I am looking at some 17x10" wheels; and I have the option of choosing a custom backspacing. The backspacing can be from 3 to 4.5 inches. I know that at minimum they should be 4.5 inch.

I am planning on running 35’s and perhaps stepping up to 37’s later down the road. I want to keep my track width as narrow as possible; but I am also hoping to keep the center of gravity as low as possible, so I would like to avoid going much higher than the 3” of lift that I currently have. I would prefer to just trim my fenders, and if need be do a 1” body lift for a little more clearance.

So, with all that said; for those running a 35-37x12.5’s with no more than 4” of lift what are your thoughts on backspace? If you have 4.5bs are you rubbing, and if so where? And if you had it to do over would you go with 4”, 3.75”, 3.5”, 3.25” or even 3”?

Obviously the backspacing can cause additional stress to components; just another reason I don’t want to go to crazy if it can be avoided… The wheels I am looking at are forged aluminum, so they are quite light for a 17x10, so this should help with rotational mass.

As we all know; for some reason the mods never seem to end, and who knows what I might do in the future to my rig suspension wise. But for now my current lift with a few tweaks is going to have to do.

I guess the main thing I want to avoid is having to invest in another set of wheels in the immediate future; so I want to get this right the first time around. And although to some this might not be a big ticket item, these wheels are to me. So any insight and experience that you can provide is greatly appreciated.

 

ttt

 

even with 10" wheels, 4.5" of BS should do the trick just fine especially since you're just going to be running 12.50 wide tires. but, if you really can get this in any BS, 3.75" would be the way i would go. it'll give you a bit more clearance and give you a wider stance.

 

17 x 10" wheels are very hard to find for the JK's bolt pattern. Can I ask what wheels you're going with?

 

Keep in mind that there is a difference between 4.5" BS on a 10" wheel and an 8" wheel. A 12.50 tire is going to "hang over" an extra inch on each side of an 8" wheel when compared to an 10" wheel. So 4.5" of back spacing on a 10" wheel is actualling moving the tire out an extra inch compared to the same tire on an 8" wheel.

In my opinion, 4.5" BS on a 10in wheel is more than enough and probably the route I am going. But many argue that 8inch rims are the way to go in the rocks....