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JK 2dr new wheels & offset ruined drive: Need advice on new offset

14K views 35 replies 21 participants last post by  Espo78 
#1 ·
Here is an interesting observation for those considering wheels and tires on a JK 2dr.

I recently added GY Duratrac's 285/70-17 on daughters JKU 4dr and stock wheels. Ride was slightly firmer, but overall very pleased with the tires. Running at 35 psi.

This winter, I upgraded my other daughters 2015 JK dr. with the same exact tire, but also used XD Addict wheels (17x9 & 4.53 backspace).
Drove this vehicle a few weeks with stock setup before adding the tires/wheels.
Now I'm into it about 6,000 miles and determine the ride and steering is just not safe for my 15, soon to be 16 year old daughter. Pressures run at 32 then 28 psi.
So I'm wondering is it the tires and or wheels?

Last weekend I swapped the wheels/tires between the two jeeps, and bingo. The 2dr drives significantly better.

It appears the offset on the 2dr really messes with the steering input as it would dart terribly when hitting road bumps, filled pot holes etc. You had to have a firm grip on the wheel at all times or else you would be 2 or more feet over in your lane before you knew it. It also rocked side to side more when encountering dips like drain basins in parking lots too.

The XD wheels /tires on JKU 4dr. seems to drive no different than with the stock wheels? Maybe a little more dart when hitting road imperfections, but not annoying like the 2dr. Apparently the offset difference has less effect on the longer wheelbase and weight of the 4dr.

So now, good ole dad just lost a perfectly good set of nice wheels to oldest daughter (no way will they come off without tears) and I need to find a better offset wheel for the 2dr.

So my question to the experts:
Stock BS is like 6.25
XD wheels I have are 4.53
XD makes same wheel with 5.71 BS
XD makes another wheel with 5.88 BS I like too (& 8" wide)
XD wheels are 9" wide should I consider 8"
Could this help with my situation?

I really want to make the right choice on the wheels for the 2dr. this time.

And oh yea,.. there has to be pics,.. so here they are = before :)
 

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#2 ·
I lasted about 300 miles on my 2dt with those tires on stock wheels with 1.5" wheel spacers. I had the exact same experience. I ditched them and went with a cooper st maxx 255/80-17 pizza cutter. Still on stock wheels and 1.5" spacers. The difference is just amazing. 8000 miles later and the ride hasn't changed.
 
#3 ·
I noticed the same thing on my 2 door JK. I have Dynatrac axles that are 1 1/2" wider on each side than stock, so I can run pretty much any backspacing I want (up to 5 3/4") without worrying about the tires rubbing the frame or control arms at full steering lock. I started out with wheels that had 4 1/2" of backspacing and noticed the same handling issues you report. I changed to wheels with 5 1/4" of backspacing, and the bad handling problems went away. Too much offset gives you a very high scrub radius, which negatively affects handling. It occurs with both the two door and four door JK, but is more noticeable on the two door because of the shorter wheelbase.
 
#4 ·
Have about 8,000 miles on those Duratracs with Helo 878's that have 4.53 backspacing. No issues. What you're describing sounds like bump steer. If I recall correctly, it can be corrected with an adjustable track bar. Your front axle may be off center. Measure from a point on the Jeep to the outside of the tire and do the same on the other side in the same places. That will give you a rough idea.
 

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#5 ·
Boy it sounds like you have the right wheels & tires (by the numbers) but apparently the 2dr Jeep thinks otherwise?

I assume there is no front end alignment issues at work here?

Stock suspension?

I wonder if the issue is the offset, rim width, tire, wheelbase or a combo of all of them?

The obvious solution is the simple one. Older daughter keeps the wide wheels and the younger daughter's 2dr gets the OEM wheels.

Ah, remember when they were young and the problems were less costly?
 
#6 ·
I ran 265/70/R17 BFG T/A KOs on 8 inch wide rims with 4.5 inch backspace with no issues. If anything the jeep felt more stable. This is on a 2010 2dr. I have since gone to 315/70R17 and it drives great. I have a hard time seeing your tire size and rim width being an issue. It could be sidewall flex. (I think the duratracs have a more flexible sidewall). In the end, it really depends on personal preference on how the jeep feels when you drive. The 2dr should certainly be more responsive due the shorter wheelbase.
 
