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 Northridge4x4 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!
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.
21 Comments
Hey guys
I currently have an automatic 2 dr 07 Sahara stock. I dont do much offroading, cuz I dont have the time, but I really want to put 35’s on her. I love the Pro comp 8179 and I was wondering if just the 2.5″ Teraflex BB will be enouigh of a lift? I will be doing little offroading, but definately more of a street jeep. What are the best tires that perform (somewhat) quietly and smoothly on the road? Im scared to commit without the proper info… I dont want to be adding additional parts afterwords just to make it work. Please help me with any other mods that will be necessary(Sway bar, spacers…etc). When do you need to worry about the death roll?
Thank you so much.
Hi Eddie; Thanks for all the time you put in responding. I always enjoy the thread. I have an ’08 JK, came w/ factory GY Wranglers P255/75R17’s. Have about 49K on it, and would like to buy new tires. I like the stock tires, but wonder if I could put 33″ tires on, without changing the wheels, or rubbing? Any recommendations on tires ???
you can run 33’s without any lift but, without new wheels with less back spacing, you will most likely see some minor rubbing at a full turn. this can be easily addressed by adding a couple of washers to your steer stops but, i would recommend installing a set of 1.5″ wheelspacers instead.
Eddie, I have an 2012 Jk sport and I want to put 285/70r-17 km2s on an aftermarket wheel with 4.5 backspacing. Is this enough backspacing to prevent any rubbing?
Thank you for your time!
Chris
yes, you will be fine with 4.5
Eddie,
You should make a chart so people will stop asking you the same questions. I just got a ’12 jk Rubi unlimted, black, auto, 4.10 gears. What happens to a jeep’s on road handling as you go up in tire size with the appropriate lift for that tire and rim combo? I plan on going with 35’s on a 17×8 with 4.5 bs with a terra flex 2.5″ lift, are there any other mods or adjustments other than speedo adj you wpuld recommend to reduce wear on other systems? What gears and from which company would you recommend? Thanks for this site!
tire size is one thing and lift is another. bigger tires will cause your jeep to lose power but, regearing will help to restore that. on a 12, you will have plenty of power for 35’s and all you really need to do is recalibrate your speedo so that the shift points are where they need to be. as far as ride/handling goes, that would depend on what all came with your lift kit.
Hello Eddie,
I just bought a 2011 Rubicon Unlimited. I would like to install the Teraflex 2.5 BB and run 35×12.50×17 on a 17×8 steel wheel with 4.25″ b/s. However, I do have stock front/rear bumpers and flares. Am I going to rub anywhere, in full flex/full turn? If so, how do I avoid this short of replacing OEM? I live about an hour from the Rubicon and have plans to run it this summer, so I’m gearing up.
you’ll be just fine with the stock bumpers but, you will most likely rub your pinch seam and fenders at a full flex. you can trim the corners of the seam with ease using a hack saw or sawzall and, you can either install a 1″ body lift to prevent fender rub or, you can always trim your fenders.
I have a stock 2008 JK Unlimited 4×4 and want to put 35×12.5R17 and pro comp 17’s on it. I had planned on getting a 4in lift but after finding your site and reading all the good intel and advice I am wondering if I should go with a 3in lift. I don’t want to worry about rubbing but I don’t want it too high as to cause “skyscraper” looks with 35’s or have to replace tranny parts. Daily driver but some dirt roading…nothing Baja’in. 🙂 Also planned on relocation and reinforcement brackets for the spare as I am keeping the stock bumper for now. Please advise a good clearance for a lift for 35’s.
for running just 35’s, 3″ of lift is really all i would do.
Hi Eddie,
Thanks for all the great info and love the videos! My wife and I bought a 2010 Sahara 4door and are now ready to modify it…before we make the trip from Asheville, NC to go on one of your legendary off road adventures, what modifications need to happen so we can hang with you guys…thanks again, love the site.
bare minimum, tow points front and rear and rocker guards. 35″ tires and 2.5″ of lift are highly encouraged and lockers are a nice perk to have.
is hubcentric important
Very nice article. Love it.
Hi I just bought an 07 JK unlimited X and my buddie is tell me I should get ride of my pro comp extreme wheels that came with it for steel wheels for wheeling and wanted to know your thoughts on this. This is my first jeep and I am loving it.
Thanks
if there’s nothing wrong with your wheels, i see no reason to replace them for a set of steel wheels.
Hey Eddie,
I just bought an 07 JK 4 door and it has 2.5” body lift and a leveling kit and running 315x70xR17 with stock rims. the tires seem to run really nice with minimal rubbing.
Im new to trail riding and was wondering if i should change the body lift to a suspension Budget Boost or just maybe add coil spacers? i want to be able to keep up with everyone here in Florida.
I added a stinger front bumper and winch too.
if you really are running stock rims, i would double check your rear sway bar links to make sure they aren’t sitting too close to your sidewalls. a set of 1.5″ wheel spacers will help to space things out. i would also run a 2.5″ budget boost to help clear your tires.
i got 1.5 wheel spacers, forgot to mention that.
would you run the budget boost on top of the 2.5” body lift i already have and still stay same tire size? or replace the body lift with the budget boost?? (315x70xr17)
thanks for everything.
honestly, i didn’t even know there were 2.5″ body lifts made for the JK. if you really have one installed, yes, i would definitely remove it and install a budget boost in it’s place.
