Wheel Spec Help

[spurly]

Ok, I've never bought aftermarket wheels for any of my vehicles before. I've always enjoyed the factory wheels. Even my old TJ I ran the stock wheels. Partly because I can't seem to fully understand all the necessary wheel specs

But it'd available time I get something for the JL. I'm still using the stock Rubicon wheels but they're wrapped in a 35x12.5 Ridge Grappler. Currently running a 2 inch lift made up of Synergy Springs, Metalcloak control arms, and Fox Shocks. I'm also forced to run a 1.75 inch wheel spacer to avoid rubbing. I tried without, but the tire rubs on the top of the sway bar link at full turn.

I'm pushing up my timeline for wheels since I just got back from Moab last weekend. A buddy in the group broke a bead on a rock and I'd rather not ruin the factory wheels so I can get some cash out of them.

I've finally narrowed it down to either Dirty Life DT-1 or the DT-2. Color has yet to be decided. What I'm stuck on is the backspacing because they have two different options.

Both are a 17x9 but they have 3.5 inch backspace -38 offset and one with 4.53 inch backspacing and -12 offset. I'd like to eventually run 37x12.5 but I also don't want to buy new wheels in the future or have to run spacers. And the lift may change in the future too. Which do I go with?

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[Chocolate Thunder]

Either will work fine for you. The -38 are aggressive and will poke out of the fenders an inch more than the -12 ones. Both will clear your suspension without spacers.

 

[spurly]

Either will work fine for you. The -38 are aggressive and will poke out of the fenders an inch more than the -12 ones. Both will clear your suspension without spacers.

Thanks. So the -12 should also be good for 37x12.5 tires with no spacers? I've seen some manufacturers say 4.5 minimum backspacing but also some say 3.5 max.

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

Thanks. So the -12 should also be good for 37x12.5 tires with no spacers? I've seen some manufacturers say 4.5 minimum backspacing but also some say 3.5 max.

Yes. I’ve got the same sized tires and a MetalCloak lift. My wheels are +12 (5.22” backspacing). At first I drove it without any wheel spacers at all. No problems. Then I wheeled it. Slight tire rub on the front end links at the extremes of articulation with sharp steering angles. Barely.

The -12/4.53” fitment will give you enough clearance. But if you like your wheels tp poke out more, you can go with the -38/3.5” option.

 

[Some Random Guy]

Does your lift give a maximum backspacing and tire size? If you don’t want to just guess, that can help. The reason tire size is important is you need less backspacing for smaller tires. So if your lift says it handles 40’s but recommends 4.5” of backspacing you can get away with less at a 37” tire.
@Chocolate Thunder has some real world feedback it seems.

 

[spurly]

Does your lift give a maximum backspacing and tire size? If you don’t want to just guess, that can help. The reason tire size is important is you need less backspacing for smaller tires. So if your lift says it handles 40’s but recommends 4.5” of backspacing you can get away with less at a 37” tire.
@Chocolate Thunder has some real world feedback it seems.

I'm running a mix of parts for my lift. But I am running Metalcloak control arms. I thought recommend 4.5" minimum for their lift but couldn't find anything.

And when you say less backspacing do you mean 5.5 inches of 3.5 inches?

 

[Some Random Guy]

I'm running a mix of parts for my lift. But I am running Metalcloak control arms. I thought recommend 4.5" minimum for their lift but couldn't find anything.

And when you say less backspacing do you mean 5.5 inches of 3.5 inches?

Sorry, been drinking. Good catch. If a lift can handle 40’s at 4.5” of backspacing, it might be able to handle 37’s at a higher backspacing. Like 5.5”, since the tire arc on turns doesn’t extend as far inward to cause rub. Made up numbers, I just mean don’t throw in the towel if you’re not running the lift at max tire size.

 

[Headbarcode]

Does your lift give a maximum backspacing and tire size? If you don’t want to just guess, that can help. The reason tire size is important is you need less backspacing for smaller tires. So if your lift says it handles 40’s but recommends 4.5” of backspacing you can get away with less at a 37” tire.
@Chocolate Thunder has some real world feedback it seems.

It really depends on the components and amount of articulation of a specific lift system. Metalcloak, for example, utilizes shock relocation brackets that shift the shock closer to the back of the wheel and tire. Their recommended 4.5" minimum backspace would be needed for the whole spectrum of tire sizes.

Like Chocolate Thunder, I've got the 3.5" Metalcloak Gamechanger. And 38x13.5's wrapped around 17x9 wheels with -12mm offset and 4.53" of backspace. Stuffed or drooped, they clear when turned to full lock in both directions. The only light rub I get, with 3" of bumpstop spacing, is the top inner corner of the tire on the inner fender liner. All of my fenders are chopped and have the AAL high tuck liners. 40's or stock fender liners would require 4" of bumpstop spacing and/or less backspacing.

The only time I've seen someone getting away with more than 4.5" of backspace and 37"+ tires, is with a lift that doesn't have a higher amount of total suspension travel. The Mopar lift is a commonly used example of that.

 

[sourdough]

[QUOTE="Headbarcode, post: 1532378, member: 22198.
The only time I've seen someone getting away with more than 4.5" of backspace and 37"+ tires, is with a lift that doesn't have a higher amount of total suspension travel. The Mopar lift is a commonly used example of that.
[/QUOTE]
Both Mopar and AEV offer wheels engineered with offsets that work with their lift kits on Rubicons.
Pros-Stock lug nuts, minimal tire poke
Cons- limited to 37" or less tires

 

[spurly]

It really depends on the components and amount of articulation of a specific lift system. Metalcloak, for example, utilizes shock relocation brackets that shift the shock closer to the back of the wheel and tire. Their recommended 4.5" minimum backspace would be needed for the whole spectrum of tire sizes.

Like Chocolate Thunder, I've got the 3.5" Metalcloak Gamechanger. And 38x13.5's wrapped around 17x9 wheels with -12mm offset and 4.53" of backspace. Stuffed or drooped, they clear when turned to full lock in both directions. The only light rub I get, with 3" of bumpstop spacing, is the top inner corner of the tire on the inner fender liner. All of my fenders are chopped and have the AAL high tuck liners. 40's or stock fender liners would require 4" of bumpstop spacing and/or less backspacing.

The only time I've seen someone getting away with more than 4.5" of backspace and 37"+ tires, is with a lift that doesn't have a higher amount of total suspension travel. The Mopar lift is a commonly used example of that.

This helps a lot. I always see the minimum backspacing requirements on lifts but wasn't sure how all that applied to different size wheels. Looks like I'll be getting 17x9 with 4.53 inches of backspacing. Thanks.

 

[Headbarcode]

[QUOTE="Headbarcode, post: 1532378, member: 22198.
The only time I've seen someone getting away with more than 4.5" of backspace and 37"+ tires, is with a lift that doesn't have a higher amount of total suspension travel. The Mopar lift is a commonly used example of that.

Both Mopar and AEV offer wheels engineered with offsets that work with their lift kits on Rubicons.
Pros-Stock lug nuts, minimal tire poke
Cons- limited to 37" or less tires
[/QUOTE]
Yeah, I also found out the hard and $ way about Synergy belonging on the list of lifts that aren't meant for lots of flex, like Metalcloak and Rock Krawler.

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