Often we get questions on what tires fit on what kinds of Jeeps with this or that lift, etc. In addition we get many questions asking on what jeep wheels fit on this particular Jeep or that.
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The Jeep from the CJ to the Wrangler JL these Jeeps might be up there at the top of the list of the vehicles most likely to be outfitted with different wheels and larger tires. Nowadays the variety and style of wheels is nearly endless, there’s something for everyone.
Steel wheels are almost a thing of the past and choices in steel are very limited since most wheels are made of aluminum which allows more styling and often less weight. Black wheels or blacked out wheels are very common on newer Jeeps. It’s funny how black wheels (usually steel) were once considered cheap or budget wheels, not anymore.
Backspacing, lug pattern and wheel size are probably the most important specs to consider when choosing new wheels. More on this later.
Jeep CJ Wheels – 1941-1986
I can remember way back when I was young and I was rebuilding my 1970 CJ-5 and choosing a set of wheels was rather quick and easy since there was like four options. Chrome wagon wheels were pretty much the standard upgrade wheel for the Jeep CJ. These wheels were pretty inexpensive and looked great on a CJ, those were the days.
All CJ body style Jeeps use the 5 on 5.5″ lug pattern and most all of them had 15″ wheels. The large front wheel hub on the CJ was used to provide space for lockout hubs that were found on nearly all CJ’s. Early CJ’s were equipped with front drum brakes when 1976-1986 CJ’s usually had disc brakes in the front. Some earlier steel wheels lack the clearance for the disc brakes, just something to check.
Jeeps prior to 1982 had narrow axles while 1982 to 1986 CJ-7 and Scrambler had Wide Trak axles. The CJ-5 was never factory equipped with Wide Trak axles but they swap in easily – Wide Trak axles for the jeepfan.com 1978 CJ-5.
Jeeps equipped with narrow axles do nicely with larger offset or wider wheels, these wheels make the Jeep look a bit wider and add a bit of stability. Wide Trak axles can still use the larger offset or wider wheels but too much can make the tires stick out from the flares. This can be a vehicle safety inspection issue in some areas. We installed some new classic look wheels on our CJ take a look, US Mags Indy wheels for the jeepfan.com 1978 CJ-5.
Wheels for Wrangler YJ – 87-95, Cherokee 84-01, Liberty 02-07, TJ 96-06, Grand Cherokee 92-98
These models use the 5 on 4.5″ lug pattern. When Jeep eliminated front hubs from the Jeep Wrangler in 1987 using small wheel centers became possible. Almost all models of the TJ used the 15″ size wheel with the exception of the Rubicon which used a 16″ wheel. Finding 15″ wheels in varying styles is becoming more difficult making switching to a 16″ or even 17″ wheel more feasible.
The jeepfan.com TJ Unlimited had 15″ wheels on it from factory but we chose a 16″ when we updated it. The 16″ wheel allowed more tire choices, looked a little better and had better backspacing for the TJ. Check out the article BFGoodrich Mud Terrain on Rubicon Extreme Wheels
Wrangler JL 18-up, JK – 07-18, all Commander, Liberty 08-12, Grand Cherokee 99-up
The use of the 5 on 5″ lug pattern has become the standard for the Jeep Wrangler since the JK. Most wheels are in the 17″ and 18″ size from the factory and many larger size wheels are available. The 17″ wheel is so popular that it’s easy to find a tire to fit these wheels. Keeping a smaller size wheel such as the 17″ allows a tire to have more sidewall, larger sidewalls allow for more flexibility when the tire is used off road and aired down.
The factory wheels found on the Wrangler JK and JL are usually 7.5″ wide with 6.25″ of backspacing and usually can’t accommodate tires wider than 11″. Most tires 35″ or larger are 12.5″ wide and require a minimum of an 8.5″ wheel. The 315/70R17 size tire, which is essentially a slightly narrower 35″ tire, will fit on a factory wheel. We have used this size on several jeepfan.com Jeeps. Duratrac 315/70R17 tires, BFGoodrich 315/70R17 tires.
In addition to wheel width most Wrangler JK Jeeps will need smaller offset wheels or wheel spacers to fit wider tires. We used a set of Spidertrax spacers on our 2016 Wrangler JK. Smaller offset makes the wheel stick out further allowing clearance for wider tires. The Rubicon model of the Wrangler JL features wider axles so often wheel spacers will not be needed for wider tires.
Both the Wrangler JK and JL are best when equipped with a wheel that is 5 to 5.25″ of backspacing. This will allow a 12.50 width tire to fit without rubbing or exceeding the flares in excess. Several wheels come in the “perfect” backspacing size of 5.2″ Jeep and Quadratec offer wheels in this size. We ran a set of Jeep wheels with 37″ tires on our 2018 JL that came in the 17×8 size with 5.2″ backspacing.
Determining the proper lug pattern.
Use the above guide to properly measure lug pattern. Obviously you are most likely interested in the 5 lug measurement but you can see how other patterns are measured.
Adapting wheels from one model to another.
A few companies offer adapters to convert one lug pattern to another. Spidertrax and Teraflex make quality adapters that will provide years of safe use when mounted and maintained properly. Adapters are usually 1.25″-1.5″ thick and will add to the overall track width of the Jeep.
Wheel Adapter Chart
| 5 on 5.5″ Wheel | 5 on 4.5″ Wheel | 5 on 5″ Wheel | |
| 5 on 5.5″ Hub | not needed | no | no |
| 5 on 4.5″ Hub | yes | not needed | yes |
| 5 on 5″ Hub | yes | yes | not needed |
Adapting to the CJ style hub is typically not possible due to the lockout hubs and axle flanges.
Important Things to Remember
- Check backspacing to make sure that the wheels will not stick out too far. The adapter will add width.
- See Wheel Terminology for more information on backspacing.
- Running smaller than 16″ diameter wheels on a JK Wrangler may cause the wheel to hit the brake assembly.
- Periodically check the adapter/spacer to ensure proper torque is maintained. Some manufacturers recommend every 3000-5000 miles.
