New wheels for LJ

[ZGKarl]

Hello and thank you for the help!

I'm looking to get some new wheels and tires for my LJ. 2006 Jeep LJ Rubicon, 4" procomp lift? I put a question mark there because that's my guess, i run 33's currently and it clears them with plenty of extra room.

Plan is to add a 1" body lift, then upgrade to 35" tires. Yes I plan to re-gear...but I'm not in a hurry and want to put on the new shoes first.

I'm looking at Fuel Anza beadlocks (simulated). I'd like to run a 35x12.5 mud terrain.

What backspacing should I be looking for?

Aside from needing to re-gear, anything else I'm not considering?

Thank you!
ZG

 

[ZGKarl]

and also...15x8 or 15x10 for the wheel width?

 

[SilverLJR]

How concerned with fitment are you? is it a deal breaker if the tire is wider than your fender or are you just concerned with rubbing?

 

[ZGKarl]

with the 12.5 width they're definitely going to stick out. i'd like to keep them as tight to the body as possible...but don't want a bunch of rubbing when i turn, etc. i'm concerned i'll hit the fenders at full flex, but considering the jeep has been offroad once i should be fine pulling into the city market parking lot...

 

[AndyG]

We recommend only running simulated beadlocks on simulated rocks.

It’s in the by laws.

 

[ZGKarl]

i like the look of your LJ and the wheel fit.

 

[SilverLJR]

with the 12.5 width they're definitely going to stick out. i'd like to keep them as tight to the body as possible...but don't want a bunch of rubbing when i turn, etc. i'm concerned i'll hit the fenders at full flex, but considering the jeep has been offroad once i should be fine pulling into the city market parking lot...

I will rub the inside part of my fenders in the rear at full flex but that's just because I haven't re adjusted my bump stops to my new wheel setup. With my stocks on a 3.5 in short arm with 1 inch body lift I rubbed in the front on the control arms at full lock it didn't bother me at all I felt I had 90% of full radius. 315/75r16 are a 35 inch 12.5 width equivalent.

This setup stayed pretty tight to my fenders.

 

[SilverLJR]

i like the look of your LJ and the wheel fit.

Im running 17x8.5 Aev Pintler DOT approved Beadlocks with a 1.25 inch adapter to fit the JK bolt pattern
35x12.5r17 BFG KM3s

 

[John Cooper]

We recommend only running simulated beadlocks on simulated rocks.

It’s in the by laws.

i like the look of your LJ and the wheel fit.

I hope you weren't replying to @AndyG lord you will never hear the end of it.

 

[AndyG]

I hope you weren't replying to @AndyG lord you will never hear the end of it.

Hush. He knows I got it and yall goobers don’t

 

[psrivats]

and also...15x8 or 15x10 for the wheel width?

More tire choices in a 17" wheel. What steering setup do you have today?

Consider BMB's body lift (1.25"), lot of folks use it and it's the best designed available. Do not get JKS and similar.

https://blackmagicbrakes.com/ols/pr...its-97-06-tj-and-tj-unlimited-all-trim-levels

 

[ZGKarl]

Thanks for the replies on the body lift as well. i have a stock steering setup.

I was giving props to SilverLJR.

 

[psrivats]

Thanks for the replies on the body lift as well. i have a stock steering setup.

You might want to educate yourself of steering and scrub radius some and read about the upgrades that people usually do. Currectlync and ZJ update are two things for you to read about if you don't know about them already. Factory style steering works best, stay away from the other crap that are sold as "upgades" which really aren't.

Depending on the specific tire and the manufacturer's recommendations, some tire shops may tell you they won't mount 12.5" wide tires on a 8" rim. Recommend thinking carefully more about your tire needs, wants and available wheel/tire choices. For a lifted Jeep on 35s, typical optimum forum recommendation is a wheel with 4" backspacing (perhaps 4.5" depending on specific tire width and wheel choice) to prevent tire interference with the lower control arms and also to help maintain good steering. Tires/wheels play a big part in how a jeep looks, but looks are only one part - if you care about good steering and good balance performance (if you take your jeep on the mountain trails where you live), you have to do some extra reading to make the right choices.

 

[ZGKarl]

Thank you psrivats. So it seems like i should be tending towards an 10" wheel with 4" of backspacing. I'll do some reading on steering, this jeep is new to me, i had a YJ for 25 years so the steering system is quite different for me. these tires and wheels will be summer only as i run a studded snow tire in the winter.

I'm leaning towards either BFG mud terrain or Goodyear MTR.

 

[psrivats]

Thank you psrivats. So it seems like i should be tending towards an 10" wheel with 4" of backspacing. I'll do some reading on steering, this jeep is new to me, i had a YJ for 25 years so the steering system is quite different for me. these tires and wheels will be summer only as i run a studded snow tire in the winter.

I'm leaning towards either BFG mud terrain or Goodyear MTR.

You are welcome. Think about if you really want to have a 12.5" wide tire too. I understand that it's a jeep look thing but make sure you are not sacrificing too much for looks if offroad performance is something that matters for you.

 

[MikekiM]

and also...15x8 or 15x10 for the wheel width?

I have 15x10. I love the wheel but searched for years for the Holy Grail wheel in a 15x8. Finally found them. Nothing inherently wrong with the 15x10.. actually bought a nearly identical wheel in 15x8. And I wanted to reduce weight. The Falkens are next to go.. they are quite heavy.

 

[lBasket]

12.5" tires on an 8" wide wheel are the poor man's beadlock if you can find someone to mount them

 

[Apparition]

12.5" tires on an 8" wide wheel are the poor man's beadlock if you can find someone to mount them

My first wheels were 15x8, Summit wouldn’t send my tires mounted on them. Discount did it.

I now have 15x9’s but they are beadlocks so I did it.

 

[lBasket]

My first wheels were 15x8, Summit wouldn’t send my tires mounted on them. Discount did it.

I now have 15x9’s but they are beadlocks so I did it.

You have a cool discount tire, I couldn't find any corporate places to do it. They all have a 5" difference limit on widths in my experience. I found a friend to do it (he actually worked at Discount coincidentally) and now I do it myself too.

Wait that math doesn't add up. I think I have 7" wide wheels.

 

[Apparition]

You have a cool discount tire, I couldn't find any corporate places to do it. They all have a 5" difference limit on widths in my experience. I found a friend to do it (he actually worked at Discount coincidentally) and now I do it myself too.

Wait that math doesn't add up. I think I have 7" wide wheels.

No they are jackasses, they wouldn’t mount the tires on my truck recently even though they exceeded the ratings of my truck. The tires I wanted didn’t exceed the factory tire specs which were unnecessarily high for the truck ratings.