Rubicon Wheel Swap

dnllpretzer · **Joined:** Thu Jan 21, 2010 12:29 am **Posts:** 18

I currently have a 2003 Liberty Sport and am looking to put on Rubicon wheels.
What year model Rubicon do I need to get the wheels from so that it fits?

FreedomKJ · **Posted:** Mon Jan 25, 2010 1:23 am

You can use wheels from 2003-2006 Rubicons.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Jan 25, 2010 1:52 am

Do you have a lift if not going to be some major rubbing also they are 8 inches wide so wider tires are needed
Just a little FYI in case :wink:

dnllpretzer · **Joined:** Thu Jan 21, 2010 12:29 am **Posts:** 18

I don't have a lift just yet. I am carefully trying to pick out the best lift...a frankenlift is going to have to come later since I'm in college :ALONE:

Any advice on a second-best lift? I have looked at the 3.5" Rock Krawler, but decided that's no good since I've read the highest a liberty should go is 3" without having to do an axle conversion.
I've heard Daystar, Rusty's, and OME are the way to go. I'm looking for that mean look but for an affordable price. I really don't do offroading in my Liberty since it is my DD. When I go home to Houston, it is a 300 mile drive so I definitely need something reliable.
Any ideas? Thanks.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Jan 25, 2010 2:20 pm

Rock Krawler= junk
Rustys=junk springs sag bad same as stock rate

Frankenlift or just use OME springs

Don't do any 4 wheeling ? Don't have to you wanta good ride all of the time don't you, thats what UPGRADING to better springs/shocks will do, better ride than stock, better handling etc

300 mile drive home so some thing reliable ????? Then you want new springs / shocks again I've said it a 1000 times, my original lift with OME springs and Rancho shocks was on mine 100,000 miles and now its going on another LOST members How much more reliable is that.

Save up and do it right one time, you're going to college to learn I assume, so the class for today is do it right the first time.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Mon Jan 25, 2010 2:56 pm

Odds are the suspension on an 03 is pretty worn to begin with.
OME would give you a slight lift and a great ride.

You can get away with Rubicon wheels and no lift - If you stay with a max of 245/70/16 Standard Load tires - they're rated for 8" rims - not too good for rock crawling - but fine for sand and beaches.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Jan 25, 2010 6:56 pm

ATXKJ wrote:

Odds are the suspension on an 03 is pretty worn to begin with.
OME would give you a slight lift and a great ride.

You can get away with Rubicon wheels and no lift - If you stay with a max of 245/70/16 Standard Load tires - they're rated for 8" rims - not too good for rock crawling - but fine for sand and beaches.

If you pound the pinch welds/ cut bumper plastic away then yes, but why? and 245-70s on an 8 inch is pushing it really rim width would be way wider than tread width, could not air down to go out on the sand much

TexasRock · **Posted:** Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:00 pm

tommudd wrote:

Rock Krawler= junk
Rustys=junk springs sag bad same as stock rate

Frankenlift or just use OME springs

Don't do any 4 wheeling ? Don't have to you wanta good ride all of the time don't you, thats what UPGRADING to better springs/shocks will do, better ride than stock, better handling etc

300 mile drive home so some thing reliable ????? Then you want new springs / shocks again I've said it a 1000 times, my original lift with OME springs and Rancho shocks was on mine 100,000 miles and now its going on another LOST members How much more reliable is that.

Save up and do it right one time, you're going to college to learn I assume, so the class for today is do it right the first time.

The Reverend has spoken.... :rockon:

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:05 pm

As long as you stay with SL sidewalls you can get away with smaller tires - you check the manufacturers web site - they have allowed rim widths for the tire - you can generally run 245's and a few 235's.

And if you stay within the manufacturer's spec - then the rim is not going to change the tread width and the tread is what will rub. We've had a lot of folks run 245/70's with virtually no issues, or minor trimming at best.