#7 ·
The problems you are describing as so severe, wouldn't just be caused by the offset of the wheels, IMO. I run 15x8 wheels with 4" backspace with Duratracs on a 2 door and don't have any of the issues you described. Sure, it could drive better, it's not a cadillac. I'm not used to driving a 4 door, or any other vehicle but my Jeep is definitely not dangerous, and it won't dart over 2 feet at all. I've hit bumps with my hands completely off the steering wheel while trying to figure out a shimmy I have (balancing issue) and the Jeep tracks straight and true.

Something else is wrong with your setup.
 
#9 ·
LOL,.. I have enough expenses,.. thanks,..LOL
But in reality,.. Dad drives it until September and there after when ever he feels the urge. Thus the sound system: Kenwood head unit, JL sub and amp, Polk speakers,.. I'm old and hard of hearing,.. so need lots of db's
 
#10 ·
I just bought a 2 dr 2012 wrangler last week and have experienced the exact same issue. It drives so smooth, and after I bought it I had a 3 hr. drive home and suddenly hit a bump in the road and was in the other lane. About the time I had decided that I must have hit something I didn't see in the dark, it happened again. The tires are off-road tires, practically brand new (the jeep only has 15.5k miles on it), although I'm at work right now and can't look to see the brand/size. I also have had the same issue hitting puddles, even small ones in the road. It seems like pretty much anything that isn't smooth that I hit at any speed above about 20mph tosses me into the next lane. I bought a 3 year warranty on the car, so is this something that I should have the dealership take a look at? The dealership did an "inspection" prior to letting me leave the lot with it that was supposed to be thorough. The salesman was my dad, so I trust the status of the car, but it does make me wonder if there is a suspension or mechanical issue? I will openly admit to being dumb when it comes to vehicles, or pretty much anything that runs on anything other than a heart and a brain.
 
#13 ·
Welcome to WF! It would probably help if you post up the brand/size of tires and pictures of the wheels if you dont know what they are. Is the Jeep lifted, and do you know what lift and height? If you are lifted and dont know, some pictures of the springs, trackbars, shocks, control arms and driveshaft angles may help folks narrow it down for you. (Basically all of the metal arm things in front and rear, and you will recognize a driveshaft because there will be one in front, one in rear and look like a long tube connecting to the pumpkin.)

Bigger wider offroad tires will drive differently than narrow small stock tires, but should not be throwing you into the next lane.
 
#11 · (Edited)
It's not the offset... more likely the balance job or imperfections in the wheel or tire. I would get them balanced again and see if it improves. I prefer road force balancing. The tire shop should be able to tell you if the wheel or tire is out of round.
 
#12 ·
I'm running a Teraflex leveling kit with General Grabber AT2's 305/70/16's on Level8 Trackers with 4.5" of backspacing and no problems here. I can go over bumps with my hands off the steering wheel and the Jeep tracks straight and doesn't dart anywhere. What I notice is a much better drive then when I was stock due to the wider stance the Jeep is now planted around turns.

Mine is also a 2 door, so I too am thinking something else is going on.
 
#14 ·
I took off the stock wheels on my TJ and replaced with wheels with less offset. If anything, it felt more stable. Not a JK but very similar. Axle offset shouldn't be an issue in any case. Was there a lift involved? That would cause the darting and wandering unless corrected. Only the OP can know for sure but I'd be looking at other things besides wheel offset. That should have very little affect on steering and with exactly the same geometry and only different wheel bases, I can't imagine a 2 dr would act that much differently than a 4dr.

Again, I'm not there and driving it but I'd look elsewhere (lift, DW issues, alignment, etc.)
 
#16 ·
The search is still on. I found some Fuel wheels I like: Maverick's.
They spec out with 17x9 and backspace as:
4.5, 5.0, 5.75

I am leaning toward the 5.75
The stock wheels are 6.25 = drives good
XD's with 4.5 = bad
I think with the wider rim of 9" the BS min option is thus 5.75?

