Got questions?
We’ve got the answers—the Summit Racing tech department tackles your automotive-related conundrums. This week, we’re figuring out how to stuff bigger, beefier tires underneath a Jeep Wrangler.
K.W. • Warroad, MN
Q: I want to install 33-inch x 12.5-inch x 15-inch tires on a 2005 Jeep Wrangler. It’s equipped with a two-inch Rubicon Express Budget Boost suspension lift and a one-inch Performance Accessories body lift kit and Trail Master shocks. The truck is used only on the road, so I’m not worried about the tires rubbing in off-road situations. I believe the stock 15 x 8 aluminum Ravine wheels have too much backspacing to work—is that correct? What is the right amount of backspacing for the size tires I want to run?
A: At 5.5 inches, the Jeep Wrangler’s factory-installed Ravine wheels have too much backspacing for the size tires you want to install. What you need is a set of 15 x 8 or 15 x 10 wheels with 4-4.5 inches of backspacing.
Another problem is the stock fender flares won’t cover the wider rubber. Depending on the state (and mood of your local law enforcement), tires sticking out past the fenders are against the law—check your local laws before ordering. Plus, wider tires can throw rocks and other road debris against the sides of your rig. A wider set of fender flares will remedy the situation.
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