Dyno89

I am soon going to be installing the RC 4.5" lift kit on my 99 XJ and I found some 17" wheels I really want once the lift is done. They are 17" x 8.5" (or also come in a 17" x 9" size if those might work better with the tire size I want). I want to go with a 285/70 17 M/T tire which I figured out comes to 32.71" x 11.22" size tire. My friend has a new Wrangler with this size wheel and tire combo and I love the way they look.

(edit) Just in case it helps the wheels I want are the Fuel Hostage and the two 17" sizes come in:
17" x 8.5" and either 5.25" or 5.75" of backspacing. Offset is listed as 14 or 20.
17" x 9" and either 4.5" or 5" of backspacing. Offset is listed as -12 or 01

These are the 4 sizes I am confused about and need advice on.

I want them to stick out slightly from the fenders, maybe 1-2" which I think looks really good on the lifted XJs. With the 4.5" lift what offset and backspacing can you guys recommend that I am going to want to go with on this wheel? Any help is appreciated!

CobraMarty

I'd go for the 17x9 with 4.5" backspacing.
You can always add spacers if needed to get the look you want.

Fred/N0AZZ

None of those fit your XJ and spacers suck if you are buying new wheels at least buy ones with the correct BS to begin with. It's not like your buying a set of used tires/wheels for $150 for 4 of them. The correct BS for an XJ is 3.75" can be pushed to 4" but no more


Have you priced the 17" tires for off road use or is this a "Mall Crawler" where your just using any AT tire? MY 04 WJ Overland has 17" tires as does my 12 Lincoln Town Car. The tires for the 04 WJ needed 5 that matched were almost $1,400 nothing fancy and for the Town Car over $1k.


I choose 15" tires for my XJ because of the range of tires/wheels available and the prices for them, none of the really good tires are cheap. My XJ is mostly off road so I wanted steel wheels no alloy to break on the trail, steel will bend you can beat it back out and air up to keep going most of the time.


I run a 33x12:50x15" 3.75" of BS on Cragar Soft Eights 4 1/2" lift here are 2 photos of how the 15" sit.

Dyno89

How do none of those fit ? I have gone through hundreds of threads on here and theres alot of XJs with wheels that have 4.5" backspacing. I already have a set of spacers anyway on it now with a 2" lift and 235 75 15s so I dont mind reusing those on the 17s.

I personally do not like the huge tire with small 15" wheel look, just my personal opinion. I like a slightly larger wheel and slightly smaller tire than a 15 has with a 33" tire. Like I said I have a friend with this size wheel / tire combo on a Wrangler and thats the look I like.

The overall width of the 17x9 with 4.5" backspacing wheels mentioned above and the tire size I mentioned is still only a hair larger than a 32" diameter and 11" width so I still would have a less diameter and width than the 33" x 12.5"s you posted in the pics with the same 4.5" lift, so I am confused as to how I couldnt run the 17s that I want. A 1" spacer would effectively cut an inch off the 4.5" backspacing measurement once mounted anyway right?

I plan on running a semi mud tire, something like a Wrangler MTR or the new Toyo R/T as it will be road driven with occasional light off road use. I am not concerned about the price of the tires either, I know what they run.

CobraMarty

17" is the new 15.

All the manufactures are supporting the 17" and getting away from 15s.
The look better with a bigger tire.
Have more bead contact area for airing down.
More room for adequate/required bigger brakes to stop those bigger tires.

exjay1027

I have 17x9s with the same size tires. I bought the wheels second hand so im not 100% on backspacing but judging by how far they stick out they are 4-4.5 backspacing. They look great, the tread is pretty much covered by the fenders and the sidewall sticks out an inch or two. Id suggest you go with those.


Fred, stock wheels are 5.25" backspacing. the less you go the further out they are. 3.75 is very wide.