Jeep Wheel and Tire Buying Guide
Quick Answer
Wheels and tires are the foundation of your Jeep build. The right combination improves off-road traction, on-road handling, and the overall look of your vehicle. This guide covers everything from tire sizing to wheel offset, backspacing, and choosing the right tread pattern for your terrain.
Installation Overview
Difficulty
Estimated Time
3-6 hours
Install Cost (Pro)
$1500-$4000
Tools Needed
8 items
In This Guide
Understanding Tire Sizes
Jeep tire sizes follow the format 35x12.50R17, which translates to 35 inches tall, 12.50 inches wide, and designed for a 17-inch wheel. The first number (height) determines ground clearance, the second (width) affects traction footprint, and the third (wheel size) must match your wheels. Stock JL Wrangler tires are 255/70R18 (roughly 32.1 inches tall). The most popular upgrade sizes are 33x10.50R17 (minimal lift required), 35x12.50R17 (2.5-3.5 inch lift), 37x12.50R17 (3.5-4.5 inch lift), and 40x13.50R17 (6+ inch lift). When reading metric sizes like 315/70R17, the first number is width in millimeters, the second is the sidewall height as a percentage of width, and the last is wheel diameter. 315/70R17 converts to approximately 34.4 inches tall.
Wheel Offset and Backspacing Explained
Wheel offset and backspacing determine how far your tires sit relative to the fender. Offset is the distance in millimeters from the wheel centerline to the mounting surface. A negative offset pushes the wheel outward (wider stance), while a positive offset pulls it inward. Stock JL Wranglers have approximately +44mm offset. Most aftermarket Jeep wheels run -12mm to -24mm offset for a wider, more aggressive stance. Backspacing is the distance in inches from the inner wheel lip to the mounting surface. Lower backspacing equals more outward wheel position. For 17x9 wheels on a JK/JL Wrangler, 4.5 inches of backspacing is the most popular choice, providing good tire clearance with a mild poke past the fenders. Going below 3.5 inches of backspacing may require fender trimming or aftermarket fender flares.
Terrain Types: All-Terrain vs Mud-Terrain
All-terrain (A/T) tires are the best all-around choice for Jeeps used on both pavement and trails. They feature a moderate tread pattern with sipes for wet traction, reasonable road noise levels, and 40,000-60,000 mile tread life. The BFGoodrich KO2, Falken Wildpeak AT3W, and Toyo Open Country AT3 are the top-rated all-terrain tires. Mud-terrain (M/T) tires have aggressive, widely-spaced lugs for maximum grip in mud, rocks, and loose terrain. The trade-offs are increased road noise, faster tread wear (25,000-40,000 miles), reduced wet pavement traction, and a rougher ride. Popular choices include the BFGoodrich KM3, Nitto Trail Grappler, and Mickey Thompson Baja Boss. For dedicated rock crawling, sticky compound tires like the Maxxis Trepador and Nitto Trail Grappler offer exceptional grip on dry rock surfaces. For overlanding and highway-biased use, highway-terrain (H/T) tires offer the quietest ride and longest life but limited off-road capability.
Choosing the Right Wheel Size
For off-road-focused Jeeps, 17-inch wheels are the clear winner. They offer the widest tire selection, the most sidewall height for a given tire diameter (more sidewall equals more ride comfort and more ability to air down for traction), and the lowest cost. 15-inch wheels are popular on TJ and YJ Wranglers for maximum sidewall but have a limited tire selection in large sizes. 18-inch wheels are stock on JL Wranglers and offer a good balance, but 35-inch tires in 18-inch fitments are more expensive and have less sidewall cushion. 20-inch and larger wheels are primarily cosmetic and reduce off-road performance due to minimal sidewall protection and limited tire options. For wheel width, 9 inches is the most popular for 12.50-inch wide tires. A 9-inch wheel provides good tire profile and sidewall protection for the bead. Wider 10-inch wheels can be used but may cause the tire sidewall to bulge outward, reducing bead protection from rocks.
Tire Pressure: Airing Down for Off-Road
Airing down your tires for off-road use is one of the most effective and free performance upgrades available. Reducing tire pressure from the stock 32-36 PSI to 15-20 PSI dramatically increases the tire contact patch, improving traction in sand, mud, rocks, and loose surfaces. On rocks specifically, a lower pressure allows the tire to conform around obstacles rather than bouncing off them, improving both traction and ride comfort. For trail use, 18-22 PSI is a good starting point. For serious rock crawling, 12-15 PSI provides maximum grip but requires beadlock wheels or careful driving to prevent bead unseating. For sand, 12-18 PSI is common. Always carry a portable air compressor to re-inflate before returning to pavement. Running low pressure on pavement causes excessive heat buildup, accelerated tread wear, poor handling, and potential tire failure.
