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What is ideal size wheel for a 33x12.50 tire???

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Old Jul 8, 2010 | 10:08 AM
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Default What is ideal size wheel for a 33x12.50 tire???

Hey gang, what are your opinions on the right size wheel for a 33x12.50 tire? Should I stay with a 17x9 or go to a different size. I know the prices are way cheaper for the 15 and 16. Just trying to figure out what is best. 15, 16 or 17 by what 8, 9 10? This is my daily driver too. Just light trails no hardcore offroading. Thanks for the replies.
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Old Jul 8, 2010 | 10:12 AM
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I got 16x8.
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Old Jul 8, 2010 | 10:31 AM
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Originally Posted by JeepNDad
Hey gang, what are your opinions on the right size wheel for a 33x12.50 tire? Should I stay with a 17x9 or go to a different size. I know the prices are way cheaper for the 15 and 16. Just trying to figure out what is best. 15, 16 or 17 by what 8, 9 10? This is my daily driver too. Just light trails no hardcore offroading. Thanks for the replies.
I have been running Cooper STT's in 33x12.5's on my stock Sahara 17" Moab's for 4 years without any issues. I have aired them down many times and never damaged anything or spun a tire. I prefer the stock rims I have over most aftermarkets so I chose just to keep them. It is my daily driver and there is around 28-30k on the tires.



Now, if i could afford some Walker Evans... then i might be checking new sizes.





anywho... The tire MFG of your choice should have the approved rim width specs on thier website in regards to the tire size you chose. I forget what it is for the Coopers but i know the stock rims are narrower than they suggest, but myself and many others run 12.5" wide tires on them and have for years.

Last edited by HappyCurmudgeon; Jul 8, 2010 at 10:35 AM.
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Old Jul 8, 2010 | 10:38 AM
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Im going to run my factory sahara 18's because the tires i want are not available in a 15" rim. the cost of tires +17's would be waayyy more then spacers and stockers.
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Old Jul 8, 2010 | 10:40 AM
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For a rig that sees some trail duty, the 8 inch wide is just fine at around 28 to 35psi. If you get a 9" rim, then the tire wont balloon as much.

Anything between 8 to 10 is a safe bet. I plan to put some 33x12.5 on my 17x8 rims later on when my 33x11.5 wear out.
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Old Jul 8, 2010 | 11:38 AM
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Same as Happy....running my Cooper STT 33x12.50R17 on a eagle Alloy 17x8 rim with 4.5BS and it's my families DD and off-roader. I have had the tires aired down to 12PSI with no issues. Cooper suggests a 8.5 wide rim for 33x12.50 tires...but 8" wide has been no issue with these tires.

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Old Jul 8, 2010 | 04:30 PM
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More opinions needed and thanks to everyone who has already replied.
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Old Jul 8, 2010 | 04:38 PM
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Default I run a 35/12.50/20

Peopl can say what they want about a 20 inch rim but I have more sidewall than any 33 inch tire on a smaller rim . I love my setup and it rides great
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Old Jul 8, 2010 | 05:43 PM
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Well. no arguement on the nice looking 20s there pal. But this guy wants to know what width the rims need to be to fit a 33x12.50. What width are yours?

And... I bet a 33x12.50R15 has more sidewall.
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Old Jul 8, 2010 | 06:45 PM
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Originally Posted by IcyFridge

And... I bet a 33x12.50R15 has more sidewall.
Much more sidewall..... The math is very simple. For example, the 33/12.50-15 measures 32.8" in diameter. You subtract wheel diameter from the 32.8" tire diameter, divide the balance by 2 and you have the sidewall height.

32.8" - 15" = 17.8" / 2 = 8.9"

35/12.50-20:

34.6" - 20" = 14.6" / 2 = 7.3"

How about 285/70-17s?

32.8" - 17" = 15.8" / 2 = 7.9"

How about the factory 32" Goodyear SR-As?

32.1" - 17" = 15.1" / 2 = 7.55"

So, those nice 20" Terra Grapplers have less side wall than the OEM Goodyears on a stock Wrangler Sport.

Last edited by Widewing; Jul 8, 2010 at 06:56 PM.
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