Hey guys
I currently have an automatic 2 dr 07 Sahara stock. I dont do much offroading, cuz I dont have the time, but I really want to put 35’s on her. I love the Pro comp 8179 and I was wondering if just the 2.5″ Teraflex BB will be enouigh of a lift? I will be doing little offroading, but definately more of a street jeep. What are the best tires that perform (somewhat) quietly and smoothly on the road? Im scared to commit without the proper info… I dont want to be adding additional parts afterwords just to make it work. Please help me with any other mods that will be necessary(Sway bar, spacers…etc). When do you need to worry about the death roll?
Thank you so much.
Hi Eddie; Thanks for all the time you put in responding. I always enjoy the thread. I have an ’08 JK, came w/ factory GY Wranglers P255/75R17’s. Have about 49K on it, and would like to buy new tires. I like the stock tires, but wonder if I could put 33″ tires on, without changing the wheels, or rubbing? Any recommendations on tires ???
you can run 33’s without any lift but, without new wheels with less back spacing, you will most likely see some minor rubbing at a full turn. this can be easily addressed by adding a couple of washers to your steer stops but, i would recommend installing a set of 1.5″ wheelspacers instead.
Eddie, I have an 2012 Jk sport and I want to put 285/70r-17 km2s on an aftermarket wheel with 4.5 backspacing. Is this enough backspacing to prevent any rubbing?
Thank you for your time!
Chris
yes, you will be fine with 4.5
Eddie,
You should make a chart so people will stop asking you the same questions. I just got a ’12 jk Rubi unlimted, black, auto, 4.10 gears. What happens to a jeep’s on road handling as you go up in tire size with the appropriate lift for that tire and rim combo? I plan on going with 35’s on a 17×8 with 4.5 bs with a terra flex 2.5″ lift, are there any other mods or adjustments other than speedo adj you wpuld recommend to reduce wear on other systems? What gears and from which company would you recommend? Thanks for this site!
tire size is one thing and lift is another. bigger tires will cause your jeep to lose power but, regearing will help to restore that. on a 12, you will have plenty of power for 35’s and all you really need to do is recalibrate your speedo so that the shift points are where they need to be. as far as ride/handling goes, that would depend on what all came with your lift kit.
Hello Eddie,
I just bought a 2011 Rubicon Unlimited. I would like to install the Teraflex 2.5 BB and run 35×12.50×17 on a 17×8 steel wheel with 4.25″ b/s. However, I do have stock front/rear bumpers and flares. Am I going to rub anywhere, in full flex/full turn? If so, how do I avoid this short of replacing OEM? I live about an hour from the Rubicon and have plans to run it this summer, so I’m gearing up.
you’ll be just fine with the stock bumpers but, you will most likely rub your pinch seam and fenders at a full flex. you can trim the corners of the seam with ease using a hack saw or sawzall and, you can either install a 1″ body lift to prevent fender rub or, you can always trim your fenders.
I have a stock 2008 JK Unlimited 4×4 and want to put 35×12.5R17 and pro comp 17’s on it. I had planned on getting a 4in lift but after finding your site and reading all the good intel and advice I am wondering if I should go with a 3in lift. I don’t want to worry about rubbing but I don’t want it too high as to cause “skyscraper” looks with 35’s or have to replace tranny parts. Daily driver but some dirt roading…nothing Baja’in. 🙂 Also planned on relocation and reinforcement brackets for the spare as I am keeping the stock bumper for now. Please advise a good clearance for a lift for 35’s.
for running just 35’s, 3″ of lift is really all i would do.
Hi Eddie,
Thanks for all the great info and love the videos! My wife and I bought a 2010 Sahara 4door and are now ready to modify it…before we make the trip from Asheville, NC to go on one of your legendary off road adventures, what modifications need to happen so we can hang with you guys…thanks again, love the site.
bare minimum, tow points front and rear and rocker guards. 35″ tires and 2.5″ of lift are highly encouraged and lockers are a nice perk to have.
is hubcentric important
Very nice article. Love it.
Hi I just bought an 07 JK unlimited X and my buddie is tell me I should get ride of my pro comp extreme wheels that came with it for steel wheels for wheeling and wanted to know your thoughts on this. This is my first jeep and I am loving it.
Thanks
if there’s nothing wrong with your wheels, i see no reason to replace them for a set of steel wheels.
Hey Eddie,
I just bought an 07 JK 4 door and it has 2.5” body lift and a leveling kit and running 315x70xR17 with stock rims. the tires seem to run really nice with minimal rubbing.
Im new to trail riding and was wondering if i should change the body lift to a suspension Budget Boost or just maybe add coil spacers? i want to be able to keep up with everyone here in Florida.
I added a stinger front bumper and winch too.
if you really are running stock rims, i would double check your rear sway bar links to make sure they aren’t sitting too close to your sidewalls. a set of 1.5″ wheel spacers will help to space things out. i would also run a 2.5″ budget boost to help clear your tires.
i got 1.5 wheel spacers, forgot to mention that.
would you run the budget boost on top of the 2.5” body lift i already have and still stay same tire size? or replace the body lift with the budget boost?? (315x70xr17)
thanks for everything.
honestly, i didn’t even know there were 2.5″ body lifts made for the JK. if you really have one installed, yes, i would definitely remove it and install a budget boost in it’s place.