BUYING TIRES

[07 SAHARA]

I am a first time jeep owner and was needing some guidance. I just put on my 2.5'' budget boost and was wanting to buy 33'' tires. I would like to keep the original rims which are 18''. Would a tire that size fit on the factory rims?

[b1pig]

welcome to the forum, and congrats on your first Jeep! :D


the overall tire diameter isnt so much an issue. I think you should concern yourself with the width. A 33" tire will fit under your JK just fine, but the width will play a major role if you are keeping your factory wheels. If you like wide tires, then I would recommend getting wheel spacers. The factory wheel will hold a 33-12.50, the problem is the backspace of the wheel. the backspace is how deep inside the rim that the wheel mounting surface is. All of them are kinda deep, as measured from the inside. Adding a 1" or 1.5" set of quality wheel spacers will allow you to use your factory wheels with taller and wider tires.

remember that you can use metric size tires just as well. I used a tire size conversion calculator, which shows that a 33-12.50-18 tire would convert to 318-60-18. If that is accurate, then you should be good to go. I'd like to point out something. not sure how much experience you have in the offroad market... but every tire sold as a "33-12.50" doesnt always measure out that way.

Interco tires often includes their correct average measurements somewhere in their literature... or can usually be found on the internet. the 33-12.50 Exterrains on my ZJ are shorter in height than the 255-75 BFG M/Ts on my Rubicon... which comes up to a 32" tire. ;)

[07 SAHARA]

Thanks for that information. Is there any particular brand that is recommended for wheel spacers?

[b1pig]

not really. i like the cool blue look of the spider trax spacers. :D

http://www.quadratec.com/Assets/Images/75171/75171-lg.jpg

[Jigsaw_Rubi]

really doesn't matter, I've got Teraflex, preference though to me.... smile.gif

[b1pig]

i think the Tera's are 1" and the Spider Trax are 1.5", though right? may be more important for inspection-states and those that they really enforce the tire-fender coverage.

[07 SAHARA]

Jigsaw_Rubi you have any pics of your jeep I would like to see what it looks like with the lift and tires

[b1pig]

me three.

[07 SAHARA]

FINISHED MY LIFT AND PUT MY TIRES ON THANKS FOR ALL YOU HELP. REALLY HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS.

[Goofatyerservice]

I have the spidertrax spacers on my TJ- they do great, no problems. However you should know that pretty much no shop will deal with you if you have spacers- You can have them take the spacers off- but you'll have to put them back on yourself. They won't put wheels back on if you have spacers on.

[07 SAHARA]

Decided to go with no spacers and just buy new rims. Any clue how to get a pic posted? that way I can get some feedback on what I did.

[b1pig]

you have to upload them to the internet... say myspace or photobucket or something...

then go here:
http://bbb.quadratec.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=001334

[07 SAHARA]

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg24/SIASMR/JEEP.jpg