To begin Phase-1 of my Project-JK build up, I set out to get my Jeep JK Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited lifted tall enough to clear 35″ tires and to be able to do it on a really tight budget. And, while I was able to accomplish the lift I needed with a TeraFlex 2.5″ Budget Boost, I found it hard to compromise on what kind of wheels and tires I should run. After all, a good set of tires play a huge part in how well your Jeep will perform on the trail and for me personally, I have always been of the mindset that it makes more sense to buy a set of good tires I know I can trust than to buy a set that might be more affordable but will end up leaving me sitting high and dry when I really need them the most. And, to complicate things even more, it would seem that finding a decent set of wheels and tires that will actually fit the JK’s odd 5×5 bolt pattern hasn’t exactly been the easiest thing to do especially since they are in such high demand right now and supplies are so limited.
Anyway, with just a couple of weeks left before the 2007 Moab Easter Jeep Safari, I needed to get some new tires and I needed to get them fast. So, I decided to make a few calls to my sponsoring vendors to see if anyone could help me out and as luck would have it, 4 Wheel Drive Hardware was able to come to my rescue. The only catch was, the only tires they had available in the size I wanted was the brand new Pro Comp Xtreme Mud Terrains. And, being such a new tire that hasn’t had much if any real testing on the trail or otherwise, I have to admit that I was a bit reluctant to go with these at first. But after examining its tread design and doing a bit of reading on all its features, I decided someones got to give them a real test sooner or later and it might as well be me. Need I say, with just a few days to spare, 4 Wheel Drive Hardware shipped over a complete set of five 315/70R17 Pro Comp Xtreme Mud Terrain Tires mounted and balanced on a set of great looking 17×9 Pro Comp Series 8179 Black Powder Coat Wheels that have 4.75″ of back spacing.
So, how have the Pro Comp Xtreme Mud Terrains been performing? Well, I can tell you that since I got them about a month ago, I have racked up about 3,000 miles on the odometer with a good 1,500 miles of that being put on driving out to Moab, Utah and wheeling the hell of the them there. And, I’d have to say that I’m pleasantly surprised as to how much I really like these tires! Although they do tend to sing a bit louder at highway speeds than did the factory BFGoodrich Mud Terrains I was running before, it really isn’t by much and I suppose some of it could just be from the tires being larger in size. But, unlike the BFGoodrich M/T’s, the Pro Comp Xtreme Mud Terrains have a tread design that includes sipping on its lugs and I have found them to offer much better traction on wet/slippery roads. On the trail, I found that the sticky rubber compound used in the construction of this tire provided superior grip on the slick rocks of Moab and helped make my JK to conquer just about every obstical that I could throw at it.
As far as tire wear goes, I am currently running my 315/70R17 Pro Comp Xtreme Mud Terrains at about 26 PSI which I have found to provide a good footprint that allows them to wear nice and evenly. In fact, in the 3,000 miles that I have put on them, I have actually seen very little signs of wear unlike I have seen in the same amount of time on other tires I have run in the past. At this rate, I would hope to see at least 40,000 miles of usable life out of them and most likely even more than that. And at about $250 a piece, every mile you can get out of a tire makes it that much more of a value.
Now, in all fairness, I will have to say that I did loose one tire while I was in Moab and that was only because I needed to back my JK off the trail a bit to let some other Jeeps pass and in doing so, I ended up lancing one of my sidewalls on a short hard and dry 1/2″ thick tree branch sticking out of the ground (yes, I am kicking myself for not opting to get the optional Road Hazzard warranty). And, to be quite honest, I’m not sure if any tire short of a super thick bias ply tire would have been able to resist being puntured as well. Fortunately for me, Jeff from Superior Axle & Gear and Tim from Motive Gear both jumped in to help me to get the tire changed quickly and David from Northridge4×4 was able to succesfully patch it up with a Safety Seal Tire Repair Kit allowing me to still use it as a viable trail spare until I could get it replaced (NOTE: A sidewall plug is by no means safe and should not be used for on-road/highway use).
Without a doubt, I will have to revisit this review once I’ve put on a substantially greater amount of miles on these tires to know for sure what the long term effect really is. But for now, if you were to ask me if I would recommend these tires to you, I would have to give them a resounding YES!
Click here to see more Pro Comp Xtreme Mud Terrian and Series 8179 Wheel Pics
Eddie
Special Thanks: Again, I would like to thank 4 Wheel Drive Hardware for all their help and support. If you’re looking for a set of wheels and tires for your Jeep JK Wrangler, these guys have one of the biggest selections to choose from.
One question regarding the lift on a JK rubicon. I was wondering if doing a lift on the JK had any effect on the auto sway bar disconnects. I’m considering buying a JK and would definately lift it. Although, I wouldn’t want to lose the cool auto disconnects.
Hi C.James,
No, a lift will not effect the functionality of your e-discos and so long as you install new longer sway bar links, it will not effect the performance either.
Eddie
Nice wheels, I am planning on completing the same lift on my JK Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited that I purchased last weekend. Did you need spacers to prevent rubbing?
Nope - just make sure to get your wheels with 4.75″ of back spacing and you’ll be fine.
Eddie
I love the way your rig stands. Noticed you had the Warn/LoD bumper combo. With that Teraflex BB and that size wheel combo, would you foresee any rubbing issues on the stock bumpers w/o any further mods. Actually, I am looking to fit that lift with some 35×12.5-18 Pro Comp Xtreme A/T’s w/ 18×9 Pro Comp 1069’s (not sure if they are 4.5 bs or 4.75 bs or whether that will matter). Thanks!
Hi HatchetMan,
With the stock bumpers, you would see some rubbing at a full turn up front on the air dam and possibly in the rear at a full stuff.
Eddie
How are the tires holding up. I just ordered a set and wanted to know if you are still thinking they are a good choice.
thanks Rob
hello, with the 2″ body lift space kit. what is the best tire deal?
mexica
Hi bucjeep, I have been punishing these tires over the past couple of months and can tell you this. Traction wise, these things rock on and off the trail - super grippy tires. Road noise level has not increased over time but then, I do rotate every 3,000 miles. I have however seen a little bit of chunking of the lugs but again, I have been punishing these tires and would have been surprised if I didn’t. Last but not least, if you get these tires, make sure to have the white walls mounted in. Mine showed up white out by mistake but just kept it that way and now, the sidewalls kinda look like crap.
javier, I would not recommend installing a 2″ Body Lift on your Jeep. A 2″ Coil Spacer Lift is fine and with that, you can easily fit 33″ tires.
