Looking for opinions and recommendations on tires

[siremike]

Hello all

I was looking to upgrade my daily driver from a 2000 Cherokee to a Wrangler. A local dealer had a one owner 2004 Wrangler TJ Rubicon with only 13k miles. The car fax shows hardly any mileage on it and the vehicle does look brand new. The underbody looks awesome and no rust of course. He want crazy $$$ for a 2004 but I had seen Wranglers advertised close to what he wanted and they had a lot more miles. Does not look like it was ever taken off road.

I was looking for a lighter Wrangler that I could tow it behind an RV and have an off road capable daily driver. The Cherokee was around 4000 pounds with a 3 inch lift, Smittybuilt bumpers and winch. Lets say the ride was not great and it had around 135k miles. I was going to have to put some $$$ into it for some upgrades.

I looked at newer jeeps and even built one on Jeep.com and a new Rubicon was quite a bit more than the 2004 and they were much heavier.

The vehicle even had the original Goodyear tires on it and they looked brand new. From the sidewall they were manufactured in 2003. I believe he left the original tires on it as he was feeling a collector would want it with buy it with the original tires

I would lose a lot of bells and whistles buying an older vehicle but this one seems to meet my requirements and it really looks and drives like brand new.

So the decision was to wait and buy a new Wrangler, put quite a few dollars into the Cherokee or use $$$ from my savings account.

You only live once and I had $$$ available and he took the Cherokee for a trade in close to what I paid for it. The vehicle is in my driveway and I won't be buying a new vehicle any time soon.

I gambled with the tires and drive it 25 miles home on the 18 year old tires. The Goodyear Wrangler MT/R tires are definitely noisy.

So my usage for it is daily driver, possible RV toad, and light trail capability. No intention to rock crawl or go mudding.

The Goodyear replacement tires with Kevlar are not cheap and I do not think I "need" them. So I am looking at AT tires and interested in the Falken Wildpeak AT/3 or the Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar. I need to pull the trigger on purchasing tires soon but want to get something capable for my usage and have decent off road capabilites.

I am looking for opinions and recommendations for tires.

Mike

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

On one hand, I'm freekin jealous as hell because that looks like a museum piece that should stay that way forever.

On the other hand, I'm freekin jealous as hell because I'd probably take it on the first of several trips off road before starting too many modifications.

 

[Pokahpolice]

That is absolutely gorgeous! Great find. I'd have a hard time paying what they want for these pristine examples because I don't think the vehicle is worth the cash but you'll be very happy with that for many years to come.

 

[NTL]

I have the falken wildpeak on my 2004 wrangler sport. Got a about 6000 miles on them . They ride great on the road, minimum road noise. I have been off road in them but they did great in what little snow we get here in the winter.

 

[suicideking]

Congrats! That's quite the gem you found there. Crazy that it has so few miles.

 

[SSTJ]

Welcome to the forum. Really great find. I'm feeling jealous.

@TJPurist might try to buy that from you before you make any modifications. ;-)

 

[TJPurist]

Yeah, I'd add that to my "garage queen" collection ! Certainly here in wet salty southern Ontario such finds are priceless. My '99 will never see winters under my ownership.

 

[siremike]

The dealer was sure a collector was going to buy it and put it in a garage or warehouse and sit pretty. He was suggesting I save the original tires for some collector to buy later. It also came with a soft top and according to the build sheet it was delivered with both tops. I looked into purchasing Goodyear MT/R tires with Kevlar and just put up with a little noise. They are backordered everywhere so I am going to get Goodyear Duratracks for it. Not sure I am going to do bumpers or winch like the Cherokee. I am trying to keep it lighter but thinking a rear bumper or trailer hitch for a bicycle rack. Does anyone know if you can put a hitch on a Rubicon with the stock rear tow hook and gas tank shield?

 

[SSTJ]

The dealer was sure a collector was going to buy it and put it in a garage or warehouse and sit pretty. He was suggesting I save the original tires for some collector to buy later. It also came with a soft top and according to the build sheet it was delivered with both tops. I looked into purchasing Goodyear MT/R tires with Kevlar and just put up with a little noise. They are backordered everywhere so I am going to get Goodyear Duratracks for it. Not sure I am going to do bumpers or winch like the Cherokee. I am trying to keep it lighter but thinking a rear bumper or trailer hitch for a bicycle rack. Does anyone know if you can put a hitch on a Rubicon with the stock rear tow hook and gas tank shield?

Yes, there are options out there if you start searching. Others on here may have some specific recommendations for you.

 

[tr21triton]

if you want a mud tire and plan on staying with the factory size look at Hankook Dynapro MT'S. not the MT2's the MT's. i had a set on my last TJ and loved them so much bought my brother a set for his YJ the following XMAS. i got close to 40k miles out of mine before selling it, and they didnt have a bad roar to them for such a aggressive tread pattern. my current tl has goodrich mt's on it from the PO and i'll be getting a set of Hankook's for it when they wear out....

