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Yet Another Tire Thread (I'm so sorry)

1K views 9 replies 4 participants last post by  bongo321 
#1 ·
Hey ya'll I'm sorry for starting another tire thread. I've looked through plenty and figured this would be best suited as a new thread.

Much to my excitement and sadness I will be leaving my TJ behind and am currently in the waiting period for my JK build to be delivered in 6-8 weeks. That being said I want to have a new pair of shoes waiting for it when it gets here.

I'm running 3.73 gearing for at least the next year while I focus on other mods before regearing. So 33s are where I'm at for the next little bit indefinitely.

Here's where I get a little confused.

I know I can run 33s on my stock JK out the gate (I'm going to chop up my OEM fenders of buy some cheap flats until I got metal cloak sometime in the future) and I'm used to only being able to stuff 31's under my TJ. I'm not against a lift but that lower on my build list for now.

It doesn't look like I'm going to have a good time putting 15" wheels on the JK while the larger calipers. I'm sold indefinitely on the pro comp 7069s; which I can't find confirmation for a fit on the forum anywhere. I've always ran 15s on my TJ but would consider 16s and 17s for the right reasons? I love the price on 15s and the matching tire prices. 16s seem to have the least amount of options out there and 17s seem too large (too little sidewall for 33s and just look kind of funny to me; could be old habits).

So I'm thinking 16" 15x8 pro comp 7069s for the wheel and one of the following three tires:

BFG A/T KO2
Goodyear Duratrac
Goodyear MTR Kevlar

I've always ran BFG A/Ts on my rigs purely out of familiarity and my jeep being my everything ride.

Keeping a C load rating is important to me (E will ride way too stiff) and have a tire that is a jack of all trades (in the PNW I see wet everything, dry rock, slick rock, ice, snow, etc.).

The last thing I don't understand is that damned metric system. I don't see anyyyyyyy of the 33" tires made for a 16" wheel, only 15"; so what would the comparable metric be?

/long winded post over

Also stoked and nervous to join the JK club.
 
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#4 ·
You can put 35s on there... and just like everyone I know that has, you will want to go larger. Soon. Well before the rubber is worn out. Skip the middleman and get what you're going to want.

Yes, I know 35s and 3.73 is hell. It's all but undriveable. I think about that often while I drive around on 35s with my 3.21 gearing... Especially when I'm off on some trail. You'll be fine. Not terrific, but fine.

The right 15" wheels fit no problem. Call Discount Direct and ask what fits, they already know. There's a great thread on here somewhere. I suggest either save some money and get 15" wheels, or spend more and get 17" wheels. Again... ask around. Everyone that goes with 16s has a tough time finding the tire choice they want.

33s probably won't rub stock fenders. 35s probably will.

Duratracs have a rep for easily cut sidewalls and are a bit pricey. Look nice, though.

MTR have a rep for being hard to balance.

I have 35x12.5x15 BFG KO tires on 15x8 wheels. I like them. They get packed with mud and throw stones. Everything is a trade off.

 
#5 ·
You can put 35s on there... and just like everyone I know that has, you will want to go larger. Soon. Well before the rubber is worn out. Skip the middleman and get what you're going to want. Yes, I know 35s and 3.73 is hell. It's all but undriveable. I think about that often while I drive around on 35s with my 3.21 gearing... Especially when I'm off on some trail. You'll be fine. Not terrific, but fine. The right 15" wheels fit no problem. Call Discount Direct and ask what fits, they already know. There's a great thread on here somewhere. I suggest either save some money and get 15" wheels, or spend more and get 17" wheels. Again... ask around. Everyone that goes with 16s has a tough time finding the tire choice they want. 33s probably won't rub stock fenders. 35s probably will.
Thanks for the reply my friend, any issues with component strain on the 15s with the lower BS?
 
#6 ·
Nothing noticeable yet. But it's a ticking time bomb, I would expect wheel bearings and ball joints to go prematurely compared to if I kept it stock. I can't imagine that a heavy wheel and a longer lever won't strain it. Quite frankly, failure is always an option with a Fiat product built by Chrysler.

Modified by an idiot with a wrench, no less.

It's really a race between that and the driveshafts, what with the 4" or so of frankenlift I've inflicted on it. It'll break, or get broken. Then I'll fix it and move on. You aren't new to Jeeps, so I'm sure you've heard this before in one form or another.

I would just run a set of Rubicon take off tires until you want to go with 35s. I did that for the better part of a year. There aren't too many places 33s will get you that a good 32 won't either.
 
#7 ·
I'm thinking I'll go with a 16" after reading that upgraded tie rod ends won't fit in the 15" wheel.

Unless someone talks me out of it I've narrowed my choice down to the following:

285/75/16 Goodyear MTRs on 16x8 Procomp 7069s

285/75/16 Goodyear Duratracs on 16x8 Procomp 7069s

Anyone have a good first hand comparison? These both sadly are E load rated.

Turns out Procomp doesn't make this wheel in a 5x5 for the JK in a 15". It also looks like I'll be hard pressed to find a nice tire over 31" that's a C load rating, the 35" GY does but I think I want to hold off just because I do a lot of snow in the winter and don't want a power loss there with the extra float.
 
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