Eddie
Eddie
what did u mean by
” I would not recommend installing a 2″ Body Lift on your Jeep. A 2″ Coil Spacer Lift is fine and with that, you can easily fit 33″ tires.”"
I didn’t get my JK till now? but i’m planing to lift it and get some tires.
But i don’t want to have so much of lift like u do(with35″tires+2.5″BB).
because i will be using my future JK on road for like 70% of driving time and rest safari(desert).
so what u thing of 1-1.5″ lift + 32 or 33″ tires?
(i have to do it, because stock bumber is too big and it will be damaged after 1st safari without any lift)
Hi Sats, a body lift will only raise your body up off the frame and not do much else. And, anything more than 1″ will not only look ugly, it will also require you to do a lot of routing and relocating of things like AC lines, fuel lines, shifters, etc. For your purposes, I would recommend getting a Full Traction 2″ Budget Boost as it is specifically designed to work perfectly with 32″-33″ tires and will give you better performance on the trail.
Eddie
I’m glad i found your site. i just ordered the pro comp 8179’s last week and was wondering how they’d look on my jeep. i am relieved to see them on yours. i’m new to jeeps so i don’t have a lift yet. what i got with the wheels were some 265/70 16 bfgoodrich a/t ko. should be here in about two weeks. thanks for posting this out here.
First off I have read your comments on this forum and you have already saved me money and time. I am off to get a set of ProComp wheels and tires. I noticed on your write up about the Wheels and Tires you state 17×9 wheels and 4.75 backspace. In the pics is reads 17×8 wheels and 4.5 backs space…Just wanting to make the right decesion on this purchase. Thanks in advance for any imput.
Hi Ducatijr, I apologize for the typos but the wheels are actually 17×8 with 4.75″ of BS.
Eddie
I just bought a 4 door jk and 2.5 lift by skyjacker/w nitro shocks and some 18×9 with 4.75 of BS pro comp rims 6089 series with 33×12.50 super swampers TRXUS MT’s and my question is should I have went with 35’s let me know
Not necessarily - 33’s are by far a much better fit and with them, you shouldn’t have any rubbing issues when wheeling.
Eddie
Thanks for the input Eddie I will post some photos when I get it all put together.
Hi Eddie,
I was wondering with the 35’s did you have to take it back to the dealer to recalibrate anything. Just bought mine and concerned with all the electronics and trying to figure out how to maneuver around lifetime warranty.
Just found your site I want to do 2inch lift do you recomend one over another? will I be able to fit a 295 70 17 on thr stock rims with no rubbing. looking at nitto teragraplers any recomrndation is helpfull this is my first jeep. thanks
Hey Eddie,
I was just wondering if I have no lift on my 07′ Unlimited X and I put 1,5″ spacers on it what are the biggest tires I can put on it?
I’ve been told 32×10.5 what do you think?
sorry 32×9.5 is the size and also will those fit on the factory rims?
Hi Rubi Russ, the dealership cannot calibrate your speedo if you have tires larger than 32″. I am looking into other means to deal with this now and will post my results as soon as I can.
Hey Charles, I personally have run the TeraFlex 2.5″ BB and thought it was by far the most complete kit available on the market today. As far as your tires go, yes you should be able to fit 295’s on stock rims with little to no rubbing.
Hey Luke, the factory Rubicon tires measure to about 32×10.50 and so you should have no problems with them. As far as spacers go, are you talking about wheel spacers or coil spacers? If you are refering to wheel spacers, you can easily fit a 12.50 wide tire without any problems.
Eddie
Greetings,
I am somewhat new to the jeep world as I recently bought a Jeep JK.
I am considering getting the 2.5 inch Tera Flex BB and 35 inch tires. My jeep is mostly stock at the moment which leads me to my question. Are there any upgrades that I should get in preparation for 35 inch tires? Would a stock JK be able to handle them? To give an idea of what my current stock setup is, I have a dana 44 rear axle, 6- speed manual with 4.10 gears. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance
-John.
Hi John, in order to run 35’s, I would recommend no less than a 2.5″ BB to a 3″ suspension lift. Without one of them, you will have rubbing issues. Also, you need to consider the width of your tires as most 35″ tires measure 12.50″ wide or more. And, this will be a problem if you try to run them on stock wheels which have 6.25″ of back spacing. For this width, you really need to run wheel spacers or new wheels with 5″ of BS or less.
Eddie
Wayoflife (Eddie),
Thank you for this valuable information on the ProComp Xtreme MT. I just bought mine here in Nashville, taking advantage of the buy 3 get one free sale.
Thanks for the info, I also took advantage of the 3 for one deal on the Pro Comp Xtreme Mud Terrains, put them on my stock 2004 Ford F250 and love them. I only had them on the street so far, 285X75X16 or 33’s, and they handle much better than the stock load rated tires. The tires are not too loud but humm nicely on the road, had them at 80MPH with no vibrating. The truck seems to float on the road more than with the hard stock tires (General Ameritrac) that hit every bump hard. I also noticed alot of stares at the lights I was sitting at, I gusee because of the side tread. I can’t wait to try them off road this weekend.
Hey, great website!!! I just received (FINALLY) my 2008 Rubicon 2dr. It is in color stone white like your project JK as well. I have a question, what is the overall height of your JK with the 2.5inch Teraflex lift plus the procomp wheels and tires? I am thinking of adding the same mod as you have except I am afraid it wont fit in my garage.
Thanks for the reply. I have told all my local Jeep owner friends about your site. Kudos to you for a job well done!!!
