Martlor13

never had issues. Quality is good and their customer service has always done right by me when needed.

martyyp

Just bought an RE 3.5 Superflex and am wondering what all else I am going to need to finish the job that's not included in the kit. I heard around and by reading the directions that some extra steps may be required(shims, swapping rear shock mounts etc.) Wondering if that goes for all or most jeeps and if there's more than that

TFitzPat87

Here ya go. I'd treat the RE 3.5" lift more like a 4/4.5" lift.

Ryan Riddle

I wanna put a 3.5" lift on my 87 xj. What's the biggest tire that would fit without any rub? I don't wanna have to cut or trim anything. Also, what brand lift should I get?

NewKindOfClown

31s, and take a look at Zone Offroad, Iron Rock Offroad, and Rubicon Express.

I strongly recommend doing some research to learn what each component does before you buy anything. That way you'll understand the changes you're making to the vehicle.

jon-d

hi guys i heard that rims come in different widths and i dont really know how true that is and if so what the ins/outs of it are. can someone clarify this for me? also, if you happen to know and rims do come in different widths could you also educate me on the situations which one size is better than the other?

Basslicks

Pretty loaded question... are you referring to factory rims or aftermarket? IIRC, all the XJ rims are 7"... there may be a couple exceptions, but I believe it was all... the TJ Canyons and Ravines are 15x8, TJ Moabs (off the Rubicon) are 16x8. JK Wheels come 16x8, 17x8, and 18x8 but have a bolt circle pattern of 5 on 5 and won't work on an XJ or ZJ without adapters.

As far as the aftermarket goes.... well... it just depends on the manufacturer as to what they offer.

NewKindOfClown

Four important measurements when it comes to wheels:
1) Diameter. Factory wheels are 15" (except Icons, which are 16)
2) Width. As our friend Basslicks said before me, most factory wheels are 7" wide.
3) Bolt Pattern. This determines the number and positions of the mounting holes for the lug nuts. All factory Cherokee wheels (and several other models) have a 5x4.5 (or 5x114.3) bolt pattern.



4) Backspacing or Offset. This is a measurement that tells you how far the wheel will stick out once mounted. Offset is the measurement in millimeters of how far the wheel mounting surface (WMS) is from the middle of the wheel's width. In the Jeep community, we use the Backspacing (BS) measurement. BS is the measurement in inches of how far the WMS is from the inside lip of the wheel. Most factory wheels have 5.25" BS.





Overall, most factory wheels are 15x7 with 5.25" BS on a 5x4.5 pattern. Some factory wheels are 15x8 or 16x7. You can see a full list of the factory options here:
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f177/...opedia-320730/

When it comes to choosing the right wheel size, you first need to determine what tire size will be mounted on it.
1) The diameters must be the same between the wheel and the tire. No exceptions.
2) Width is a topic that can be debated. The general consensus is this: Tires measuring from stock to 10.5" wide belong on a 7-8" wide wheel. Tires with a 12.5" width are best on an 8" wide wheel if you go offroad because the narrower wheel will keep a tight hold on the tire's bead, but a 10" wheel will also work with that 12.5" wide tire. Tires from 13.5-14.5" wide should be on a 10" wide wheel.
3) The bolt pattern must match your vehicle. Some companies sell adapters to mate certain combinations of different patters (5x4.5 - 5x5 is most common), but you will find varied opinions about them. If it's an option, it's always best to get a wheel that fits correctly without adapters.
4) Backspacing is subjective. Most of us run between 3.5-4" of backspacing on an 8" wide wheel, but there are quite a few options here.

jon-d

very nice explanation! i obliviously dont know what i dont know about tire/rim selection. some follow up questions - what are the reasons for selecting one rim offset from another? and outside of matching tire width to rim width, is there a reason why you would want one size over another from the point of view of off road traction?

TFitzPat87

I'm no pro on tires/wheels, but I've learned a little over my time wrenchin on my XJ. A wider rim means you can fit a wider tire. Which in turn will give you more tire contact. However, you could fit a 12.5" wide tire, on an 8" rim (wouldn't go any wider than that). Offset and backspacing are similar, but NOT the same. Clown and BassLicks both gave some good info. I'd recommend doing some research. We could have a 20 page thread on tires/wheels alone.

salad

Width and backspacing/offset affect how much the tire sticks out, and more importantly how much a tire sticks in. An 8" wide rim with 5.25" backspacing will move a tire 0.5" outwards when compared to a 7" rim with the same backspacing. The big thing is avoiding contact with steering and suspension. Most commonly a rim with 4.5-3.75" backspacing is chosen with larger tires so that there is enough room

Martlor13

Very nice write up right here

jon-d

this may be a dumb question but I would like to verify it, will a 16" rim with 33" tires have the same clearance as a 15" rim with 33's? I am guessing so, but you never know.

NewKindOfClown

Yes it will. 33" is the diameter of the tire. 15" or 16" is the diameter of the wheel inside the tire.

Either combination will be 33" tall (usually ~32.5" actually), but the 15" wheel will have more rubber on the sidewalls because there's a 1" smaller hole in the center.

McCaffrey

Somebody made wheel lug and back spacing diagrams. Cool beans.