Wheels for stock TJ

[BaxterJeep]

7” wheel is perfectly fine for a 31X10.50R15 tire. Most all of those tires recommend 7-9” wheel width, meaning you would just be following the narrower end of the spec, but still be in spec per the tire manufacturer recommendations.

Speedo is a non issue. Buy the correct speedo gear and change it and that will fix the issue. You need 11% less speedo gear teeth than you have. Pull yours, figure out what 11% of your teeth quantity is, subtract that from the existing tooth count, and there you have your new gear to buy.

30X9.50R15 is a reasonable middle ground, although less options in it. If you really like the looks of the 31X10.50, then go for them. They won’t hurt anything. Especially for the type of driving you seem like you’ll be doing.

My driving will always be very similar to the drive I did today. Mostly paved roads that are a little rough with a lot of curves, then turning onto dirt roads that I drive slowly on, winding down into a hollow, following a creek, driving by farms and through hidden parts of TN, then wind back up the dirt road out of the hollow onto another paved road.

One of the roads had a washout over it, I would say about 8" of water. I put it in 4-high and went through it like it wasn't there. I don't think I needed the 4-High.

So much fun. Even better when we can put the top down. We've had good top-down weather for more than a month now, but today was wet and cold.

Thanks for the info on the speedo gear. I had no idea!

Greg

 

[SSTJ]

Thanks for the info on the speedo gear. I had no idea!

Lots of threads on here about the speedo gear, like this one. I changed mine recently and it's very easy.

Many TJ owners run 31s on stock height. If you buy new tires in that size, any slight variance between those tires and your current tires could lead to some rubbing. If so, it can be fixed this way. I run 30s with some relatively aggressive tread on the upper sidewall, and they rub at full turn.

 

[BaxterJeep]

30X9.50R15 is a reasonable middle ground, although less options in it. If you really like the looks of the 31X10.50, then go for them. They won’t hurt anything. Especially for the type of driving you seem like you’ll be doing.

I think you are correct on the middle ground. Actually not middle, still almost the same look at the 31's. The Kuhmo tires are available in this size too. Leaning towards this now.

8% correction on the speedo.

Greg

 

[BaxterJeep]

Lots of threads on here about the speedo gear, like this one. I changed mine recently and it's very easy.

Many TJ owners run 31s on stock height. If you buy new tires in that size, any slight variance between those tires and your current tires could lead to some rubbing. If so, it can be fixed this way. I run 30s with some relatively aggressive tread on the upper sidewall, and they rub at full turn.

Great info, thanks.

Greg

 

[JABCAT]

The '03 Wrangler X we bought my son had JK wheels on it. The speedometer was off by a decent amount & it looked goofy. We purchased a set of wheels from Quadratec that were on sale. Went with 16x8 Rubicon Extreme, new tires (265/70/16) and fixed the speedometer by installing a new speedo gear.

 

[Duck Doctor]

Please tell me why not. Is it the offset and scrub radius and handling issues? Spacing? Do they hit the fenders? Or is it because it's cool to keep a stock look on an iconic Jeep?

Greg

Because in my opinion the 17" wheels with small tires look terrible on a TJ. Besides you'll have to purchase wheel adapters to match JK wheels to TJ bolt pattern.

 

[machoheadgames]

Lots of threads on here about the speedo gear, like this one. I changed mine recently and it's very easy.

Many TJ owners run 31s on stock height. If you buy new tires in that size, any slight variance between those tires and your current tires could lead to some rubbing. If so, it can be fixed this way. I run 30s with some relatively aggressive tread on the upper sidewall, and they rub at full turn.

I'm surprised you have rubbing with stock 15x8s and 30x9.5 tires. That is interesting.

 

[BaxterJeep]

The '03 Wrangler X we bought my son had JK wheels on it. The speedometer was off by a decent amount & it looked goofy. We purchased a set of wheels from Quadratec that were on sale. Went with 16x8 Rubicon Extreme, new tires (265/70/16) and fixed the speedometer by installing a new speedo gear.

