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rim sizes

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Old Oct 10, 2012 | 05:04 PM
  #1  
smeltmaster1's Avatar
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From: northlake IL
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
Default rim sizes

so i am getting some new tires soon either 32 x 11.5 x 15 or 33 x 12.5 x15. i have 32's now on a stock jeep rim (the pic) i would like to get some new rims with the tires like some d windows or soft 8's nothing crazy. but i don't know what back spacing i have now bc i want to kinda keep the same maybe go a 1/2inch to inch more out from the jeep. i have the rustys custom control arms so they say you can run up to 33's with them on stock rims but i have some rub marks on them. so if i go with 33's i want to go a bigger back spacing then stock. and the rim size i am looking at is going to be 10 x 15 bc i think mine are at 8 x 15 now. so what i am getting at is what kind of back spacing be good for 32's and 33's i have a 6.5-7'' lift so i have the height to run them. also don't comment if your gonna say go 33's bc i am making that decision on my own and that is not what i am asking.

also on the one pic the tire is pretty close to the leaf spring about 1/2 inch so i would need a bigger back spacing if i went with 33's also
rim sizes-100_0038.jpg

rim sizes-1007121608a95290835.jpg
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Old Oct 10, 2012 | 05:13 PM
  #2  
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Stick with 15x8 but with no more than 4" B.S.
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Old Oct 10, 2012 | 05:20 PM
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From: northlake IL
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Originally Posted by SeriousOffroad
Stick with 15x8 but with no more than 4" B.S.
but why stick with 15 x 8 i would think off roading and having a wider rim then you will have a bigger footprint with the tire. but i have like no knowledge of this so that is why i am on here
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Old Oct 10, 2012 | 05:30 PM
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Your foot print is determined by the tread width, not the rim size.

An 8" rim will be ideal for a 12.5" tire, anything wider and then you'll need to step up to a 9-10" wheel.
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Old Oct 10, 2012 | 05:36 PM
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Year: 1999
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Originally Posted by smeltmaster1
but why stick with 15 x 8 i would think off roading and having a wider rim then you will have a bigger footprint with the tire. but i have like no knowledge of this so that is why i am on here
it's the amount of backspacing(or lack of) that really determines how wide of a stance your jeep have. If you are running an 11.5" wide tire, you want a rim thats at least 2" smaller width wise for it to fit properly. a 8" wide rim/wheel will have little or no effect on how wide of a foot print the actual tire has. If it has 9" wide of contacting tread(treadwidth), then that's how much it will have. when you air down your tires to about 10psi on the trails, your sidewall of the tire will flex and allow your tires to conform to the driving surface better which will technically give you a better contacting footprint. but like seriousoffraod said, for your size tire, stick with a 15x8" wheel/rim. that will fit your tire the best. you should look at getting 4.5" of backspacing or less. the less backspacing, the more your tires will stick out past the fenders and your stock wheels are around 5.5" of backspacing if I remember correctly.
I hope i helped,
K2dark_xj
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Old Oct 11, 2012 | 04:51 PM
  #6  
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From: northlake IL
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Originally Posted by K2dark_xj
it's the amount of backspacing(or lack of) that really determines how wide of a stance your jeep have. If you are running an 11.5" wide tire, you want a rim thats at least 2" smaller width wise for it to fit properly. a 8" wide rim/wheel will have little or no effect on how wide of a foot print the actual tire has. If it has 9" wide of contacting tread(treadwidth), then that's how much it will have. when you air down your tires to about 10psi on the trails, your sidewall of the tire will flex and allow your tires to conform to the driving surface better which will technically give you a better contacting footprint. but like seriousoffraod said, for your size tire, stick with a 15x8" wheel/rim. that will fit your tire the best. you should look at getting 4.5" of backspacing or less. the less backspacing, the more your tires will stick out past the fenders and your stock wheels are around 5.5" of backspacing if I remember correctly.
I hope i helped,
K2dark_xj
thank that helped alot i always thought that if your run wide tires then the rim should be about the same but i guess i was wrong sounds good i am gonna go to my tire guy soon and order some rims and KM2's
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Old Oct 11, 2012 | 07:07 PM
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I recommend 15x8 wheels only because I've heard of people having problems with 15x10 wheels having issues with the bead. I would also recommend the 33x12.50 tire.

As for backspacing, I have 3.75 inches of backspacing on my Cragars.
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