15" or 17" wheels and tires

I have been looking at some new wheels for the jeep and seen the option for 17" rims are pretty common. 15" tires seem to be going away, and in the future I am wondering if they are going to be expensive/hard to find.

What are your thoughts?

 

I think 15's will be around for a long time to come. They're still popular, especially the "off road" sizes.
(31x10.5x15 etc.)
IMO 17's just look wrong on an early CJ.

 

I wanted 33X12.5X17 tires but I couldn't fine the right offset in 17" wheels so I had to settle with 15" rims.

 

Actually, I don't think the tire selection is as good for 17's as it is for 15's. If you do go for 17's and don't want to go crazy on tire size, there are some real bargins available on the stock 255-75-17 Rubicon take-offs from JK's. Those are around 32" and, at least in my opinion, would make very good CJ tires.

 

i think you would have better luck with a 16" rim opposed to the 17". way more aftermarket stuff for the 16

 

I see more 16 inch stuff because of the Toyota guys than 17's now if I could come across 33's more than 35's then it would be good

 

I see a lot of 35 stuff in our local classifieds. I also have seen a lot of rubicon mud terrains that would look nice on my jeep.

 

My thoughts are how rough riding would they be? I run my 33x15s at 20 psi to soften the ride as it is. Just seems like they are better suited to the modern suspensions.

 

Pay attention to what all the new vehicles come from the factory with.

15 inch tires are going to start being rare even though there are a few million cars out there running around on 15 inch wheels. Seems like all the new stuff from about 2005 on up are on the larger 16 and 17 in wheels. And 17s are becoming more common than 16s. And the tire makers build for what is coming off the assembly lines.

 

does that mean I can get the 22" I have always wanted!! hellokitty

I would take a look at what it would take to get a set of rims that are either 16 or 17 with the proper backspacing and see if its worth it right now, versus paying more money for a new set of tires in the 15 variety that might have less of a selection.

I was looking into the 16 inch rims myself a while back, because a buddy had a set laying in his backyard. I definatly see the appeal. However, buying new rims or finding the right size of 16 is what is stopping me. (too many other projects)

 

If your buddy has a set of 16's that will fit your Jeep, I would get them. They were what the M38A1 and the CJ5 came from the factory with. Along with 15's for a bunch of the CJ5's.

 

BFG All Terrains are no longer available in 33x9.50. What I have seen is that the 15s will become much like the stock jeep wheels from the 50s are now.
You will be able to get them, but only in a few places. The tires will have selection problems, starting now.
The 16 and 17 wheels will have to be made special for the older vehicles, 5.5" hole to allow for the hubs, since most all of the new stuff have auto hubs and smaller holes.
I have not gotten to the backspacing issues yet, which are a function of tire size and width as well.

My 70 was hard to find parts for in the late 80s and 90s. Too old for dealer and parts stores and too new for specialty stores. Now it is not a problem.

Keeping old iron working is always a challenge.
I know some guys here in Longmont, CO that do not restore anything. They rebuild with parts that still have a future.
None of their Jeeps are Jeeps. They have jeep bodies on them and mostly ford engines and drive trains.
It is all about what they think they can still buy in 10 years.

Clarification:
My issue is with wider tires. I prefer thinner tires.
BFG All Ter 33x9.50 are great, they do not stick out of the wheel wells of the CJ5 and they do not need fender flares, they are really good on and off road tires.
The tall thin tires are what is disappearing and what I have been looking for.
33 tall and no more than 10" wide. There are still some out there but BFG is no more.

 

I think yall are assuming a lot. It has been common for the rim sizes to be 16/17 inch before and they left that and went to 15's. It comes and goes - if you ask me we will be seeing 15 inch tires for a very long time. I suspect there is little chance of them becoming speciality tires for atleast 30 years, if ever.

What is more of a problem is the 5x5.5 rims. I can definitely seeing people converting that in the near future.

 

Last generation of Dodge Dakota pickups run 16 or 17 in wheels in a 5x5.5 pattern. Before that they were 6 lug rims.

 

I had the centers of 17" Dodge truck wheels bored out to 4.25" and ran them for a while. I still use one for my spare, with a 255/75/17 BFG Mud Terrain (approx. 32 1/2 Tall) mounted on it.

 

Manufacturers build product where there is profit, period. The reason many tire sizes are not available like 33x9.50x15 is because there was not enough demand to make it worthwhile. It doesn't mean there wasn't interest or demand, but not enough to justify the manufacture and storage , which is a huge issue as it costs money, to justify the continued manufacture of that size. It's simple economics whether we like it or not.
Fortunately there are enthusiast/manufacturers out there willing to fill certain niches.


Sent from my iPhone

 

I don't give a darn about what the factory puts out or what the latest thing is. The factory is always chasing the fads and most retailers only stock what sells.
I think the right amount of sidewall is important. I run 33x12.5x15 TSLs. I bought bias ply because they are heavy 4-ply sidewalls. They are a great tire and served me well for many years. I would search far and wide and pay a little more for what I want as opposed to what somebody thinks I should buy.

 

I don't buy what someone else thinks I should buy. Not their vehicle, it is mine. I will get what I want to put on it.

 

I second that !!