 8's and keeping my original street tires around for commuting duty.