kapk22
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Kasey
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2020
- Threads
- 169
- Messages
- 973
- Reaction score
- 432
- Location
- San Antonio Texas
- Vehicle(s)
- 1990 YJ, 2021 JLUR
- Thread starter
- #16
Haha
Sponsored
Well I just lost my breakfast.Haha
Just a note on the tires, I went with the Ridge Grapplers (was thinking of going with the Mud Grapplers, but got talked into these instead). I really like the tread pattern- does well in the mud, but also provides a nice ride on the highway- and supposedly if you rotate them regularly these will last a long time. Also, I see you have a Rubicon, and- at least in my experience- you don't need to do very much modification to the suspension to run the 37x12.5 Ridge Grapplers. Also, keeping the rim width reasonable, you have some "bulge" to the sidewall that protects the rim from rocks (and- during daily driving- curbs)...kapk22 said:I had 20” wheels on my 2018 F150 and 35x12.50 mud grapplers. It looked pretty good. But I did not take it off road as much as I will with the new Jeep. I also have the 1990 YJ that I typically use for playing, so I can beat it up.
more sidewall = more tire flexI’ve noticed a vast majority of lifted JLs with 35s and even 37s are mounted inside 17” wheels.
is there a reason for this? What are the negatives in running 18s or 20s?
I personally like the looks of 20” wheels with 37” tires.
As a newbie - I came here this morning hoping I'd find exactly this info - perfect, thanks!As it pertains to Jeep size wheels and tires, the larger the wheel diameter, the less sidewall you will have.
Tires (and the amount of sidewall) directly affect ride and handling. With a taller sidewall area, the tire can flex more, providing a better ride. With a shorter sidewall, the flexing of the sidewall is reduced, leading to a more firm ride, but better handling.
Larger diameter wheels and shorter sidewalls are great for sports cars where cornering speed is important. Off road, the shorter sidewalls won't bulge as much when you air down, which can reduce your tread footprint and leave the wheel edges more vulnerable to damage. Short sidewalls will also tend to give the Jeep a rougher ride (on and off road).
I personally don't like the looks of 20" wheels with tires less than 40" on a Wrangler. My primary concerns for tires and wheels are function and ability way before looks. But I also take mine off road. Those who don't and care more for looks might appreciate the 20" wheels.
In addition, the larger the wheel diameter, the more the wheel (and tires) will weigh. This is an important consideration when doing a build, especially if you're not re-gearing, in order to keep down the un-sprung weight.
You're welcome! Plenty of great info on this forum. Good luck with whatever your build plans are. Most importantly, get out there and enjoy your Jeep!As a newbie - I came here this morning hoping I'd find exactly this info - perfect, thanks!