 

[pagrey]

There are almost no stock size tires rated "C" that will give you a good ride anymore, you really should avoid "E" load ratings. You can get a slightly larger 265/75R16 Cooper AT3 or maybe a Goodyear Duratrac if they don't discontinue them. Tires that ride nice on those 16" wheels are going to be difficult to find in the stock size. I hope somebody has some other good suggestions that are currently available. Most people are probably suggesting tires that are for 15" rims which doesn't really help you unless you change out the wheels.

Hitch is easy, etrailer.com has the basics.

 

[tr21triton]

There are almost no stock size tires rated "C" that will give you a good ride anymore, you really should avoid "E" load ratings. You can get a slightly larger 265/75R16 Cooper AT3 or maybe a Goodyear Duratrac if they don't discontinue them. Tires that ride nice on those 16" wheels are going to be difficult to find in the stock size. I hope somebody has some other good suggestions that are currently available. Most people are probably suggesting tires that are for 15" rims which doesn't really help you unless you change out the wheels.

Hitch is easy, etrailer.com has the basics.

just wondering did a 2004 have 16in rims ?

 

[pagrey]

just wondering did a 2004 have 16in rims ?

Almost all 2003-2006 Rubicons had those 16" rims in one form or another.

 

[SSTJ]

Almost all 2003-2006 Rubicons had those 16" rims in one form or another.

Did not know that. I always thought it was only the Moabs that were 16".

 

[pagrey]

Did not know that. I always thought it was only the Moabs that were 16".

That too, they also made a 16" Alcoa for the Tomb Raider edition. I don't think the Moab was on anything but a Rubicon prior to 2006 so it's kinda saying the same thing.

 

[SSTJ]

That too, they also made a 16" Alcoa for the Tomb Raider edition. I don't think the Moab was on anything but a Rubicon prior to 2006 so it's kinda saying the same thing.

Oh, duh. Thanks.

 

[Irun]

The Falken Wildpeak is available in a few 4 and 6 ply options for a 16" wheel. I have the 265/75R16 4 ply version on my LJ, with Moab wheels. It sees only street use. Here's what they have available:

28037033	235/65R16C	(E)	(10)	121/119R	6.5 - 7.5	7.0	28.0	9.4	759	16	40.3	3195 / 3000	83	-	New
28034109	235/70R16	XL	6	109T	6.0 - 8.0	7.0	29.0	9.4	729	13	36.8	2271	50	660-A-B
28034608	P245/75R16	XL	6	112T	6.5 - 8.0	7.0	30.5	9.8	694	13	38.6	2469	50	660-A-B
28034657	255/70R16	XL	6	115T	6.5 - 8.5	7.5	30.1	10.2	703	13	39.7	2679	50	660-A-B
28034667	265/70R16	SL	4	112T	7.0 - 9.0	8.0	30.6	10.8	692	13	42.3	2469	51	660-A-B
28034301	265/75R16	SL	4	116T	7.0 - 9.0	7.5	31.7	10.6	671	13	43.9	2756	51	660-A-B
28037017	LT215/85R16	E	10	115/112R	5.5 - 7.0	6.0	30.4	8.5	696	16	42.1	2680 / 2470	80	-	New
28030119	LT225/75R16	E	10	115/112S	6.0 - 7.0	6.0	29.3	8.5	711	16	41.4	2680 / 2470	80	-
28030994	LT235/85R16	E	10	120/116S	6.0 - 7.5	6.5	31.7	9.1	658	17	47.8	3042 / 2778	80	-
28030628	LT245/75R16	E	10	120/116S	6.5 - 8.0	7.0	30.5	9.5	684	17	49.4	3042 / 2778	80	-
28030639	LT265/75R16	E	10	123/120S	7.0 - 8.0	7.5	31.7	10.4	660	17	52.5	3415 / 3085	80	-
28037611	LT285/75R16	E	10	126/123R	7.5 - 9.0	8.0	32.8	11.1	637	18	60.6	3750 / 3415	80	-
28037641	LT305/70R16	E	10	124/121R	8.0 - 9.5	9.0	32.8	12.1	637	18	63.3	3525 / 3195	65	-
28037124	LT315/75R16	E	10	127/124R	8.0 - 11.0	8.5	34.6	12.3	606	19	72.1	3860 / 3525	65	-

Here's what the tires look like:

 

[Whitlock]

That jeep is much like Kylesvt's jeep on YouTube. He got his a few years ago at 9k miles. Truly a rare find!

 

[Vtx531]

Wow, that looks nice. How much was it? I think he had a good idea to keep the tires. I'd put the wheels and tires in storage, especially since they don't make them anymore and rubicon wheels just don't look right without the original MT/Rs.

 

[siremike]

I thought about saving the tires but I have plans on keeping the jeep for quite a while. Who would want 25 year or more tires even if they were the original.

I already am having a hard time finding a place in the garage to store the soft top. I went back and forth on getting it as the seller said he would take $500 off the sale price so he could have it for a future project. I probably will never use it but the build sheet showed it came with the vehicle and I figured I could sell it if someone wants it. I am not sure what the value of it is.