I have a question that probably has been asked a thousand times already, but I can’t find a good answer. I have the 2007 JK Sahara unlimited with a skyjacker 4″ lift kit and I am going to be installing BFGoodrich Allterrain KO wheels 315/70/17. I need some advice on the rims with width, back spacing recommendations and where I could look to find good price for those wheels. The concern with the back spacing I have is Skyjacker suggesting a 4.5″ back spacing and I am having a terrible time finding affordable rims of that size. Can I use a rim with a 4.75 or even 5″ back spacing? Any input would be greatly appreciated.
You might be able to get away with 4.75″ but you will most likely see some rubbing at a full turn. At least, I do on mine now. In all honesty, you should try to find a wheel closer to 4″ of BS than 5″.
Eddie
IS IT POSSABLE TO RUN 35′ AT STOCK JK HEIGHT NO LIFT? WANT TO GET PRO COMPS LIKE YOURS WANT A BB LIFT BUT IT’S ONE OR THE OTHER RIGHT NOW CAUSE OF MONEY AND THE RIMS MAKE A BIGGER DIFFERANCE TO THE LOOK OF THE JK
I suppose it’s possible but you will most likely have rubbing issues when turning and will definitely have them if you go off roading. Plus, they will most likely be too wide for your factory wheels which have 6.25″ of back spacing. If you do this, you really will need at least a set of 1.5″ wheel spacers.
Eddie
Hello Eddie,
I first just wanted to say thank you for all the time you take out of your day to help everyone out!
This is what I plan to do to my 4dr rubi.. TF 2.5BB 305/70/R17 goodyear MT/R’s. I know if I stay with the stock rubi wheels I will need wheel spacers. What size would I need? Would 1.5″ be enough or should I get 2″? If I go with aftermarket wheels and these tires would 4.75 backspacing be ok as well. Sorry for all the questions!! =)
I was wondering about a 4″ superlift and a 1″ spacer kit…. is there a problem combining the two? I’d like to install 37″s. What do you think?
Hi Jake,
Actually, 1.5″ would be perfect and I would recommend that. As far as aftermarket wheels go, yes, you should be just fine with 4.75″ of backspacing.
Eddie
One more question I forgot to ask you.. I’m debating on the 2.5BB vs the 3″BB from teraflex. With the size tires i’m going to run (305/70/R17) should I just go with the 3″ and if so can you comment on the ride difference? About the same, better, worse? Also will I need to factor in anything else with a .5″ higher lift?
Thanks again Eddie!!!
Honestly, for the tires you are going to be running, I would just go with the 2.5″ BB. Because it is using your factory coils and shocks, your ride should stay pretty much the same as what you have now. If you do go the extra .5″, I would recommend picking up a set of adjustable front and rear track bars as without them,your axle shift will start to be more noticable.
Eddie
Will I need to make any adjustments with the 2.5″ BB as far as the axle’s shifting? I just want to make sure that the suspension is sitting square under the body. =)
Without the addition of adjustable track bars, your axles will shift a bit but it really is no big deal and it should not effect the way your Jeep drives, handles or even causes your tires to wear. Need I say, you will be just fine without it. New coils tend to measure taller than advertised and that’s why I recommended addressing your trackbars with a 3″ coil lift.
Eddie
I just installed my BB 2.5 lift + R track relocating bracket. Looks great minor rubbing on my right rear rim (wheel weight) from the link bolt head. I order my 1.5 spacer- this should solve my issue with the rubbing. My rims are factory 18×7.5 and stock tire,255/70r18. With my new wheel spacers and stock rims, I should be able to fit 33 inch tires on my stock rims. What would you recommend for tire size for my 18 rims. I have no issues with the lift: pulling, ESP, just the minor rubbing in the Right rear on a right turn and that is with 3 people sitting in the back seat.
So long as you get the wheel spacers, I would think you could easily fit a 305×70R-18 and I know that the Xtreme M/T’s are available in this size.
Eddie
If I run 35″ tires do you think a rubicon with 4.10 will need to be regeared?
Need? No - may want? Yes. If you have a 6-speed, you will be fine for sure and with an auto, pick up an Accu Pro to recalibrate your speedo and your shift points will feel a lot better.
Eddie
Thanks Eddie. This sight rocks.
WOULD I HAVE TO GET SOMETHING TO MODIFY THE REAR GATE FOR THE SPARE TIRE OR WILL A 35″ TIRE FIT ON THE FACTORY EQUIPMENT?
It’ll be tight but it will fit just barely. It’ll also be a LOT of weight for the tailgate and I personally would recommend that you get a bumper tire carrier.
Eddie
Hey Eddie, I’m deployed in Al Anbar, Iraq right now and limited on what I can reseach. I was set on running the new BFG KM2 but looking more to the Pro Comp, they seem to have a better rep. My question is, from what you’ve read, what seems like a better deal for street life and off-road. Like sats, I’ll be doing a lot of on road driving, so I need something that’s not going to tear up like some cepeks on the hardball. Over all the seem pretty similar, but BFG seems to boast a better side wall.
Also, any problems with the Lod bumpers? I’ve been hearing a lot of good things and was leaning towards them.
Hi Matt,
To be honest, I had always been a big BFG fan as their tires had such a long tread life but started using other brands like TrXus as the BFG I ran always seemed to have WEAK sidewalls. With the exception of the one hole I got in Moab a couple years back, I have not had any other sidewall issues or otherwise and I’ve been so happy with these tires that I picked up a set of 37’s for my TJ. Grip is outstanding on the trail and onroad performance is in my opinion better than the BFG’s as they are siped and have a similar pattern to the Toyo’s which are proven to be good in slick conditions. The only drawback to these tires is that they are soft and seem to wear faster than BFG’s. But, the soft rubber compound definitely make them better on the rocks.
Eddie
eddie i have just purchased a 08 jk. i want to put some 37 on it. I was wondering if a 4 inch superlift kit would allow 37 they clam on there website it can with small mods.wha my questions are what size of wheel u recomend? what tire? i plan to off road it this is my first jeep!! any help is appreciated
Hi Tony, 4″ of lift should get you clearing 37’s for the most part but as mentioned, you would need to trim the corners off the pinch seams so that they don’t cut into your rear tires. If you have a Rubicon, you will have to trim the rocker guards as well. Also, it has been my experience that you may still need to add a 1″ body lift to clear your fenders at a full stuff. Other things to take into consideration is that at this height, you really want to start thinking about aftermarket drivelines and adjustable control arms so that you can set your rear pinion angle for them as well dial in your caster to compensate for your tires/lift. Otherwise, I would recommend these tires in a 37 if you know what you are getting yourself into.
