9" wheels will work fine...you'd be better off with 8".
The backspacing will depend on how wide a tire you wanna run. Most folks go with 4.5" bs or less. That'll allow you to run tires up to 12.5" wide. The smaller the bs #, the more your tires will stick out from your Jeep.
You'd save a lot of coin if you went to a smaller wheel, say 15" or 16". In fact, you'll spend almost as much on 17" tires alone than on 15" tires AND wheels, in most cases.
Some issues: most 15" alloy wheels will clear your brake calipers just fine; most 15" steel wheels will not. PM forum vendor DTD at Discount Tire to find out which alloys will clear and which won't. Also, the vast majority of 15" wheels come with bs of 3.75" or less. This means your tires are gonna stick out past the fenders. Some states frown on this; also, every time it rains your tires will sling grime all over the side of your Jeep. Just FYI...some peeps hate that.
This thread will give you a crash course on choosing wheels/tires for your Jeep, in a variety of configurations. All you need to read is the first post.
Thanks for all the info. Was looking at the Goodyears that came on the jeep and boy, they aren't that meaty at all. We're supposed to get blasted this year with snow and well, my state sux at clearing the roads AND my neighbor doesn't get plowed at all. I'm just wondering how well the Goodyears would be?
My state won't allow tires sticking out to pass at inspection time. I'm not sure if the cops can pull me over for that or not. I'd prefer to keep them at the fenders as they are now. I'll definitely peek at the thread. Thanks again.
If you're looking for a tire that does well in slick stuff (snow, rain, mud,) check out the GY DuraTrac. I run those year-round here in Wisconsin. Best snow tire I've had outside of a set of Blizzaks I ran one year in the Rocky Mountains (on a non-Jeep).
the duratracs really are awesome. i had them on my cherokee in a 33" and they worked very well on rocks, mud, and in the sand. after my open countrys wear out im putting duratracs on my wrangler
When tires and wheels cost as much as they do, there's no such thing as over analyzing :thumb:
What will your jeep be used for? That can help narrow your decision.
For instance, my jeep is my dd, and right now i wheel just a couple times a month, and i originally got the jeep so i could make it to work, no matter how much snow accumulated in the winter. Within these constraints, duratrac was the right choice for me.
People that offroad more than i do, or get into soupy situations, like the km2's. They are an offroad tire that have good on-road manners. Relatively light for a 3ply mud tire. But to be effective in snow, they need to be siped.
I was torn between these two myself, and might get some km2's when my duratracs go bald.
My Jeep is also my DD. I need something that is gonna get me through the snow. Delaware is horrible for plowing the roads and my neighborhood never gets plowed. So snow is a huge thing to ponder. Will I go off roading somewhere? Highly unlikely. I'll drive the back/dirt roads at work (landfill) and get muddy but not any serious off roading.
I had KM2's on my 07 Ranger, 33's, it was lifted. It plowed through anything. Those tires are aggressive looking and will get through any much, however, they dropped my mpg and they are loud on the road.
I'm afraid the stock Goodyear Wranger SR-A aren't going to give me enough traction in snow.
The duratracs have served me well in all onroad weather situations.
Also consider cooper discoverer's AT (i think they are called st maxx, might be wrong tho). I don't know a whole bunch about them, but xjknight does, hopefully he'll pop in and tell you about them.
Ok, thanks. I'm looking for the best price but yet something that's gonna plow through the beautiful white stuff. Who doesn't want a bargain, right? Good thing I have about month before I have to hunker down and get it done.
Now to actually add something useful. I'm in north central Alberta. We get tons of snow ice etc....
The vast majority of people here who I go off road with swear by the duratracs for winter. I have M/T right now and am gonna be switching over soon too.
go with the duratracs. you're going to be very happy with them. and to help your decision, if you join treadlightly, you'll get a $100 rebate for buying them.
and if you go through discount tire direct, tell them your a member of this forum, that's another $50 off your order...
i would take duratracs over km2s or nitto grapplers any day. my toyo open countrys are nice but for the price theyre not really better than the duratracs
Wow they look good especially with the orange, I like the pointy/rugged spoke pattern as well
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