Anyone running wheels with a 5.75 Back Space?
 
#17 ·
You still didn't find the culprit to your problem?? I'm watching this thread closely as I am in my search for 285/70/17s with some new wheels and don't want to make a $2000+ mistake. If you figure out the issue please remember to post it here. Thanks.
 
#18 ·
Im confident the culprit was too much offset (less numerically) messed up scrub radius. The stock rims and same tires drive great. Daughters 4 dr. with other rims also drives good. So I'm concluding the 4dr wheelbase helps mask the change in scrub radius.

When I order the new wheels, I'll get the front end alignment checked. But at 7,000 miles and no off roading I cant image its bad?
 
#19 ·
I would get that alignment before too long.

I had a similar experience with my 2 door, the stock Rubi wheels/tires it tracked fine, no major issues.

Upgraded to different wheels and 35"s and could barely keep the thing on the road. After a lot of back and forth, I bit the bullet and found a local shop that was familiar with the quirks of our beloved Jeeps.

The toe in/out was so out of wack that the Jeep was seemingly driving in two different directions, which was more noticeable on the much wider 35"s due to the amount of traction on the ground over the previous skinny stock Rubis.

After getting it as dialed in as possible, the 35's are still on and I'm having no other issues than a slight shimmy (which is a tire out of balance, thanks to me throwing a weight in all the swapping back and forth)
 
#20 ·
I would get that alignment before too long.

I had a similar experience with my 2 door, the stock Rubi wheels/tires it tracked fine, no major issues.

Upgraded to different wheels and 35"s and could barely keep the thing on the road. After a lot of back and forth, I bit the bullet and found a local shop that was familiar with the quirks of our beloved Jeeps.

The toe in/out was so out of wack that the Jeep was seemingly driving in two different directions, which was more noticeable on the much wider 35"s due to the amount of traction on the ground over the previous skinny stock Rubis.

After getting it as dialed in as possible, the 35's are still on and I'm having no other issues than a slight shimmy (which is a tire out of balance, thanks to me throwing a weight in all the swapping back and forth)
WOW,... Great insight. Thanks!!!
 
#23 ·
It's not the wheels. Countless people run the same offset wheels as you with no issues, myself included, as was posted earlier in the thread. Could be alignment for sure. Don't add the attenuator until you get your problem fixed. No need to mask problems unnecessarily.
 
#24 ·
Great advice everyone.
BTW, I did add the attenuator,... it does help,... but not what I am experiencing.
So now another technical question.
What are the toe specs for a 2015 and should I lean towards one end of the spec to help correct the situation?
I will get it aligned first, then add the wheels back and report on results.
Thanks!!
 
#25 ·


The more negative the toe, the more the vehicle will feel flighty and change lanes like you describe. You want it more on the positive side, but keep it in spec or you will get premature tire wear.

I would not have installed the attenuator until your Jeep drove correctly.
 
#28 ·
As Jeeps are solid axle you only think TOTAL TOE. Anyone who thinks differently doesn't understand solid front axle vehicles. You are just a hair above range. I like mine under .20 but at .23 now. You're fine there.

From that pic your steering wheel shouldn't be straight either, correct?
 
#29 ·
As Jeeps are solid axle you only think TOTAL TOE. Anyone who thinks differently doesn't understand solid front axle vehicles. You are just a hair above range. I like mine under .20 but at .23 now. You're fine there. From that pic your steering wheel shouldn't be straight either, correct?
On the JK (unsure of other models) the steering wheel is easily adjustable. You could have the steering wheel straight and your tires be tracking in completely different directions.
 
#33 ·
Finally following up and closure.
The wheels I chose were Fuel's with the 5.75" back space.
They drive just like OEM wheel / offset. No rubbing.
I like that they are right at the fender edge and not beyond = no mud fling.
I also just added a set of Rubi springs and 1" front spacers.
Gained 2" front and 1.5" rear,.. and added Rancho 5000 X shocks.
 

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