Eddie
Hello… I just ordered a 2008 Sahara and am looking to replace the tires and wheels as soon as it gets here…i wanna go as big as possible with little or no tire hanging out of my wheel well and without any lift or making any modifications…I was looking at getting Outlaw 2’s (15×8) and putting bf goodrich all terrains on them, however someone told me the 15″ wheel would not work on the JK due to the brakes??? what are my options as far as size is concerned for my wheels and also my tires???
Thank-u for your help
what you heard is correct - most 15″ wheels will be too small and will cause your brake calipers to make contact with them. in fact, i have seen one or two 16″ wheels having this problem as well. however, 16″ is probably the smallest i would recommend and without any modifications, the biggest tire i would recommend would be a set of 285’s.
Ok Cool…Thank-you
Thanks for the previous advice.It helped me realize i am not ready for 37’s yet so i’ve decided to go with 35’s. My jeep is a Wrangler X 2 door so im going to do 16″ wheels.I was wondering what is the biggest size of tire i can go w/o doing any mods for right now? i like the wheels you have but i can only find 4.5 bs so should i go with 17’s w/a 4.75 bs since i want to eventually go to a 37?
The biggest tire I would recommend you run without any lift is a 285 (about a 33″ tire). If you can get a set of 17″ wheels, I would recommend them but WITH the 4.5″ of BS if you can. 4.75″ works but I think 4.5″ is better.
Eddie
Eddie I was thinking about getting the stock 17″ rubicon wheels and possibly putting the 285’s that you recommended above on them…I have a JK Sahara, is it the same height as the Rubicon, or would there be some modifications I would need to prevent rubbing??? Thanks For Your Help
it’s the same height and you should be fine.
Sounds Good. Appreciate It
Awesome Jeep dude! I have same one in white also. I’ll be looking to upsize the tires as soon as these go (can’t wait for that). They are the stock 32s (not the total frisbees) with 3.73 ratio cuz of the towing pkg.
I want an even wider more bulldogish stance with some nice all black wheels. I’m not gonna get into all the lifting and 35s since I’m not an offroader nor to I want to compromise too much of the factory ride. So what size and spacing would you guys reccommend to acheive this that would look pretty sweet. I’m guessing max 33s with some minor spacing for wider stance. Thoughts?
-thanks
pick up a set of wheels that have 3.75″ of back spacing and you will get the stance you are looking for.
Hi Guys:
I’m looking to lift my 2007 Sahara with either a 3 or 4 inch lift. I have been asking around and I was told that a Teraflex lift would work just fine. What are your thoughts and or recommendations?
TeraFlex makes great products and I’m sure you’ll be happy with one of their kits.
Hi eddie,finally installed my 4in superlift to my 2 door ‘08 x wrangler. i ended upgoing with 35’s same wheels and offset and tires that you have and it looks great but i ran into a problem. i was wondering if you can help or give advice. My front drive shaft is rubbing against the transmission skid plate when suspension is at full extend.It looks as though the drive shaft is at too much of an angle i had the jeep alianged it and its not correcting the problem what advice go you have?
unfortunately, the only real solution is to install an aftermarket u-joint style shaft as it will be narrower in diameter.
eddie
Hi Eddie,
I have been thinking to upgrade my 2007 Wringler Unlimited X just enogh to kick it up a notch.
I was thinking 35″’s a and pro comp’s 8179’s and a 3″ lift. What else do I need to get this going?
In ragards to the tires, I don’t do much off road so I need something like Breidgestone All terrain tA, what do you think? and Also, how much do you think I should be paying for this upgrade?
Thanks
if you have an automatic, you may want to consider getting a new aftermarket driveshaft as the boot on it will get torn by your transmission at a full flex. if you really don’t do much off roading, you might be okay not doing this mod. as far as price goes, it’s hard to say. if you get a really complete kit, it can cost you about $1500-$2000 or if you get a basic kit, you can do it for about $600-$1000. tires vary quite a bit as well.
Can i run those same wheels without any mods ? …or would it look stupid ? lol What would be the widest tire i could use without mods ?
32×11.50s’ or 255/75R17’s without any mods. 33’s or 285’s can be run but you might have some rubbing issues.
hello,
I have a simple question here I bought a set of winter\trail tire 255 75R17 and wanna get the 8179 serie wheels, so I was wondering if I get wheel size 17*9 -4.75 backspacing would that fit the tires ?
Thanks
yes, they will fit.
i do love it
I have a 09 2dr JK X model with 16×7 steel wheels. I have installed a 1 3/4 lift and would like to keep my wheels. I would like to run 285 75r16. What kind of problems do you think I will run in too? Thank you for your input and help.
at most, maybe a little rub at a full stuff but that’s about it.
I bought a used Jk Unlimited Rubicon with a 2.5 inch lift and 35’s already installed. Because of the lift, will my autodiscos still work properly?
yes, it will work just fine.
what was the final verdict on these tires? did you get up to 40,000 on them?
i didn’t. i sold them to a friend but i know that he’s put on enough miles on them to make about 30-40k. but, they are in need of replacing now.
HI THERE.I BOUGHT A NEW 08 JEEP JK X TWO DOOR.I JUST ORDERED A LIFT FOR IT.I LOOKED AT ALL THE SYSTEMS AND I MEAN ALL OF THEM.I DECIDED ON THE FULL TRACTION ULTIMATE 4 INCH LIFT.I WANT TO RUN 37′S ON MY JEEP.THEY ADVERTISE YOU CAN GO 37′S WITHOUT DRIVE SHAFT MODS,IM HOPING THEY ARE RIGHT.ANY WORD ON THIS LIFT?I HEAR ITS ONE HELL OF A NICE LIFT.
the FT 4″ ultimate lift is a great kit and i would highly recommend it but depending on which 37’s you go with, you may find it necessary to add 1″ coil spacers or a 1″ body lift to help clear your fenders. also, with 4″ of lift, you will need to replace your front drive shaft if you have an automatic and being that you have 2-door, you will definitely need to replace your rear shaft sooner than later.