View attachment 613821

Hmmm, yeah I see the difference. It's so different from what I'm looking for on my sports cars. On the TJ, you want the tire to be taller.

I like it in white!

Greg

 

[chili_pepper]

I like the way the tires fit the wheel wells.

I agree.

The tire size on it right now is 31x10.50 R15LT Is that a good tire size for my TJ?

I run 31"x10.50 15 BFG KO2's with no issues on a set of factory Ravines. As I understand it, that's the largest tire for stock suspension TJ/LJ Jeeps.

 

[JABCAT]

Hmmm, yeah I see the difference. It's so different from what I'm looking for on my sports cars. On the TJ, you want the tire to be taller.

I like it in white!

Greg

Yeah my sports cars have 19/20" wheels with 30/25 sidewall tires. Completely different than the Jeep. Also picked up these wheels for $750 instead of $5k+ for my other cars win/win.

Here it is with a 1" spring lift & new shocks.

 

[SSTJ]

I'm surprised you have rubbing with stock 15x8s and 30x9.5 tires. That is interesting.

I agree. I asked about it here. All I could think was that it was due to the aggressive tread on the upper end of the sidewall on my KO2s.

I run 31"x10.50 15 BFG KO2's with no issues on a set of factory Ravines. As I understand it, that's the largest tire for stock suspension TJ/LJ Jeeps.

@chili_pepper, surely yours rub at full turn, like my 30s do? Or did you adjust the stops?

 

[machoheadgames]

I agree. I asked about it here. All I could think was that it was due to the aggressive tread on the upper end of the sidewall on my KO2s.



@chili_pepper, surely yours rub at full turn, like my 30s do? Or did you adjust the stops?

I don't know what else it could be, although that is really odd, because that means the factory shipped that combo with a really tiny margin of clearance. I do know KO2s usually have a wider tread than other tires of the same size, so it could be that I suppose. For example, the KO2 in that size has an 8" wide tread, while Toyo and Falken in the same size have 7.4" and 7.5", respectively.

So I guess it was just the perfect storm of the largest factory tire combo, combined with that specific tire that has the largest width tread, which is just enough to get it into the sway bar or whatever it was rubbing against.

 

[chili_pepper]

@chili_pepper, surely yours rub at full turn, like my 30s do? Or did you adjust the stops?

Just barely, I think the stops could use a slight adjustment.

 

[SSTJ]

Just barely, I think the stops could use a slight adjustment.

Interesting. I've never checked to see exactly where it rubs. I wonder if your extra inch puts those side-treads a little out of the way. My rubbing is definite at full turn.

 

[machoheadgames]

Interesting. I've never checked to see exactly where it rubs. I wonder if your extra inch puts those side-treads a little out of the way. My rubbing is definite at full turn.

Does yours rub in both directions? Typically the steering stops are slightly different lengths, and I believe it’s to prevent turning in one direction as much as the other. I forget which is which. Wonder if yours are flipped for some reason.

 

[chili_pepper]

I've never checked to see exactly where it rubs.

Neither have I, yet. It is on the list of things to do.

 

[BaxterJeep]

I just ordered five Kuhmo Road Venture AT52 on-road all-terrain 30/9.5R15

Thanks for all your help guys!

Greg

 

[SSTJ]

Does yours rub in both directions? Typically the steering stops are slightly different lengths, and I believe it’s to prevent turning in one direction as much as the other. I forget which is which. Wonder if yours are flipped for some reason.

I've never paid that much attention. Will do next time I'm in the TJ.

 

[bobbyo]

A previous owner of my 2000 Sport swapped the tires out from the stock 30/9.5R15's to larger 31/10.5R15's on aftermarket 8" rims. Not sure if they made any adjustments to the suspension, added spacers or whatever but there's no issue with rubbing. Everything works fine and they really ride nice. It helps they put on Cooper Discoverer AT3's- great tire.