I need some help and I really dont understand the difference. I have a 2018 JKU that has 18 inch rims on it currently and a 3 inch lift.
I am looking to buy new rims and tires but I dont know if I should go with 17 or 18s. I am not going big on the tires. Standard size 285/70/17 or 285/65/18 depending on the rim.
I just dont understand the difference of what the rim size will get me. 17inch are cheaper of course but I have read that 18s give better handling. Please help me understand as I really dont know what to do.
17s are kind of the optimal size for JKs that go off road a lot. The tire has more side wall, they're cheaper and the wheel can fit big brake kits. 18s may look a little better but as you found, tires are more expensive. The 18s would have better handling though on road corners because there is less sidewall to flex under the Jeep...but...it's a Jeep. You aren't going to be cornering fast enough to notice.
So, if you are going offroading, 17s. If it's a pavement princess, 18s.
Another thing to consider is the weight of the 17" rim vs. the weight of the 18" rim. My wife picked out a rim she wanted on her 2 dr. which was only made in 18" or 20" or 22". I did not know this but the 18" rim she picked was made for 3/4 ton pick-ups or larger. Her stock 17" rims and tires weighed 85 lbs. We weighed the new rims AFTER we brought them home and I was putting on the 'behind the tire 3rd brake light ring' and was shocked at how much the new tire/rim combo weighed. 125 LBS.!!! This meant a new aftermarket spare tire holder, instantly. The 37's on my unlimited only weigh 110lbs. I almost can't lift her spare up to put it back on the mount. Watch the weight of the 18+ sizes. NO, I would "NOT" have gotten these rims for her if I had known this beforehand. Besides, she recently found a style she likes better. BUT, since investing over $3000 on her 5 tires and rims, she is stuck!! And so am I when it comes to tire rotations. 125 lbs for a 33x12.50x18. Oh my aching hernia.
Huge tire selection in 17's and a much more reasonable price.
Side wall is taller height to height.
Easier to sell if you decide to change or sell your rig.
Get the wheels you like, but I have to point out that 40 lbs for a 17" wheel seems pretty heavy. That is more than my new beadlocks weigh. With those wheels I would look for the lightest tire I could find.
I have heard anywhere from 50 lbs up to 85 lbs. I suspect 75 - 85 lbs is where it is. That only leaves 45 lbs for a tire.
And it is as much about the tailgate hinges as it is about the tire carrier itself. You can re-inforce the hinges and / or upgrade the carrier.
so Fuel lists those rims as dual bolt pattern rims and weight for 17x9 as 37lb and a Falken 285/70-17 is listed at almost 63lbs in C load so 100lbs by the time you add weight etc. I would get an adjustable hd carrier along with the hd hinge. buy once cry once.
I didn’t want to wait for new rims, so I put new 18” inch tires on my ‘13 Sahara. I’m getting ready for wheels and the selection is much more limited. Not only in style but in width. It seems that most are 9” wide; I want to stick with the stock 7.5” or 8” at the most.
If I could rewind 3 months, I’d wait or go for both at the same time in a 17”.
I am going to be 61 soon and I have called them rims my whole life. Google rims and first thing that pops up is rims (wheels). Google rimsavers and same thing protection for your rims. I bet if you point to a set of wheels and ask somebody what the tire is mounted on they will say a set of rims. I think to most wheels and rims are the same thing.
Bigger diameter rims are more for show and highway stability. Shorter sidewalls are stiffer. Most sedans and SUVs and even pickups come with 40,50,60 series aspect ratios. For comparison, a 37x12.5-17 has an 80 aspect ratio.
The tall sidewalls allow the tire to flex, especially aired down. 15" is also a size for off roar. The XJ in the popular Matt's Towing YouTube channel runs 35x12.5-15 tires. When shopping for off-road tires, the greatest selection comes in 17", 20", and 15" wheel sizes.
If you are staying with a relatively narrow and short tire for primarily street use there you could use the OE rims. Many people do even with tall, wide tires, shoehorning them on (the OE rim is narrow for a 12.5" wide tire) and using spacers (need for clearance with tall, wide tires).
Pick the make and model of the tire you want, then only change if won't work with your current rim. Virtually all of the popular tires will come in a 285/70-18, 275/70-18, 275/65-18, or 295/70-18 size.
A rim is attached to spokes. All together, they are a wheel. Since modern wheels are one piece, rims don't really exist except outside of normal applications. I'd bet no one on this forum has rims.
I'm surprised it took this long for the obligatory wheel/rim post to arrive...
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