So here’s the dilema. You’ve just bought a brand new 2007 Jeep JK Wrangler and now you’re wanting to install a set of bigger tires on it. Only problem is, the factory wheels that come on the JK Wranglers have 6.25″ of back spacing and depending on how wide the tires you want to install are, you’ll most likely have some rubbing problems at a full turn up front and a good chance that you’ll get some rubbing of the side walls on the rear sway bar as well.
Typically, your best option would be to get a set of new wheels that have less back spacing on them. However, with the new and uncommon 5×5 bolt pattern that Jeep decided to use on the new Jeep JK Wranglers, you’re left with a slim selection of wheels to choose from. Of course, this is to say nothing about the people out there who love the look of the factroy aluminum wheels and would prefer to keep them. What is one to do?
Well, thanks to Spidertrax Off Road and the high quality wheel spacers and adapters they are making for the new Jeep JK Wrangler, you now have options to choose from. For those of you who want to run bigger tires on your factory wheels, Spidertrax is now manufacturing a set of 1.5″ wheels spacers that will effectively reduce the amount of backspacing your factory wheels have to 4.75″. And, for those of you who are looking to install a set of aftermarket wheels but would love to take advantage of all the other wheel designs available out there, Spidertrax is now also manufacturing a set of 1.375″ wheel adapters that will convert your existing 5×5 bolt pattern to a more common 5×4.5 or 5×5.5 bolt pattern. Need I say, both the wheel spacers and wheel adapters will give you more than enough room to install a nice big tire like a 33×12.50 or bigger… depending on the amount of suspension lift you have of course.
All Spidertrax wheel spacers and wheel adapters have a wheel and hub centric design, are made out of 6061 T6 anodized blue aluminum for corrosion resistance and come with pre-installed wheel studs, lugnuts, and Red Loctite.
Eddie
Special Thanks: I would like to thank Spidertrax and Northridge4x4 for providing this exclusive press release.
FYI: Spidertrax Jeep JK Wrangler wheel spacers and adapters can be purchased at Northridge4x4 and Quadratec.
i guess it depends on what you’re rubbing. if you are refering to the rear side walls on the sway bar links, yes, they should stop the rubbing. if you’re talking about up front at a full turn or when flexing, it depends on how big the 33×12.50 is and how much lift you have. but, for the most part, yes, it should help.
Up front, only they clear on the rear I have stock height do you think the front bumper will clear with a 1.5″ wheel spacer. Thank
hard to say for sure. your tires may still catch the bottom of the air dam.
Were is this located?
the plastic piece under the front bumper
New to world of Jeeps. Own 2008 JK Wrangler Unlimited 4 DR. Stock rims with 265/75/16’s. Would like to widen with 1 1/2″ spacers and lift 2″. Will widening negate the lift since the tires will now extend near or under the rim of the fender? Also, will this make any sense at all? Will it look goofy? Thank you, Eddie.
yep, it makes sense and no, it will not.
I just bought a 2007 4 door Sahara. It came with 18″ rims with 255/70/18 tires. I loved it on the car lot until i priced tires lol. So I have 3 questions:
1. What is the biggest tire that will fit on my jeep with the 18″ rim – no lift ( i was told 275/65/18)
2. I hear some people downsizing to 16″ rims. Can I do this? What would be the biggest tire size for a 16″ rim on my jeep with no lift.
3. When talking about back spacing, does the smaller the number mean the rim will stick out further and the larger the number mean it will be inside the wheel well more? (4.5″ BS means it sticks out further than 6.25″BS)
I want the tire to stick out from the fender a little bit so I guess I don’t mind using wheel spacers if I have to, I just dont want to lift it yet…..
1. 255 is as big as you want to go if you want to ensure that you won’t have ANY rubbing issues. 275’s will work but, depending on the tire you get, you may have rubbing issues.
2. yes, you can.
3. less backspacing will push your tires out past the fenders and more will bring them in. factory is 6.25″ and you do not want any more than that. 4.5″ is about where you want to be
Hello, i just replaced my 2010 JK stock tires to LT 285/75/16 and would like to keep my stock rims but i face some rubbing on full lock ,,, i understand that i can either change my rims or add wheel spacers to solve the problem ,,, could you please tell me which size of wheel spacers to use to fix the rubbing issue ,,, i will also lift the car by 1″ any suggestions from your side would be greatly appreciated.
would wheel spacers affect the off road performance in places like sand dunes?
Do the wheel spacers need special dimensions (size and weight) in order for them not to make vibration because the local handmade wheel spacers make some vibration in the car after 80km/hour and this vibration didn’t appear before. My car model is YJ 1995. Thank you for your help in advising.
My 2008 4dr sahara w stock 18″s (which I like) needs a more aggressive look. My need for new tires has sparked this overhaul…so here is what I’m thinking. BFG all terrain T/A KO 275/70/R18 (33.2″h/10.8″w) or 305/65/R18 (33.6″h/12″w), Teraflex leveling kit (2″ front 1″ rear), & Teraflex 1.25″ spacers. No loyalty to teraflex…dealer/installer is only 4 miles from house. My questions are:
1. Can my stock wheel handle the larger tires?
2. Assuming my wheels can handle both sizes, will either one of those tires rub at all? If my wheel cannot handle the larger tire, will the smaller one rub? If so, recommendation to prevent this would be helpful on both sizes.
3. Not really sure if how I feel about my tires sticking out past my fender. Will this occur, and if so how much?
Thank you for all your help.
yes, your wheels can handle the larger tires. the 275’s will most likely not rub but the 305’s will. you will need to run wheel spacers and if you do, your tires will stick out a bit but, not enough to really notice.
I had a jeep project that went bad due to money getting it up and running….long story short it left me with 31×15 10.5. Now Ive bought a 2007 jk and want to put those wheels with the tires that I have already invested money in. Will it work? Ive read that some do some dont. I get that…However I also read that 1/4 in spacer will allow no rub on the calipers. By doing this am I good?
I have a 2005 jeep rubicon tj with a 4 inch OME lift kit and bds control arms upper and lower both front and rear with rancho rs 9000 shocks and upgraded steering components as well as new OME track bars on factory rubicon wheels that measure 8.5 inches wide with 5 inches of back spacing. I had to use the inch and a quarter wheel spacers (1 1/4″)to make 305 /70 /16s fit under my rubi.. without any scrubbing which equates to a about 33 inch 12.5 wide 16 inch tire. no problems so far articulates well without bottomin out on fenders or shocks. very satisfied with the set up but wish I had some nice wheels with about 3.5 inches of back spacing so I could run 35’s if I wanted too.
Hey Eddie. I just put 285/75/R17 tires on my 2010 JK Unlimited Ruby. There seems to be some rub at a full turn, especially when I am going slow (like turning into a parking spot). Saw the recommendation in an earlier post for the .75″ Spacer. Wanted to see if you had gotten any feedback that this proved to be enough or if I need to go bigger?
you DO NOT want to run anything less than a 1″ spacer – preferably, a 1.25 or 1.5 would be even better.
I’m a total novice at this, and am concerned that I improve my jeep correctly. I have a 2010 Wrangler Unlimited with 17 inch wheels. I want to add the skyjacker 2.5 nitro kit and 33 inch wheels, probably the Interco TRXus STS all terrain radial tire (33×12.50-17LT. Will I need spacers as well?
with a 12.50 wide tire, yes, you will more than likely need wheel spacers to help prevent rubbing of your rear side walls on the sway bar links and, of the frame up front at a full turn.