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.
Yes, you can mount it on your 08 as they both have the same bolt pattern but they also have the same amount of back spacing so you will be limited to how wide of a tire you can run without rubbing issues. With factory wheels, I would say that the widest you can go is about 11″ or the metric equivalent of. If you go wider, you will need wheel spacers like these.
Eddie
i have a 2007 stock wrangler x two door. i was thinking about doing a 2″ lift and running 33/12.5/R16 tires. my concern is with a axel ratio of 3.21 will running that big of a tire hurt the componants of my jeep?
No, it will not but you might feel your Jeep to be sluggish on the highway and climbing hills – that’s all.
Eddie
I just bought a 08 jeep jk wrangler 2 door sahara which came with 18″ wheels. I plan on buying a six in susp. lift as soon as available. I was wondering if I can run a 15×10 with 3.5 back spacing wheel first of all, or do I have to go with a larger wheel. Some magizine ads list 15″ but I have heard they won’t fit. Also could you tell me if runnning a 36×15.5 would be a problem or what should I go with for tire size so it don’t rub. Would I need spacers for wheels? Thanks for any info. it will help.
Hi Eric, if you’re going to be running a tire as big as 36×15.50, I would highly recommend that you get at least a 16″ wheel if not a 17″ wheel as it will greatly reduce the amount of sidewall flex you will have. ‘Some’ 15″ wheels will work on the JK but most don’t as they are too thick and will make contact with the brake calipers.
Eddie
I have a 07 JK Sahara Unlimited with a 2″ spacer lift and am looking at the Pro Comp 7005 series 17″ wheels with the Extreme a/t 33×12.50 equivalent. The 8″ wide wheels are on back order but they have the 9″. Will I see much of a difference in performance, handling etc? Thanks for the help.
9″ wide will be fine. The only reason why you want a narrower wheel is because it will help you keep your bead from rolling when aired down and on the trail.
Eddie
Eddie
I have the Sahara 18″ and am thinking about the spacers just for the aggressive, wider look, will I saccrafice strength with say a 2 or a 2.5″ spacer?
I am also conidering the 2.5″ budget boost, how will this affect my driveshaft angle?
Anytime you reduce the amount of back spacing you have whether it be by using wheelspacers or running an aftermarket wheel with less backspacing, you will add a little more stress to your axles/wheel bearings. Not enough to matter mind you if it’s within an inch or so but 2-2.5″ less than stock is probably a lot more than you should do.
Regarding budget boosts, your drive shafts should be just fine.
Hey Eddie,
I know you get this constantly, but thanks again for all the time and effort you put into the resources here for all of us.
I’d like your opinion on this one: I recently bought Mickey Thompson Classic II 16″ wheels for my 4-door JK. I have the X, so I had the cheap, stock steel wheels with 6.25″ of backspacing. The MT’s have 4.5″ of backspacing, so they’re bumped out 1.75″. Do you think that’s too much of a difference, or should I be fine with that?
Thanks, again. I hope all is well.
Dave
Hi Dave, 4.5″ is in my opinion a perfect back spacing for the JK.
Eddie
Hi Eddie,
Thanks for the quick reply. The Jeep is at the shop right now as they are installing the wheels for me. After I posted my question earlier today, I got a call from the shop. They said the front wheels are hitting the brake calipers. At this point, the only thing they are suggesting is putting the tires back on the stock wheels. I’d really rather not bump the MT’s out any further with spacers. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Dave
Ok verry easy question !
on a rubicon 08 whit 1.25′ wheel spacer and stock wheel and budget boost 2.5′ what is the perfect size tire ? Thanks
Really? They’re making contact with 16″ wheels?? man, those must be some thick son of a guns. if the contact is slight, you can grind your calipers a bit and they will clear just fine. i know of other guys with 15″ wheels who have done this without any problems.
Eddie
Yan, with a 2.5″ BB, I’d have to say 33″ tires is perfect but you could install up to 35’s with just minor rubbing at a full flex. In fact, that’s what I had done and loved the set up. 🙂
They are thick. I’m going to grind the calipers a bit. Thanks for the info. I couldn’t believe the 16″ wheels were hitting either, but they are. Thanks, again.
