Bassaholic

Just got a new 99' XJ with worn out 33 x12.5 BFG MTR's. Wanted to replace them with 33 x 10.5 BFG AT's. The rim seems to be 8.5" to maybe 9" wide. Is that too wide for 10.5" wide tires. Is there a rule of thumb re: the relation between rim width and tire width?

jburr94xj

Shouldn't be an issue I run a 235/75 which comes out to be 29/9 on a 15-8 rim so 10.5 should be fine

kirknd4spd

Measure the wheels and see what they are for sure. A lot of wheels even have a stamp on the backside of them telling the size. 8" and 10" are common wheel widths.
But, I have 8" wheels with 33x9.5's. Only downside is I can't really air down much offroad. But I bought the 8" wheels with the intention of having at least a 10.5 wide tire, if not 12.5 or 13.5. My basic rule of thumb is the tire should be around 2" wider than the wheel its on, if not more.
So if your wheels are 10" wide, I'd stick with a 12.5" tire. If you have 8" wheels, go for the 10.5's.

Bassaholic

OK thanks, I did find the stamped size on inside rim...15x8. So 10.5"s are good. The reason I wanted to go narrower was for better milage and on road handling. I know I get better off-road perf with a wider footprint, but out hear in the west, I plan on desert exploration, camping, mountain trails, etc. I figured I could get away with 10.5's. Anybody have an opinion on that?

93XJLI

IMHO, 10.5s are better for a light jeep.. better footprint.

Bassaholic

10.5's it is then, thank you gentlemen

kirknd4spd

I like my skinny tires on trails and rocks. They seem to do better to me than a wider tire does. Only reason I may go to a wider tire is because there is no skinny 33" Irok made, that is the only reason I wouldn't keep skinny tires. Although I may go with a different tire than the Irok next just to keep skinny tires on the Jeep, like an LTB maybe.

Tom95YJ

15x8 with a 33x10.50 . I have a decent footprint.


Here's my Jeep and I climbed this yesterday with my skinnies

93XJLI

those pics made me miss my old jeep so much... :-(



im gonna go cry myself to sleep now. 33s and some beefed up stock axles is all you ever need.

Tom95YJ

Oh so True !

Hopefully this spring I'll get to finish my XJ's axles (Truss/Sleeve/C Braces/HD Arm Mounts/ Chromoly Axles on the D30 when it gets regeared, And Trussing and adding Chromoly Axle shafts on the 8.25

mrfajita

Smallest they make any irok, bias or radial is a 36x13.50.
On topic, I like my 33x12.50 on 15x8s.

kirknd4spd

Nope, they make a 33x12.5R15 non directional radial.

Tom95YJ

It's actually a 33x13.50

Bassaholic

Lovin those pics Tom, Im sold on the skinnys.