WAYOFLIFE,THANKS FOR THE RESPONSE.LIFT JUST CAME IN AN I WENT TO CHECK IT OUT.VERY CLEAN LOOKING KIT.I WAS TOLD I WOULD BE OK WITH 36′S ON NO SMALLER WHEELS THAN 16′ HE SAID TO LOOK INTO FLARES AND A BUMPER,I WILL LOOK AWFULLY FUNNY WITH THE STOCK WHEEL AND TIRES,LOL.AGAIN THANK YOU,I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED.IT IS GONING ON THIS MONDAY I CANT WAIT.
Hi,
Just curious I have an 08 JK Sahara with the factory 18’s. Can I run 17×9 35’s without any other mods?
no. you will need at least a 2.5″ budget boost to clear 35’s
I have a 08′ jk sahara w/6speed. looking to lift it. the 2/5″Bor the 4″ lift. I want to run 35×12.5, don’t really do that much off roading what would be the best lift so I don’t have to change all kinds of other stuff as well. Will I need to replace drive shafts, when changing the tires and wheels can i use the tpms that is in the stock wheels in the new wheels which looking at mt sidebitter 17×9 if not what can I do about this. thank you for all your help
for your purposes, you will be fine with just the 2.5″ BB. with this setup, you wil not need new drive shafts and you can just reuse your tpms sensors.
Hey there Eddie, new to the site and have been reading many of the posts. Very good stuff! You posted back in 07 on the ProComp XMT’s you had picked up and I was wondering what kind of mileage you ended up getting out of them. Thanks.
i upgraded my tires to a set of 37’s a little more than a year ago and so i don’t know for sure. however, i can tell you that a friend of mine is running them now and if i could guess, they’ve got about 30-35k on them now and are getting close to their end.
Thanks for your quick reply. What I’ve got is an 08 JK X and it’s bone stock. It’s a DD so I was looking for something that would ware good on the street but do well for some weekend wheelin. Wanted to go with some 33’s and no more than a 3″ lift at the most. There’s just so much to choose from and I’ve been out of touch for too long. Read up on your Stock Fender Chop and decided to go for it. Any suggestion on brand/combo set up would be great. Thanks again.
with 3″ of lift, you can easily clear 35″ tires. with the addition of chopped fenders, you can practically clear 37’s. as far as these tires go, they are a very good tire and i would definitly recommend them.
I’m running a OME lift kit with stock tires on my 08 Rubicon
2 DR. I would like to go from stock 32in tire to a 35in tire. I have narrowed the new tire search down to either BFG KM2 or TOYO Open Country M/T . with steel wheels 17X9 for the 4.5 in back spacing. Looking for the best tire for on/off road use.
Also I bent a stock rear lower control arm. any recommenditions on type of replacement. adjustable or stock?
Thanks for your time.
Thanks again Eddie. I think I’ll go with the 35’s once I do the chop. After I posted I found out that my stock rubber was a 32″ and not a 31″, so the 33’s are out and the 35’s are on the table. Thanks again.
hey jeff, without any question, i would go with toyo’s. by far, they are the best MT i have ever run on and off the pavement. regarding control arms, you really can’t go wrong with teraflex.
I’m about to get this same set up- BB 2.5, Pro Comp tire/wheel, on my 07 Sahara next week. Going with the 16′ rim instead. Great look, thanks for this great article.
In my quest for new rubber comes the need for new wheels. Because of the cost and my limited budget, I will be going with steel. Any coments on which brand(s) gives you your best bang for the buck? Going with the Pro Comp Xtreme Mud Terrains, 315/70/R17 (35″). Also heard something about steel robbing more power compaired to alloy. Any truth to this?
all the steel wheels are pretty much the same. i’ve run the tech 1 rock crawlers that 4wheelparts sells and liked them a lot. as far as power robbing goes, naw, i’ve never heard this before.
Hi Eddie
You must have gained additional knowledge in the two years since this article was first started. I have a standard 07 2 door Rubicon - I am know almost ready to upgrade - I would like to fit a OME kit, but would really like to run 35 inch tires. Will this work? Pro’s and cons please. I would like to use steel 17 inch wheels, what would be the best back spacing in youre opinion? Is the standard spare wheel carrier strong enough for a 35 inch tire? Do you have to remove the rear brake light? what about loss of power, will it still drive fine or do you require other mods?
Thanks
With my OME lift I was concerned about using the 35 in Toyo tires. My 32in BFG rubbed the inside of the wheel well at full stuff. What about the Toyo 285/75RX17 the height is 34.1in I should be able to use the Tera Flex 2.5 in bump stop and still have spring travel. any additional recommendition would be helpful.
hi litespeed, yes, you can run 35’s with the ome kit especially if you get it with the hd coils. the only real con i can think of is that you will have a power loss if you do not regear. otherwise, 35’s are a great size tire to run. regarding back spacing, i would go with 4.5″. as far as carrying it on your tailgate goes, it can be done and i know lots of people who do it without any problems but moving it off on to a swing out tire carrier would be the better way to go.
jeff, running a set of bump stop extensions should take care of any rubbing you might see with these tires.
Great site! And it is awesome that you are so willing to help everyone with all of their questions.
I’ve got an 08 4-Door X that I just added a Zone Offroad 2″ Budget boost which gives me room for 33×12.50R17’s… Now, I just need my old tires to wear out! (The curbs in my town are in trouble)
No questions from me, just wanted to say thanks for your awesome site — thanks again for helping the community the way you do!
I went with the 285/75rX17 Toyo Open Country M/T which is a 34in tire 11.6 width. Wheels procomp 17×9 w 4.25 bs I ordered the 4.5 back spacing, what I received was the the 4.25.
Again thanks for your help
Jeff
OK. So….from what I’ve read, it sounds like if I put a 2″ to 2.5″ BB, I’ll be able to fit a pair of 305 70/R15 tires on stock 07 JK 2dr rims as long as I put a 1.5″ wheel spacer on. Any rubbing issues with this setup? Thanks so much for your help.
yeah, you may see some minor rubbing at a full flex but no big deal.