Beadlock Wheels
Beadlock wheels mechanically clamp the tire bead to the wheel rim using a ring and bolts, preventing the tire from unseating at very low pressures. Standard wheels rely on air pressure to hold the tire bead against the rim, which means the bead can pop off during aggressive rock crawling at 8-15 PSI. Beadlock wheels solve this problem entirely, allowing you to safely run as low as 3-5 PSI for maximum rock grip. True beadlocks are not DOT-approved for highway use because the bolted ring must be maintained and checked regularly. Many states allow them for off-road-only use with standard wheels for highway driving. Simulated beadlock wheels have the beadlock appearance but function as standard wheels and are fully street legal. Method Race Wheels, KMC, and Trail Ready are the top beadlock wheel manufacturers for Jeep applications.
Installation Steps
Difficulty: 3/5 | Time: 3-6 hours
Tools Required
- 1
Choose the right wheel and tire combination
Determine your desired tire size based on your lift height. Stock JL Wranglers fit up to 33-inch tires. A 2.5-inch lift accommodates 35s, and a 3.5-4 inch lift fits 37s. Select a wheel diameter (17-inch is the most popular for off-road), width, offset, and bolt pattern (5x5 for JK/JL). Verify load rating meets or exceeds your vehicle GVWR.
- 2
Have tires mounted and balanced
Take your new wheels and tires to a tire shop for professional mounting and balancing. Request new valve stems. Confirm the bead seats properly and the tire spins true with no more than 0.5 oz imbalance per wheel. This step requires specialized equipment most home garages do not have.
- 3
Prepare the vehicle
Park on a flat, hard surface. Engage the parking brake and place wheel chocks behind the rear tires. Loosen (but do not remove) the lug nuts on all four wheels while the vehicle is still on the ground. This prevents the wheels from spinning when elevated.
- 4
Lift and remove stock wheels
Using a floor jack, lift one corner at a time and secure on jack stands at the factory jack points. Remove the lug nuts and pull off the stock wheel/tire assembly. Inspect the brake rotors, calipers, and hub surface while the wheel is off. Clean the hub mounting surface of any rust or debris.
- 5
Install new wheel and tire assemblies
Apply anti-seize compound to the hub surface to prevent future corrosion bonding. Install hub-centric rings if your new wheels require them. Mount the new wheel/tire assembly onto the hub studs. Hand-thread all lug nuts before tightening. Torque lug nuts in a star pattern to the factory specification (95 ft-lb for JK, 130 ft-lb for JL Wrangler).
- 6
Set tire pressure and verify clearance
Lower the vehicle and set tire pressure to the recommended PSI (typically 32-36 PSI for on-road use with the new tire size). Turn the steering wheel lock-to-lock to check for rubbing at full turn. Bounce each corner to check for contact with bump stops. If rubbing occurs, fender trimming or bump stop extensions may be needed.
- 7
Recalibrate speedometer and TPMS
If your tire size changed, use a tuner or programmer to recalibrate the speedometer for the new tire diameter. Re-learn the TPMS sensors if you transferred them from the old wheels. After 50-100 miles, re-torque all lug nuts to the factory specification as they may settle during initial driving.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size tires can I fit on my Jeep Wrangler without a lift?
A stock JL Wrangler can fit 33-inch (285/70R17) tires with no modifications. A stock JK Wrangler can fit 33-inch tires with minor fender liner trimming. Going to 35-inch tires requires a minimum 2.5-inch lift and may require fender trimming or aftermarket fender flares.
Do I need to regear after upgrading tire size?
If going to 35-inch or larger tires, regearing to 4.10 or 4.56 gears is strongly recommended. Without regearing, you will lose 15-25% of your acceleration and towing power, fuel economy drops significantly, and the automatic transmission may overheat.
How often should I rotate my Jeep tires?
Rotate every 5,000-7,500 miles for even wear. For Jeeps with a full-size spare, include the spare in a 5-tire rotation pattern. All-terrain tires last 40,000-60,000 miles with proper rotation. Mud-terrain tires last 25,000-40,000 miles.
What wheel offset should I use for my Jeep?
For JK/JL Wranglers with 17x9 wheels, -12mm to -24mm offset (4.5" backspacing) is the most popular choice. This provides a wider stance with minimal poke past the fenders. Going more negative may require fender flares.
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