Jeep Wrangler Forum banner

5.45" Backspacing

3K views 5 replies 3 participants last post by  boxingfreddy 
#1 ·
I'm going to upgrade rims and tires this week. Everything I've read says 4.25" is the magic number. Is there a huge difference in the look (stance) when running a rim that had 5.45" backspacing? My plan is to put BF Goodrich 285 70/R17's Rugged Terrain T/A's on MB TKO's (I will put a 2.5 inch lift later); these rims have 5.45 BS. I know this equates to less stress on bearings and joints in the long-run, and my JK is my daily driver, but I'm wondering if the stance will be beefy enough. The stock tires are rims are pretty Mickey Mouse. I just want them to stick out under the fenders a little bit.
 
#2 ·
The BS is only .5" less than stock, that may/may not be enough to avoid rubbing at full clock. Some have gotten away with 285's on stock wheels but more often people report rubbing at full clock with the 6" BS wheels. As far as sticking out under the fenders this set up may not do that, the outer edge of the tire will be just over an inch further out than a stock 255/75R17 (unless you have a Sport with 29" tires now).

If I were looking to go to a 285 on a 17" wheel personally I'd look for a wheel with 5" BS. 4.5" has been the magic number I've seen for 8" wide wheels.
 
#3 ·
Actually, those wheels will stick out 4" farther than the stock wheels. Stockers have 1.5" of wheel out past the mounting hub. These MB wheels you're talking about would have 5.5" of wheel out past the mounting hub. So not only are you getting a little more room on the inside, you're pushing the outside of the tire WAY out also.

I think they'd be perfect for that size...but I wouldn't go any larger with tires on those wheels or you'll rub...like the previous guy said.
 
#5 ·
There is a ton of confusion on the stock wheels. If you measure from mounting surface to OUTER lip of the wheel, you get 6.25". But, if you measure from the mounting surface to the INNER lip of the wheel (where the tire bead would rest) you get 6.0". Also, the offset is stamped into the factory wheels. I think it says 44.45mm, which if you do the math translates to 6.0". So most people on the forums are measuring wrong.

Then that brings me to the aftermarket wheels...each manufacturer may measure theirs differently. So really it's a crap shoot. You never know what you're going to get.

I look at it this way...if the factory wheel is 7.5" and 6.0" of that is backspacing, then 1.5" is sticking outside under the flares.

A wheel that's 8.5" with 5.5" of backspacing (like the one you are talking about above) is going to leave 3.0" sticking outside under the flares.

My math above was totally jacked up and I apologize. But you are effectively pushing your tire out 1.5" PLUS the added width of the new tires, so they are definitely going to give you a wider stance.
 
#6 ·
That makes a little more sense now, WXman. I just measured the stock setup, and the tires sit about an inch inside the fender; I am looking to about an inch OUTSIDE the fender. So you're saying these MB wheels in conjunction with the BF Goodrich Rugged Terrains will effectively get me where I want to be--an inch outside the fenders?
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top