Thanks man! Also, I forgot to ask yesterday. Do you know that sharp end piece of the body that juts out into the rear wheel well? Does this have to be trimmed off? If yes, what would be the best way to go about it? Or, would a 1″ BL do the trick?
Thank you much! You have created a fantastic resource for all.
with just 35’s, no, you should not need to trim the pinch seam. but, if you do trim it, a hack saw will do the trick just fine or sawzall will do it in seconds.
Remember guys if you put bigger tires and do/do not re-gear, buy a Pro Comp - Accu Pro to re-program your odo/speedo + if you have a Auto Trans, it will adjust your shift points!!!!! $$217 at 4-wheel Parts. It is worth the $, instead of burning up your trans.
marty
have 08 jk sahara 2 door with manual trans. want to go 35″ tires. looking at the 2.5″ bb and i hear that some 15″ steel wheels with 3.73 backspacing will work. Is this correct? Also with this lift will i have to do any other mods. to make it handle correctly? thanks for you help.
yes it should work and no, with just a 2.5″ bb, you should not need anything else to make it handle well.
I have a 2008 Sahara Unlimited (Canada version no JK), 4dr. (STOCK 255 75R18)
I want to put 17 x 9 in wheels with 285 70R17 BFG KM2.
Do I need a lift? Will I need to replace TPMS sensors or will I go crazy with lights and beeping on the dash.
Coops
you will not need a lift for 285’s but, a small 2″ budget boost will compliment them nicely. as far as tpms goes, you can have your factory units removed and installed in your new wheels.
teraflex bb with shock or shock adapters what is the best
getting the new longer shocks is the better way to go especially if you plan on offroading your jeep.
Do you think I could fit the same size tires and rims on a 3.5″ or 4″ lifted without rubbing?
you can fit the same size tire on a 2.5″ budget boost. 3″ would be better and 4″ will look too tall.
what things about this combination teraflex bb 2.5 + 1.5 body lift
what things about this combination teraflex bb 2.50 + 1.25 body lift rought country
I have a 98′jeep wrangler tj with 4inch sky jacker suspension lift.. can i fit 35/12.5/15 mickey thompsons with no rubbing
not likely, more like 33″ tires. maybe if you add a 1″ body lift, you can squeak in 35’s
I have 09 JK Unlimited, 6 speed, 3:21 gears. I have stock 255/75/17 Wrangler SR-A’s(specs say 32.1″ diameter). I am thinking about going with 305/60/18(specs say 32.4″ diameter and 12.2 wide) Nitto Terra Grapplers on 18×9 wheels. The reason I am planning on going with these is I want a wider tire but do not want to go much taller because of the 3:21 gears. My questions are:
What width wheel would I need for a 12-12.5 inch wide tire (8 or 9″)
Would the backspacing be different for an 8″ wheel as opposed to a 9″ wheel.
What is the tallest and widest tire I can clear without a lift.(can I go 33″ with stock suspension without driveability suffering too badly}
Will the driveability suffer greatly because of the larger diameter tire and the 3:21 gears.
Lastly, Would I be better off going with a 17″ wheel due to the better selection of tires in 17″. If so do you recommend a good 17″ wheel and what back space should I look for.
Sorry for all the questions. New to the site. Thanks.
for a 12.50 wide tire, an 8″ or 9″ wide wheel will work just fine. i personally prefer 8″ as the narrower width helps to hold a bead better when aired down for the trail. as far as back spacing goes, you will need 4.5″ or less in order to prevent any rubbing issues. the tallest tire i would recommend you get without any lift is a 285 or 33″ tire (please note that a 33″ tire will NOT measure 33″ but rather, will be a lot shorter in reality). last but not least, i would definitely go with a 17″ wheel.
I have an stock 07 Jeep Wrangler X Unlimited (4 door). I want to put 18″ wheels on it and plan to put goodyear wrangler duratracs (around a 33″ tire i believe) on those wheels. Do I need to lift my jeep at all or will it be fine as is? If I do need to lift it what are your recomendations?
you can get away without a lift but you will most likely have some rubbing at a full flex and depending on what tire make you get, at a full turn as well. i would recommend that you at least install a set of 1″ coil spacers or 1″ body lift to help out. teraflex makes good coil spacers and performance accessories make an affordable body lift.
Have a stock 09 Unlimited with the 17″ GY SRA’s pretty bad in wet and any weather under 32desgrees. Looking to get something with nicer tread and much better all weather grip. Will be using stock 17″ rims ,no lift and don’t do any off roading. Lookig at Firestone destination M/T 285/70 R17, or perhaps Goodyear Wrangler MT/R. Like to know your opinion on these or good substitute. Guessing there wont be any rubbing issues or need for spacers consindering my use.
while i like my mt/r’s and think they do well in wet weather for an mt, you may want to look at an all terrain tire if wet/bad weather is something that concerns you most.
I have a question about the pro comp 8179’s. I you had originally posted that they were 17×9 with 4.75″ bs. Then in an early reply to another post you stated that they were really 17×8. I have been looking everywhere for them in 17×8 and just can’t find them. Any light on this matter would really help out.
sorry, probably just a typo on my behalf
Hello,
I’m seeking some technical advice on tire width. I have a 2010 with Sport package.
What I would like to confirm if it is possible to mount a 12.5″ tire (something like the BFG KM2) on the JK, stock, without any lift? And what backspacing I need (probably 4.5″; maybe a spacer too?) to accommodate that? And I’m guessing more than the stock rims give?Anyway, I will qualify my question(s) as well with the following: My aim here isn’t to go taller, per se; although I realize that taller is probably a by-product of going wider. Also, since I’ve purchased this Wrangler for my GF (it’s got 3.73 gears) and we’ll hardly ever be taking it off road. It’ll basically be on-road only, except maybe for some light beach/ dune work; so rubbing at full flex isn’t really a concern. However, I don’t want to sacrifice turning radius during daily driving. Any information will be greatly appreciated. Many Thanks in advance!
Cheers, Tom
to run 12.50 wide tires, you’ll want to run wheels with about 4.5″ of back spacing. you can do this with a set of 1.5″ wheel spacers (that’ll get you to about 4.75″). if you don’t want to lift your jeep, you shouldn’t get a tire that is taller than 33″.
