Ricksxj

Which set would you use/keep?
A
B

Ricksxj

I have two sets of wheels but only four of each.
I need one more to make a complete set on either one.
Reason: I need new tires and want to get five so I can rotate the spare into the rotation schedule.
The problem is I like both set of wheels.

So here is an informal, off the hip poll as to which one you'd go with... and why.
(The steelie I'll repaint to make it nice again)

A:


B:

Motojunky

Are they the same width & offset? That may help make your decision.

Ricksxj

I think they are.
I know the steels are 15x7 - 4.25"(?) backspace.
The AR's came stock on some of the Jeeps way back when.

Heck, they both were stock on Jeeps. (5x4.5 bolt pattern)

Bugout4x4

I have always been tossed by this too. Alloy have the advantage of looking better and not flexing as much when corning hard on the street. But the steel wheels have the advantage if you hit a rock off road and bend the bead. Steel can be hammer back enough to seat up again and get you home where the alloy is going to break if you try this.

What I have noticed about the steel wheels on these is that they kind of look funky in how the centers come out so much, like they actually belong on a front wheel drive vehicle, it kind of looks "off" for a rear wheel drive Jeep. They come out past the bolt center so much it kind of gives it a "doughnut spare" look. lol

EZEARL

I don't know about the alloy wheels but the steel ones have a 5.25" backspace.

Here's how I painted mine when I used them:

Martlor13

I have 3 different sets I interchange haha!!

EZEARL

And working at a tire shop you probably interchange tires to. LOL

Martlor13

Haha yes I do...the other sets are there for sale if anyone ever wants used tires, so it's a cycle

Tbone289

I love 5-hole Gamblers. B for me.

Because they look great and have that retro feel. Those particular steelies look cheap and are probably considerably heavier than the Gamblers.

Kymasabe

Those 5 hole alloys get my vote, had a set on my first xj. They're stock wrangler wheels i believe, off a Sahara.

5-Speed

I had both sets of those wheels on my last Jeep. Had both of them painted black too. I liked the aluminum ones better.

LadyKenai

B, never had steel .. would be nice to have 2 sets indeed

marc

texastaz38

What bugout said. Depends on your primary use, for me, B is the better eye appeal but I run a version of the A with a different center cap. My centers are chrome and black. I repainted the steel wheels matte black and taped off the chrome areas and repainted the centers matte black to match. I don't think we should make the choice for YOUR XJ, if we do that then it's OUR XJ. Make it yours brother and the heck with what others think.

Happy Jeepin'

Rogue4x4

OP, what's your usage, street? Offroad? A mixture?

There's advantages and disadvantages to both...bugout provided a bit on that in the way of usage, steels are better for offroad because if you take a major hit on bend it, you can beat it back into submission to get you home...and like he stated, can't do that with aluminum.

There's also other factors here...one being unsprung mass. If you're gonna mainly street it, use the aluminum, less unsprung weight means better component life in general.

I would keep both sets. Put some AT's on the aluminum wheels, and a set of MT's on the steelies. Use the AT's for everyday driving, and swap out the MT's when going offroad, or for winter usage.

Just my .02