Dave
Eddie, sorry to bother you again, but I would really like your input. I took a closer look at the calipers for myself and it turns out the inside mounting surface of the wheels are the points of contact with the calipers. The outer edge of the caliper bridges are hitting the wheels. Those bridges look to be at most 1/2″ thick and I would likely have to take off about 1/8″, maybe 3/16″. I’m a bit skeptical about taking off that much. Any thoughts?
Again, thanks.
Dave
Yeah, if it’s really that much, I would be a bit leary about grinding them too.
Eddie
What about slip on spacers? I can a custom set from Skulte Performance Designs to bump the wheels out 3/16″ which would be perfect clearance. Have you heard any horror stories about the slip ons?
Dave
DO NOT use slip on spacers as they are DANGEROUS and illegal to use in most states because of them. Have I heard horror stories, YES!!
OK. That’s why I asked. Thanks.
Eddie, once again you’ve been a great help. I did not get slip-ons. Thanks for the feedback. Sorry for putting the link on that I did. I obviously wasn’t thinking.
Anyway, I had some more time to spend with my JK this morning, and when I got up into the wheel wells and was able to get a closer look, I was better able to pinpoint the points of contact between the wheels and calipers. I used chalk on the edge of the rims’ mounting surfaces, tightened the rims by hand, and turn them. The chalk marks on the calipers were on the inner edges (facing the hubs) of the caliper bridges. I took off a small amount and the rims work like a charm. No problems at all.
Again, thanks.
Dave
Hey Dave, glad to hear you were able to get this figured out.
Eddie
Hi Eddie, I had the exact same experience as the other Dave, actually ended up talking to folks at MT and Quadratec who would not, could not the Classic II were rubbing the frong brake calipers and of course would not take the wheels back as the shop had mounted the tires starting in the rear and didn’t find the caliper rub until tires were mounted. they ended up shipping me Rugged Ridge solid aluminum billet 1.25 spacers after I put up a fuss. I’m strictly local commute driver. Have I cut down the backspacing to the point that I’m not safe?
Not at all – you should be just fine with what you have.
Hiya Eddie.
Just bought 2008 WRANGLER “X” UNLIMITED. Love this thing. Need tires and wheels. Right now I am stock 255/75R17 and rims. They gotta go.I like the look of a really clean All-Terrain tire like the BFG’s. I will add a 2″ BB to the lift. What tires and wheels would you recommend for a clean All-Terrain tire and rim with the 2″ lift? Great work you do. Much appreciated.
hi jon, bfg’s wear like iron and perform well as well so you can’t go wrong there. i also really like the new pro comp xtreme a/t’s as they look about as agressive as a mud tire but are cut in away with sipes to make the all terrains. as far as wheels go, you can’t really go wrong with crager soft 8’s in a 16″ or 17″ diameter. they are cheap, look good and can be bought in an 8″ width and 4.5″ of back spacing which is about what you’ll want.
eddie
Hi Eddie,
Had my Wrangler “Xâ€? Unlimited for a year now and think it’s baout time i put bigger tires on it. I want to go for some 35″, and am looking at a TeraFlex 2.5″ budget boost.
My question is will i need to re-gear on 35″, and will the SpiderTrax 1.5″ spacers be enough to sort out any backspacing issues?
hey billy, while you may not ‘need’ to regear, you’re definitly gonna want to regear as your 35’s will make your jeep feel quite sluggish climbing hills. as far as the spacers go, yes, they will address your issues.
eddie
are there mickey thompson classic II’s that will fit the stock rubicon tires without a lift
i don’t think so especially if you are refering to the 16″ wheels.
I have a 2007 JK unlimited with 33″ 12.5 Toyos and get a fair amount of rubbing up front. It sounds like a 2″ lift and Spydertrax spacers up front would solve this problem?
Also, if I do spacers up front, do I also need to have spacers in the rear? I don’t seem to be having any rubbing issues yet in the back, but have not taken it off road yet, either. Thanks!
you will need them both front and rear. without them in the rear as well, you will be wide up front and narrow in the back. also, your rear tire side walls will most likely make contact with the sway bar links at a flex.
Have a quick question. If I buy a 2 door jk and opt for the 3.71 gears, would it still be better to change out the gears if i add a 4 inch lift and 35 inch tires? What about 36s or 37s?
yes, you will want to change out your gears to 4.88’s or 5.13’s.