Thank you, the insight is very much appreciated. I may get into lifting the jeep down the road, but out of the box, right now, it’s just not worh it. I was thinking BFG KM2 305/60/18 (believe that works out to about 32.5 x 12) on Pro Comp 8069 18×9 which have 4.75″ of back spacing. In that set-up, the spacers you mention are still needed though? Very sorry to ask again, but I want to be certain I understood you properly.
Cheers
305’s are on the big side and without any lift, you’re more than likely to see some rubbing of the fenders. 285’s would be a better fit without any issues.
285s with spacers on the Pro Comp wheels then?
Cheers
I have a 07 unlimited X four door. I plan on getting 18×9 HD Rockstars with 35×12.5 tires. What lift is needed to clear with no rubbing? I only off road a few times a year. Mainly my daily driver. Does anything else need to be done to maintain ride quality? I’ve heard people say you need alignments and steering stabilizers.
a 2.5″ budget boost will get you to clear 35’s and even with that, you’d probably see some minor rubbing when flexing on the trail. add a 1″ body lift and you’d be good to go.
I just bought a 2010 JK Rubicon. onroad to off road use is 50-50. Most off road is mud and sand. I want a black wheel. At any price what in your opinion, is the best wheel/tire brand and size combination. No lift. Thank you, RS
Hi Eddie, great site with tons of helpful info! I have an 09 Rubicon 2 door, I’m going to do the Teraflex 2.5″ budget suspension lift you did. I want to use the stock wheels, but I’m going to use Swamper LTB 34×10.50-17 tires. Do you think I’ll need use wheel spacers for this? If so, what thickness? Do you have any opinions on these tires, this will be for daily driving (short distances, mostly less than 10 miles) and extreme offroading in northern New England.
Thanks
Rob
there are a lot of wheels available in black and if money is no object, you can even have an aluminum wheel powder coated black so really, it’s up to you as to what you want to get there. as far as tires go, for mud/sand, the bfg km2’s are a good option that can be found just about anywhere. mickey thompson mtz are a good choice as well and work very well in mud.
Great site man…Pleaseee help me with this question because this will be the first jeep and the first vehicle ever lifting. I have a 2010 wrangler sport and want to put on the 7″ skyjacker lift with 20″by 10 rockstars. I do almost no offroading and this will be a daily driver. What other mods will i have to do because i am being told that this kit has almost everything in it and i wont need to modify anything else. My concern is that i want this done right with no problems down the road. Can you give me some pointers and tell me what you think about this setup? thank you so much…
by the way its a 2010 wrangler sport 4 door Automatic…i guess that would help..lol
if you’re being serious, i can tell you that 7″ is a lot of lift. what size tires are you planning to run with this? 42’s?
I’ve got a 2009 Unlimited running factory 255/75R17’s. I plan to swap the factory rims out for a set of Helo Black Maxx 17×8’s and stick with the factory tires for now. Eventually my plan is to go to the Teraflex 2.5 BB once its time to change the stock tires and go to a 315/70R17. See any issues with this? I think I have researched this to death, but any insight would be great. Thanks.
Hi wayoflife,
Great site keep up the kickass work. I have a 2008 4dr rubicon I am putting the teraflex budget boost on, I have 1.50″ wheel spacers on will this be enough for the lift? Also I was wondering if I can keep the Mud Terrain tires and switch out the stock wheels to black wheels, the tire still has a lot of tred left to it. I just can’t figure out for the life of me how to check the size of the wheel to make sure it matches up to the correct size for the tire.
Thanks a lot!!!
Toph
you don’t need wheel spacers for the lift but you will need them to clear wider tires. assuming you have a rubicon, you have 17″ wheels.
Eddie,
first off nice site. You answered some backspacing questions I had a few weeks ago so thanks for that. Anyway, I have a 07 sahara JK with 18″ factory rims. I went to order some 16″ black rock steel wheels from quadratech and the guy on the phone told me that because my factory wheels were 18″ I had bigger brake calipers than normal and 16″ or 17″ wheels would not clear them. I find this hard to believe and was wondering if you had ever come across anything that would validate this guys claim that 16 or 17 inch wheels will not fit on a jk that left the factory with 18’s. I appreciate your time.
trust me, you have the same brake caliper as any jk.
thanks, thats what I thought. What about 16″ steel wheels clearing the calipers?
yeah, pretty much all 16″ wheels clear if not all
Eddie, i just bought a 2010 JK Unlimted X (base model)… it sounds like i could throw on some 17×8 wheels and 285/70/17 A/T tires without having to having to make any mods or doing a lift? there may be some rubbing on full turn but that’d be the only issue?
Thanks
for the most part, yes, you shouldn’t have any problems with 285’s. if you do, it will only be minor rubbing at a full turn. installing a set of wheel spacers will help out with this. off road, you may see some minor rubbing at a full flex but a 1″ body lift or coil spacer lift will take care of this.
sweet. how big a spacer would you suggest - 1.5″? and would a spacer also work for getting the spare on - I assume it wont fit as is?
yes, you’ll want a 1.5″ spacer and yes, you will need an extra or some kind of relocation bracket to mount a full size spare. you will also want to pick up a set of daystar isolators as they will keep your spare from jiggling around. failure to do this can cause your tailgate to start breaking.
wow, good stuff man. much appreciated!
Just been reading over all the comments and reviews, just wanted to confirm that with a 2.5″ coil/shock lift on a 09 JK Rubicon 2-door, that putting on the same tires and wheels I wont need any spacers with the 4.75″ BS on the wheel. Also i know someone asked before but you said the wheels are 17 x 8 which i could not find, found only 16 x 8 or 17 x 9 can you confirm what you are running again please and thank you. Heading down to the US to pick these bad boys up this weekend! Great website by the way!
you are correct, the wheels are actually 17×9 and no, you won’t need wheel spacers with these wheels.
I have a 2010 Sport 2dr with a base set of tires. I’ve been cruising the forums looking for answers for a conservative tire/wheel upgrade. I don’t need 35+ tires. I’m just looking to find out the largest tire upgrade I can get without doing any lifts, cutting, or having them rub.