The beaches at Corpus and Padre aren't really huge dunes and a 245 is a better footprint than the 225 or 235 stock tires.

and it'll allow someone to change a style now - with minimal cost and then upgrade to a lift later - tends to fit a student's budget a little better.

dnllpretzer · **Joined:** Thu Jan 21, 2010 12:29 am **Posts:** 18

well...thanks for the knowledge, however I don't think you stated what your "original lift" was. So, are you saying that all I need are the OMEs and Ranchos, or a lift WITH OMEs and Ranchos?
all other advice, thanks. also, like I said, because I'm in college, I need something affordable. I would LOVE to do it the most perfect/right way the first time, however that will have to wait until I win the lottery or graduate and begin my career. What's the scoop on the Skyjacker?

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:28 pm

OME/ Ranchos will give you some lift depending on what else you add.
Many people are running 245-70s on stock wheels not so many have tried with 8 inch wheels

luckys13 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 26, 2010 9:28 am

Just curious then what is the max size tire one could go with Rubicon wheels? I am in a 2003 with a Franklin lift and was wondering.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Tue Jan 26, 2010 9:36 am

Tom's running 265/75/16 and they look good.

can't put much more under a KJ unless you go to SFA and that's a whole different game.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Jan 26, 2010 1:46 pm

I seem to recall someone running 245/70 tires on rubicon rims.. ohh wait, thats me.

There are a bunch of people running 245/75 tires on rubicon rims with no issues. Its the same width as the 245/70 tire. Well heck, the rim came from the factory with 245/75/16 tires.

I get a tiny bit of rubbing with my 245/70 tires when back up so I would say it would be pretty bad without a lift.

yodejt02 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 26, 2010 1:59 pm

ATXKJ wrote:

Tom's running 265/75/16 and they look good.

can't put much more under a KJ unless you go to SFA and that's a whole different game.

X2 didn't really notice how great it looked untill the M&G. WOW could not keep my eyes off the stance the Rev's jeep had.....incredable!

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Jan 26, 2010 6:32 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

I seem to recall someone running 245/70 tires on rubicon rims.. ohh wait, thats me.

There are a bunch of people running 245/75 tires on rubicon rims with no issues. Its the same width as the 245/70 tire. Well heck, the rim came from the factory with 245/75/16 tires.

I get a tiny bit of rubbing with my 245/70 tires when back up so I would say it would be pretty bad without a lift.

People run a lot of things that are not the best setup, actually my 265-75s would do way better on a 7 inch rim. I wish the Moabs were 7 inches wide.
The only reason Jeep put 8 inch wheels and 245-75s together on the Rubicon was advertising , they want it to say " It's bad a** since it has 8 inch wheels and 31 inch tall tires standard" That's the only combination they had at the time from Goodyear.

tan's2002kjlimited · **Posted:** Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:58 pm

ATXKJ wrote:

Tom's running 265/75/16 and they look good.

That big, do you have to re-gear,
or is that about as big as you can go without?

dnllpretzer · **Joined:** Thu Jan 21, 2010 12:29 am **Posts:** 18

Since my jeep is my DD and I don't plan on taking it to Colorado, Moab, Clayton, etc extreme places, then I'm not planning on putting the most expensive lift on it. Why do you say the Rock Krawler is junk. And any other person that comes across this, let me know what lift/mods that you have done to your jeep.

Anyone out there blown CVs with 3.5" of lift?

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 26, 2010 11:45 pm

tan's2002kjlimited wrote:

ATXKJ wrote:

Tom's running 265/75/16 and they look good.

That big, do you have to re-gear,
or is that about as big as you can go without?

Regearing is highly encouraged,you will have massive power drop after the 265/75's and 3.73's,yes even in a CRD.

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Jan 27, 2010 12:49 am

tjkj2002 wrote:

tan's2002kjlimited wrote:

ATXKJ wrote:

Tom's running 265/75/16 and they look good.

That big, do you have to re-gear,
or is that about as big as you can go without?

Regearing is highly encouraged,you will have massive power drop after the 265/75's and 3.73's,yes even in a CRD.

Times 2
no matter what anyone says you need to regear
Night and day difference going from 265-70s to 265-75s
Good general size without regearing 245-75 or 265-70 is about it

Rubicon Wheel Swap

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