Plannerman
Wandering Explorer
I'm trying to help a friend decide on tire and wheel sizes, but I'm not familiar enough with the JKs to be of much help. She has a '08 2-door JK with a newly installed AEV 2.5" Dual Sport lift (good choice from what I can tell). The installer strongly recommended she dump the 18" sahara wheels for something smaller to get out of the expensive 18" tires. The intended use of the vehicle is light wheeling/weekend expo trips.
As I understand it, her Jeep came with 32s (255/70R18). She is considering 34s or 35s (probably 285 series tires), but those considerations such as fit within the wheel well, necessary wheel width, backspacing, gearing, etc. I've been trying to get up to speed on this topic to help advise her, but now feel like I'm running in circles.
How big of a tire can she fit without needing to regear and without turning the vehicle into a sled? Without rubbing? How big a tire will the Rubicon wheels accommodate? Without spacers? Will 16" wheels clear the brake calipers? Will a bigger tire work on the door spare tire mount? Any recommendations for not committing her to the unending cycle of upgrades (lift -> bigger tires -> regearing -> etc, etc.) or at least a moderate cycle? Anything else to be aware of?
Much thanks, Jeep friends!
As I understand it, her Jeep came with 32s (255/70R18). She is considering 34s or 35s (probably 285 series tires), but those considerations such as fit within the wheel well, necessary wheel width, backspacing, gearing, etc. I've been trying to get up to speed on this topic to help advise her, but now feel like I'm running in circles.
How big of a tire can she fit without needing to regear and without turning the vehicle into a sled? Without rubbing? How big a tire will the Rubicon wheels accommodate? Without spacers? Will 16" wheels clear the brake calipers? Will a bigger tire work on the door spare tire mount? Any recommendations for not committing her to the unending cycle of upgrades (lift -> bigger tires -> regearing -> etc, etc.) or at least a moderate cycle? Anything else to be aware of?
Much thanks, Jeep friends!