Hi,
I am looking at putting 255/85 R16 BFG MT’s on my stock 4-door 2007 JK x with 3.21 gearing. Two questions really,
1. Should i re-gear?
2. Will i need to put a BB on?
no and no. 255’s are what come stock on rubicons and saharas and you will not need a BB for it. likewise, your 3.21 gears will sufice.
sorry wayoflife, but i thought the stock ones where R17 on the Rubicon, I am talking R16’s, so essentially 33.1×10 R16. Will that need a re-gear or BB?
even at that, it’s completely not worth regearing just for 33’s.
I have a 2007 Jk Rubicon with a 3 inch Rancho suspension lift, looking to upgrade the stock tires but am wondering what the biggest/widest tire I can safely put on the stock rims using spidertrax spacers without causing rubbing…
Thanks for your help
you can install a 35×12.50 wide tire without any problems. 🙂
Hi Eddie,
Just started Offroading. Have an 2008 JK X 4dr. Adding lift, wheels and tires. Wanted to get your opinion on some Pro Comps I’m lookin at. Pro Comp Stage I 4″ Suspension System, Pro Comp Radial X-Terrain Tire, 35×12.50R-17, and Pro Comp Xtreme Alloy Series 7289. Back spacing on these are 4.5 and 5.5 bolt pattern. What do you think of these.
Thanks,
hi jono12, is there a reason why you want to go with the pro comp stage 1 4″ setup? while i have had no personal experience with the kit, i have seen it perform on the trail and i wasn’t really that impressed with it. also, while i do love pro comp xtreme m/t’s as they perform great, the x-terrains are a good looking tire that performs terrible on and off the trail and i really wouldn’t recommend them. as far as the wheels go, they look great as well but if they only come in a 5×5.5 bolt pattern, you will need a set of wheel adapters to make them fit. jk bolt patern is 5×5.
eddie
Hey Eddie,
Thanks for the info. Reason for the stage 1 4″ setup in price value wanted 4″ lift and the shop I’m planning to buy it at has a free install if I buy all pro comps. What do you thing of the Pro Comp Radial Xtreme A/T Tire, 35×12.50R-17?
the xtreme a/t’s are one of the most agressive all terrains i have seen and work amazingly well. i would highly recommend them.
First of all, this site is great – a wealth of info for someone new to offroading. My question is: I just bought a new 2008 JK and want to upgrade to 33″ tires. I’m planning on installing a 2″ BB. Will I have any problems with rubbing if I install 33×12.50 tires on 17×9 rims with 4.75 backspacing? Also – I’m thinking about the Full Traction 2 inch “Econo” Lift, have you had experience with this lift, and do you think it would be too difficult to install on my own?
Eddie,
This is a great site. I have an 08 Wrangler X, w/auto trans. I want to replace the stock 225/75-16 tires and wheels. I am thinking about Cragar 17″x9″ wheels with 5″ backspacing. I want to mount DC Crusher 285/70R17 tires. It’s either this or 16″ Crager wheels, same backspace with 33×11.5 tires. Which will work the best with my ride?
Will I have any rubbing problems, or do I need to do 2″ lift/and or spacer kits?
Reading your other responses, will I have performance issues with the existing gearing in my jeep and I’m pretty sure that I will have speedo issues. What is the best way to deal with that?
Thanx
…B…
hi brian, you should be fine with the wheels you want and the FT kit is a great option as well. piece of cake to install.
hi bill, if you can, i would try to get wheels that are closer to 4.5″ of back spacing. 5″ will work but you might get some rubbing at a full turn. with 33’s, you will see some minor performance loss but it won’t be that much. also, you shouldn’t need to install any lift with 33’s but you might see a little rubbing at a full flex. if you can afford it, i would recommend getting a 2″ bb.
What up Eddie!
I have a 2008 4 door Saraha and want to get some American Racing Outlaw II 16 or 15X10s with 33×12.5 Mickey Thompson bajaII tires or the BFG mud terrains. Is it possible to go with that wide of a rim or are 9s the widest I can go? I want that deep dish look. Can you also reccomend a wheel that is deep and will work, if the Outlaws wont? (Trying to keep the stock lift, but will get a body lift if I have to) Thanks homie.
if you plan on off roading your jeep, i would recommend that you get a wheel that is 8″ wide as it will hold your bead a lot better when aired down. if you want a nice deep dish look, you will want to get a wheel with 3.75″ of back spacing or less.