Wheel Refresher 101

[rocketwheels]

Ok, bear with me. I'm old school. When it comes to wheels , alls I knows is Dodge fits Fords, but Ford don't fit Dodges and neither fits GM.

What size is the 5bolt pattern on the MJ? Reason I ask is that I may have other wheel sets readily available from other makes with large off road tires already mounted.

Now , don't say "5 on 4.5" , it doesn't do me any good since I have no clue what the others measure out to.

I used to have an AMC Eagle with the 90's era grey steel 5blade jeep wheels. This car would also fit the smaller Chysler/Dodge/Plymouth 5 lugs from the 70's-80's (not the truck/van wheels) and also the smaller Ford 5 lugs from the 70's-80's( except the hub hole was too small on some Ford applications). What other makes share the bolt pattern, so that I can hit the salvage yards with an idea what to look for? And, what is the minimum/maximum inner offset tolerable for the MJ?

[Oizarod115]

i know rangers and exploders share the same pattern (small rangers not the old fullsizes)

[DirtyComanche]

It's 5x4.5 :nuts:

 

 

 

Well, okay, you know what you're talking about. I can't think of any other applications that fit. I always just find a rim I think looks good (out of a set) and take it for a walk back to the jeep section and fit it up to make sure...

 

Some newer fords work too (ranger, exploder)

 

 

As far as backspacing goes, stock was 6.25~ or a 7" rim (I think, or was it 5.25~) but it varied according to rim style. I run a 15x7 with 3.5" BS on my cherokee and it works plenty well. But my fenders are hack. If you're stock height and stock fenders you'd need closer to the stock BS. If your fenders are hack you can go down to a 1.5" BS if you like - be aware the unitized hubs just might hate you.

[rocketwheels]

All right! Thats what I'm looking for......and the hubs centers are large enough? Mine is only 2 wheel drive....

[DirtyComanche]

I'm going to give you the very technical answer of:

 

 

Hell if I know.

[rocketwheels]

ive got a buddy that owns a '88 4bang Comanche , he picked up a set of aluminum wheels with 31x10.5 15's from a salvage yard and they fit on the stock truck with no trimming and only rub the inside fronts when turn tight and big bounce at same time. The custom rims look like they may have been a Ford Ranger 4x4 dealer dress up item, sawblade looking things.

I will be buying and fabbing some form of 5.5 or 6 inch lift within the next year, just checking out all my tire/wheel-used/new options.From what I've read using thread search,I would suspect that 32's would not fit under stock truck without issues....and 34's are good under the lift without hacking truck, 35's need some assistance to fit without rubbing...

[DirtyComanche]

If you want a 12.5" wide tire you should look at an 8" wide rim. Very few ford rims (probably no ranger or exploder) were this wide from the factory.

 

 

So, if you find anything that fits the bill it'll probably be aftermarket. All the aftermarket 5x4.5 wheels (that I've ever seen) have a large enough hole in the centre that they'll fit a jeep axle no problem.

 

 

Either way, look for something with a low BS. I ran 35x12.5s with 7"~ of lift and 15x8s with 4" BS and they rubbed all over the forking place. A 34x12.5 wouldn't be as bad - but it would still be bad. They make wheels with a lot lower (2") BS but they're rather hard to find.

 

 

Street truck or wheeler? You can turn the steering stops out if nothing else. But that sucks if you wheel it... Oh, and if you don't wheel it you should be able to get a 35 under that lift without trimming or more than the occasional rubbing.

[rocketwheels]

..."Street truck or wheeler? You can turn the steering stops out if nothing else. But that sucks if you wheel it... Oh, and if you don't wheel it you should be able to get a 35 under that lift without trimming or more than the occasional rubbing."

 

That sounds great! I guess it would be a casual wheeler, pastures , crossing easy creek beds and mild wooded hillsides with smaller rocks exposed. I don't need 4x4 for this, just good clearance. we use my friends 4bang 2x4comanche with the 31's for this, does good except the occasional rut or knob catching the diff......

[DirtyComanche]

Nah, it'll flex too much doing that. Unless you bumpstop it pretty majorly.

 

 

So, a 34 would be a better idea.

[feerocknok]

Nah, it'll flex too much doing that. Unless you bumpstop it pretty majorly.

So, a 34 would be a better idea.

 

Scott, did you just correct yourself? I'm confused.

 

Now , don't say "5 on 4.5" , it doesn't do me any good since I have no clue what the others measure out to.

 

There are 2 main 5 bolt patterns. 5 on 4.5" and 5 on 5.5". One looks quite large, and the other quite small. From what I've heard, Ranger rims will fit on a Jeep with a little die grinder work on the inside lip of the center hole.

[DirtyComanche]

Nah, it'll flex too much doing that. Unless you bumpstop it pretty majorly.

So, a 34 would be a better idea.

 

Scott, did you just correct yourself? I'm confused.

 

 

 

No, I re-assessed my opinon.

 

 

 

But hell if I know. I can't think straight right now. Apparently getting hit in the head a bunch of times, then thrown a bunch of times, then choked a bunch of times does that. Silly Jeet Kun Do.

[Pete M]

It's 5x4.5 :nuts:

As far as backspacing goes, stock was 6.25~ or a 7" rim (I think, or was it5.25~) but it varied according to rim style. I run a 15x7 with 3.5" BS on my cherokee and it works plenty well. But my fenders are hack. If you're stock height and stock fenders you'd need closer to the stock BS. If your fenders are hack you can go down to a 1.5" BS if you like - be aware the unitized hubs just might hate you.

 

I was under the impression that the older Jeep wheels had 5.25" backspacing, whether they were 6 " or 7" wide. Even some of the newer 8" wide rims (like those found on a TJ) should still have about 5.25" backspacing, right?

[CWLONGSHOT]

It's 5x4.5 :nuts:

As far as backspacing goes, stock was 6.25~ or a 7" rim (I think, or was it5.25~) but it varied according to rim style. I run a 15x7 with 3.5" BS on my cherokee and it works plenty well. But my fenders are hack. If you're stock height and stock fenders you'd need closer to the stock BS. If your fenders are hack you can go down to a 1.5" BS if you like - be aware the unitized hubs just might hate you.

 

I was under the impression that the older Jeep wheels had 5.25" backspacing, whether they were 6 " or 7" wide. Even some of the newer 8" wide rims (like those found on a TJ) should still have about 5.25" backspacing, right?

 

To the best of my knoledge, yes, you are correct Pete.

 

Stock Jeep wheel, BS, for the TJ, YJ, XJ, MJ and MOST ZJ's is 5.25".

 

CW