Wheel question 16x8?

moose_1978 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:22 pm

I am looking to replace my wheels in the next week and wanted to go with a 16x8.Alot of people say that is not a good idea because with a 245/75 it will wear weird.Well what is confusing is the moab wheel is 16x8 and the tire is 245/75 and that doesn't seem to be a problem.Any thought's?

kolesy · **Posted:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:26 pm

The 245/75 is made for a 7 or 8 inch wide rim. If I am wrong please coorect me. I have not heard anyone having "weird" wear issues with that combo.

moose_1978 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:42 pm

well to be specific they call for a 7.5 max rim.But does a half an inch make that much differance?

Matt400 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 19, 2006 12:50 am

I'm new here but just finished researching this to the point of giving up for a small compromise. Having owned a tire business in the 90's I knew the 245/75R16 tire I want to run would best fit on a 7" wheel plus it would be protected better off road.

A tad less back space than the OEMs wheel of 5.5" would help relieve any full steering lock rubbing while giving a beefier look to the rig so the search began for a 16x7 with 5" back space. I couldn't find one. The closest was a 16x7 with 4"bs, that wheel increases scrub radius by 1.5" and also increases the outside arc the tire travels increasing the chance for outer fender rub on initial turning + the wife didn't like the style and it is her Jeep.

Moving to the 8" wide group of wheels was option #2 for us as the tire is still approved for that wheel as a maximum size. Being a full inch wider makes back spacing even more critical because if you stay with the factory 5.5bs you still have all of that extra inch on the outside.
Going deeper to a 6"bs would really make things rub on steering lock, going less than 5.5bs on an 8" wheel really pushes it out there creating clearance issues at another point.

The compromise was a 16x8 with 5.5bs. Tires and wheels are on order so I hope they fit.
I did test fit a Rubicon wheel with the same measurements and it looked ok.

Overall I believe the 16x7 steel or alloy Factory wheel will be the best fit not only for that size tire but also the vehicle.

MoladoGuy · **Posted:** Sat Aug 19, 2006 7:09 am

Matt400 wrote:

I did test fit a Rubicon wheel with the same measurements and it looked ok.

The Rubicon Wheel is 5 backspace not 5.5 like stock.

spoonplugger1 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 19, 2006 10:18 am

A lot of people have been running the Rubi wheel or the 16X8 5 inch bs with no problems for many years on and off road. They have also been running select 15 inch wheels and 31X10.50X15 also.

Matt400 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 19, 2006 2:53 pm

MoladoGuy wrote:

The Rubicon Wheel is 5 backspace not 5.5 like stock.

Hrmm, maybe I measured it wrong. I measured from the lip to the mounting flange. It may have have been 5" from the bead to the mounting flange though.

Matt400 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 19, 2006 2:56 pm

spoonplugger1 wrote:

They have also been running select 15 inch wheels and 31X10.50X15 also.

I saw an 03 Wrangler with OEM 15" cast wheels yesterday and wondered if that wheel might fit the Libby. Anyone try, or know if the Libby has larger brakes than the Wrangler?

Wheel question 16x8?

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