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Bigger Tires on OEM Wheels - My Setup so far

JL18

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I agonized over how best to make my Sahara Unlimited JL a little tougher looking without getting too crazy. I was going to go with aftermarket wheels, but decided not to because I didn’t like the offset choices and didn't want to have the wheels sticking outside of the factory fenders too far. I wanted them to just barely stick out. I looked at a lot of threads and did a ton of looking around before I did this. I think this will answer a lot of the same questions I had.

- I stuck with my original factory wheels.
- Went with Nitto Ridge Grapplers 295/70/R18. This is a 34.2” x 11.6” tire. As far as I know, this is the largest I could fit on my factory 7.5” wide wheels. Per Nitto recommended wheel widths.
- Added 1.25” aluminum, hub centric, wheel spacers, so the tires wouldn’t rub. Got them from Wheel Adapters USA.
- Went with a Daystar 2” spacer lift. I loved that this kit came with front lower control arms to keep the caster within spec. After install my caster is 5.5 degrees. I also wanted to maintain close to the factory gap between the fender and tire.
- Waiting on my spare tire relocation kit....

Very happy with the result, so far. The ride is still great, maybe slightly more harsh over pot holes and large bumps due to the E load rating of the tires. Road noise slightly higher than the factory tires, but still quiet. Definitely not annoying. Handling is still great. Very happy so far. Check out the pics, before and after. Hope this helps someone with their decision.

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ATXMTB

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Going with the same tires myself. I love the look. Thanks for sharing. I am glad to hear the road noise and ride wasn't affected too much over stock ATs.
 
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JL18

JL18

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Going with the same tires myself. I love the look. Thanks for sharing. I am glad to hear the road noise and ride wasn't affected too much over stock ATs.
Now that I’ve driven on them more, I’m really pleased with how quiet they are. They are a little stiffer than the original C load rated tires, but not too bad. My wrangler had highway tread tires, not all terrains, so even better.
 

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ATXMTB

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Now that I’ve driven on them more, I’m really pleased with how quiet they are. They are a little stiffer than the original C load rated tires, but not too bad. My wrangler had highway tread tires, not all terrains, so even better.
What PSI are you running on the Nittos?
 
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JL18

JL18

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What PSI are you running on the Nittos?
I have them at 35 right now. If I go lower, I know it will soften the ride, but at what point do you start reducing the life of the tire??
 

roaniecowpony

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I have them at 35 right now. If I go lower, I know it will soften the ride, but at what point do you start reducing the life of the tire??
If you do a contact patch test, you'll likely find you are not getting contact all the way across. 29-30 psi cold, and about 32-33 psi warmed up seems to be about right for my 33" stock Rubicon BFGs. You'll get a low pressure warning. It's the best pressure I've found for my JLUR. Handles the best. I tried from the factory setting 37 psi, down in 2 psi increments. 32 psi warmed up will not reduce the life. If anything, you'll get more life out of them.
 

Dkretden

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I agonized over how best to make my Sahara Unlimited JL a little tougher looking without getting too crazy. I was going to go with aftermarket wheels, but decided not to because I didn’t like the offset choices and didn't want to have the wheels sticking outside of the factory fenders too far. I wanted them to just barely stick out. I looked at a lot of threads and did a ton of looking around before I did this. I think this will answer a lot of the same questions I had.

- I stuck with my original factory wheels.
- Went with Nitto Ridge Grapplers 295/70/R18. This is a 34.2” x 11.6” tire. As far as I know, this is the largest I could fit on my factory 7.5” wide wheels. Per Nitto recommended wheel widths.
- Added 1.25” aluminum, hub centric, wheel spacers, so the tires wouldn’t rub. Got them from Wheel Adapters USA.
- Went with a Daystar 2” spacer lift. I loved that this kit came with front lower control arms to keep the caster within spec. After install my caster is 5.5 degrees. I also wanted to maintain close to the factory gap between the fender and tire.
- Waiting on my spare tire relocation kit....

Very happy with the result, so far. The ride is still great, maybe slightly more harsh over pot holes and large bumps due to the E load rating of the tires. Road noise slightly higher than the factory tires, but still quiet. Definitely not annoying. Handling is still great. Very happy so far. Check out the pics, before and after. Hope this helps someone with their decision.

8A6F854B-8B3D-45E4-88B9-7BC4962FF310.jpeg
50F80AC0-299C-49F3-9B65-A0B0885380DE.jpeg
00C09F3D-A916-498F-91B6-6CE72FFBE64E.jpeg
A980A49F-0A27-498E-AA52-B82E66E2CC67.jpeg
023B67E3-FDCC-45CF-8595-B8F569E55BF6.jpeg
3ED0E0C4-9AF8-49F7-9CAD-DC0A1A71CB51.jpeg
351C3050-7CFB-48F6-99BE-765F5F6CC756.jpeg
0CEA0EAD-CB65-4068-946E-AD8E355482B3.jpeg
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6FFBCE87-8D8B-4FE6-B8FD-4B678478ACCF.jpeg
D21B8507-FE41-413B-8655-3273C8DAEA70.jpeg
5498D4B8-CBEC-457C-B67C-6C626B94BABE.jpeg
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OP, your build looks great! Congrats......