Also, are there any other considerations I should be aware of before making a purchase?
If anyone can explain the effects of gear ratio, and best way to shop for tires to avoid regrets, that would be helpful!
Thanks for keeping this post up!
32″ is the biggest you can go without any doing anything. 33″ can be done but you will most likely see some minor rubbing depending on the make of the tire you get. so long as you stick with a 32 or 33″ tires, you will not need to regear.
Am thinking of ugrading to 35’s, and I have been told that I need to upgrade the gearing to 4.88’s, or 5.13’s. I have an 07 Unlimited X. However I live on an Island, that is primarily flat, and rarely exceed 40 mph, is my performance going to be effected that much that I need to change out the gearing, or will it be liveable? I want to do it anyway, but am trying to manage the budget. Thanks for any input, great website by the way.
trust me, you’ll be fine with stock gears.
Looks like I have 3.21 gears. Can I still do the 32’s?
sure, i would
Which wheel sizes fit the stock bfg rubicon tires?
Thanks
17×8 is a good size
In Egypt Wranglers Unlimited are being assembled goona get one soon they have R17 Rims with 255/75 stock tires, planning to put on Original Rim R17 BFG Mud terrains KO2 size 305/65R17 i drive 80 % to work & occasional trips to dunes, I know 1.5 wheel spacer is a must, the reason for wide tires want to look different then other Wranglers will i need a TF 2.5 budget lift??? and tire rubbing will be there?? They are priced 43K$ we have huge duty taxes
if you want to run 305’s, you will need to install a 2.5″ of lift or trim your fenders.
I am planning on running 33″ pro comp xtreme m/t on a 16″ rim. I have a 2″ OME lift, would a backspacing of 4″ stick out very far? What backspacing would you recommend? Thanks
with 12.50″ wide tires, the minimum amount of back spacing you should run is 4.5″. needless to say, your tires will stick out about a 1/2″ more than the bare minimum.
They will be outside the fender, correct?
yes, but just by a bit
I am running a 2007 Sahara Unlimited. I was wanting to know what is the better lift for ride quality between the TeraFlex BB, TeraFlex 2.5″ suspension lift, or 3″ TeraFlex suspension lift. This is my daily driver. I also will be running 18×9 black XD 778 wheels and would like to know what size tire would look and handle the best? Tires I’ve been looking at are Nitto Mud Grappler, BFG KM2, Mickey Thompson MTZ, Procomp XTreme M/T. This Jeep is more for show and very little off-roading.
I have a 2010 JK, 2 door, 6 speed with 3:73 gearing. The jeep is used mainly as a DD but would like to put on some larger tires 33 - 35″. Taking fuel econemy and center of gravity into consideration which is more practical: 2.5″ BB w/ 35″ tires or install bushwacker flat fenders w/ 33″ tires. Regearing is out of the question. Also, will modifying air intake and exhaust compensate for the larger tires?
andy, for your purposes, i would recommend just installing a BB. that would give you what you need to run a set of 305’s
steve, if you’re even thinking about it, i would recommend getting 35’s. you should be able to run them with just the bushwacker fenders.
What is the largest tire you can get under a stock 2008 jk rubicon umlimited? I am not wanting to do a lift kit and want to keep it stock b/c it is a daily driver and I need to fit into garages. I am looking to get the right tire and wheel combo (not stock wheels) that gives me a big aggressivee look.
32″ is the largest without any problems. 33″ can be done but, you will most likely have some rubbing issues.
I have a 2010 unlimited Rubicon.
Id like a 4.5 lift and 35″x 12.5x 17 tires.It will be a daily driver with only limited time in sand or mud.Is my driveshaft going to hit my transmission pan? Is a 3.5 lift more suitable for 35″ tires? My installer recommends 4.88 gears and wants $2200 to install them(front and rear). Does that sound right?
Thanks
Scott
if you’re only going to be running 35’s, a 3.5″ lift would be the better way to go. 4.5″ will be way too tall for 35’s and will require a lot more components and money to keep it driving nice on pavement. regarding gears, $2200 sounds a bit high to me but, it may be the going rate in your area. here in southern california, you can get gears installed for about $1500.
Lets try this. I have a 2008 wrangler unlimited x. I have a 4 inch skyjacker short arm lift with LOD front and rear bumpers. I also have winch and rock sliders and a few other items that have added much weight to the vehicle. I also have bushwacker flat fenders and am running toyo 37 inch tires mounted on poison spyder beadlock wheels. I’m sure that I’ve lost some of the lift and with minimum flex my tires are rubbing on the front bumper and extermely close to the front side of the rear wheel well. I’m considering putting ACOS coil spring adjusters front and rear to give me back to the original lift and then some. I’m hoping that will eliminate the rubbing issue. Actually digging into the edge of the front bumper. I’m worried that by lifting the vehicle further will create more problems in other places and I’m hoping you can tell me what other problems I could expect to pop up if I were install the ACOS coil spring adjusters. I love how my jeep looks as it is very unique for hawaii. It runs fine on road but want to get back off road without spending too much. Can you please advise me?
Thanks, Kevin
I had a 2003 Wrangler and lifted it 4″s and put just 33 X 12.50 Fun Country tires on it. It changed the ride to the point that my wife would not drive it. It rode terrible, it drove terrible (when you hit a small bump in the road the steering wheel would move several inches in your hand)and I should have changed the gearing or something because it would not stay at 60 mph without jumping back and forth from drive to overdrive, but it looked good. With that said, I resently bought a 2010 JK (4-door)and now I want to lift it some. I was thinking about installing 305 70R 17 tires. If I go with this look, what lift if any do I need, and most of all is it going to change the current characteristics of the Jeep a lot.
first off, the JK is no 2003 TJ. also, 4″ of lift on a TJ is a lot of lift especially if you weren’t running long arms and a terrible ride should have been expected. having said that, to clear 305’s on a JK, all you really need is about 2.5″ of lift and i would recommend a basic budget boost like the kind teraflex makes. your ride will not be compromised. also, another option would be to install high clearance fenders like the kind bushwacker makes. with these, you can pretty much run 305’s without any lift.