I am a newbie and I am trying to figure stuff like this out.

Had you not put on the spacers, I “think” that you could have purchased a rim with about a +12mm offset and been able to put the wheels in “about” the same place as they are now. Again, I am new and trying to learn. Is this correct?

If I am correct, Why did you go with the spacers instead of new wheels? Was it simply a matter of cost and aesthetics (new wheels are costly and you like the look of the stock ones) or, is there something else that I am missing regarding spacers vs new wheels with a different offset?
 
OP
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JL18

JL18

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I’ll do a chalk test or see if someone already has the info out there since Nittos are pretty popular in the Jeep crowd. Thanks for the advice. I really want to get it “correct” and why not, better ride, longer life, etc. sounds like a win, win to me!
If you do a contact patch test, you'll likely find you are not getting contact all the way across. 29-30 psi cold, and about 32-33 psi warmed up seems to be about right for my 33" stock Rubicon BFGs. You'll get a low pressure warning. It's the best pressure I've found for my JLUR. Handles the best. I tried from the factory setting 37 psi, down in 2 psi increments. 32 psi warmed up will not reduce the life. If anything, you'll get more life out of them.
i
 

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JL18

JL18

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I was/am still in the same boat trying to figure out what I think looks good while retaining as much of the factory ride quality as possible. My Jeep will be on the pavement 95% of the time. I’d like to say I’ll be off-road more, but based on my past I’m going with 95%

What you are saying is true. With 1.25 spacers I now effectively have 44.5mm (original offset) - 31.75mm (spacer) = 12.75mm (effective new offset). I really wanted the Fuel Beasts, but they only come in either a -12mm or +1mm offset. With the +1 I’d be another approximately 1/2” outside and be running a wider 9” rim which I believe would end up further outside the fender. I think the Beast has a 4.5” backspacing and the stock wheel a 6.5”??

I also still liked the factory wheels and hated tossing them when I just paid for them. I had the money for the Beasts, but just decided to save it for something else since I am running over a 34” tire and staying within Nittos recommendation on rim width with the OEM wheel.

I am happy with the result and think it’s a good compromise for me.

I’m also far from an expert, so correct me if I’m saying something wrong.

OP, your build looks great! Congrats......

I am a newbie and I am trying to figure stuff like this out.

Had you not put on the spacers, I “think” that you could have purchased a rim with about a +12mm offset and been able to put the wheels in “about” the same place as they are now. Again, I am new and trying to learn. Is this correct?

If I am correct, Why did you go with the spacers instead of new wheels? Was it simply a matter of cost and aesthetics (new wheels are costly and you like the look of the stock ones) or, is there something else that I am missing regarding spacers vs new wheels with a different offset?[/QUOTE
 

roaniecowpony

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I’ll do a chalk test or see if someone already has the info out there since Nittos are pretty popular in the Jeep crowd. Thanks for the advice. I really want to get it “correct” and why not, better ride, longer life, etc. sounds like a win, win to me!

i

Do the test with warm tires or use the pressure that you tested at as the warmed up tire pressure. We don't drive on cold tires and a tire pressure gauge measures difference from ambient pressure, which is what matters on a tire.
 
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JL18

JL18

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I almost forgot. I had 4 Wheel Parts do the install. I asked them only to install the spacers if the tires rubbed without them. They said the tires would rub without them, so on the spacers went.....


OP, your build looks great! Congrats......

I am a newbie and I am trying to figure stuff like this out.

Had you not put on the spacers, I “think” that you could have purchased a rim with about a +12mm offset and been able to put the wheels in “about” the same place as they are now. Again, I am new and trying to learn. Is this correct?

If I am correct, Why did you go with the spacers instead of new wheels? Was it simply a matter of cost and aesthetics (new wheels are costly and you like the look of the stock ones) or, is there something else that I am missing regarding spacers vs new wheels with a different offset?
 

Dkretden

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I almost forgot. I had 4 Wheel Parts do the install. I asked them only to install the spacers if the tires rubbed without them. They said the tires would rub without them, so on the spacers went.....
OP, thank you for your commentary above. It helps me.

Again, congrats on the new tires - they really look great on your Jeep..... totally changes the look. Well done.
 
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JL18

JL18

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Thanks! Good luck on your build!
OP, thank you for your commentary above. It helps me.

Again, congrats on the new tires - they really look great on your Jeep..... totally changes the look. Well done.[/QUOTE
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