Why no 17" factory wheels on CRD?

tulsa · **Posted:** Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:52 pm

Does anyone know what Jeeps reason for not putting factory 17" wheels on Jeep Liberty CRD's. I assume it has to do with wheel strength, weight capacity of the tires or some unique clearance problems due to slightly different geometry with the CRD. Called Jeep to find out and a week later got a call back proudly announcing it was because of "mechanical reasons", duh. Drove a 06 Limited CRD about 6 weeks ago and found the 225/75/16 tires were allowing too much roll during low speed cornering. Bought a 05 Sport CRD 3 weeks ago and found it to corner OK with same tires inflated to 25PSI, upped pressure to 40PSI and street handling improved. Wondering if handling would improve more with 235 or 245/65/17 tires. Don't intend to drive offroad much except pheasant hunting.

tulsa

dog_party · **Posted:** Thu Nov 30, 2006 2:24 pm

Welcome to LOST Tulsa. I'm not really sure why they put the 16"s on the Limited CRDs instead of the 17"s. I researched that question too and just ran into road blocks. I haven't even heard any valid speculation as to why they did it, other than to make it look a little different than the gasser Limited.

If you're looking for the polished 17"s, I'd post up in the "Items wanted" section. You're bound to find someone on here that wants to swap out their 17s to have more off-road tire selections.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Thu Nov 30, 2006 2:59 pm

It is because they had plenty of the 16" Techna wheels in stock...lol...no "mechanical reasons"

It is cheaper for DC to use the 16" rim/tire combination

Gator4x · **Posted:** Thu Nov 30, 2006 3:05 pm

You do get better acceleration and gas mileage. (more rubber with less rim weighs less than more rim with less rubber!) Plus keeping the smaller rims keeps the mass of the wheel closer to the centerline of the axle. Lower unsprung weight since it's lighter, which means it handles better...on top of that you have a larger sidewall which can handle the bumps in the road better so you get a smoother ride...Want more reasons?

How would they put 16" tires on 17" rims? :shock:

BioJeep · **Posted:** Thu Nov 30, 2006 4:34 pm

I wondered about that too; wanted the 17" rims for the sake of better handling (at the expense of ride). Swapped in a set of OEM 17" rims & they do just fine. The weight/mass distribution difference between the 16" & 17" OEM wheels should be negligible, especially regarding mileage & unsprung weight, as neither is a high-performance design. I could've gotten better all-around performance out of an aftermarket wheel but didn't want aftermarket looks.

dog_party · **Posted:** Thu Nov 30, 2006 6:10 pm

Gator4x wrote:

so you get a smoother ride

That's the most logical excuse I've heard. The heavier spring in the front...they probably though they'd minimize bump shock by giving us the smaller rims.

impulse · **Posted:** Thu Nov 30, 2006 8:40 pm

If the rim weight is increased by going larger, your mass at the centre idea is incorrect. With the same rolling radius, larger rim would have more weight nearest the centre. Bigger rim does not increase tire weight- acually less if width doesn't increase. As for performance- larger rim means lower profile tire required to keep the radius the same. Lower profile = better cornering performance. All of this is useless info unless you're NASCAR racing with your Liberty.
I'm running 18's - see tire forum

action · **Posted:** Fri Dec 01, 2006 12:03 pm

Just the same, if your running the Stock Goodyear tires, throw them right where they belong (in the garbage) and get a decent set of tires for your driving application. A good quality tire with a heavier sidewall will still handle decent on the 16" rim, one heck of alot better then the tires we got from the factory.

awindj · **Posted:** Fri Dec 01, 2006 12:36 pm

I got my CRD in June of 05 and didn't realize that I had the 16" wheels until my tire dealer said that he couldn't fit the 17" tires that I had ordered on my 16" wheels. I heard somewhere, and I don't remember where, that the high torque with the CRD was breaking the 17" aluminum wheels. Don't know if it is true but at least it sounds good.

BioJeep · **Posted:** Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:01 pm

Quote:

I heard somewhere, and I don't remember where, that the high torque with the CRD was breaking the 17" aluminum wheels. Don't know if it is true but at least it sounds good.

Well, as I have the OEM 17" wheels, I'll let you know if it happens...

Saber · **Joined:** Fri Jul 07, 2006 10:48 pm **Posts:** 160

small rims big tires

That's how it should be on a Jeep

Next you'll want 22" spinners:P

I'm just messing with you take no offence

tulsa · **Posted:** Fri Dec 01, 2006 9:06 pm

I once refused to give skeet lessons to a jackass with spinners on his SUV. Spinners automatically make an SUV a pimp'emup truck.

Lewis

mikec1203 · **Joined:** Tue Nov 28, 2006 10:16 pm **Posts:** 9

My brother-in-law just bought an '05 CRD in europe and it came with the 17" wheels from the factory, so I don't think safety is the reason they aren't available in the US...

Mike

KenJennings · **Posted:** Fri Dec 01, 2006 10:30 pm

The window sticker for my ride says :

under Standard Equipment/EXTERIOR FEATURES
17" x 7.5" Aluminum Wheels

under 2.8L Turbo Diesel Package
16" x 7.0" Luxury Aluminum Wheels.

I'm not sure if the 16" Luxury Wheel item was triggered by the diesel package or the other Optional Equipment category, Customer Preferred Package 22G option.

dog_party · **Posted:** Sat Dec 02, 2006 12:27 am

In America, the 16" rims were an automatic "adustment" when you selected the "CRD Option" during the 05 model year. That "CRD=16 rims" "adjustment" offset the standard 17" rims inculded with the "Limited" package during the 05 (American) model year. I belive the same continued through the 06 model year too, but I might be wrong there. Regardless, the only "stock" rim on the 05 CRD KJ was the 16" rim.

BioJeep · **Posted:** Sat Dec 02, 2006 4:35 pm

Quote:

In America, the 16" rims were an automatic "adustment" when you selected the "CRD Option" during the 05 model year.

I belive the same continued through the 06 model year too

It did.

Jimbob · **Joined:** Thu Nov 02, 2006 11:05 pm **Posts:** 160

When I was looking at CRDs in 06 they listed the 16" rims as part of the "package" all of the limiteds I looked at had 16" rims. Looking at tire prices the 16" tires seem to be considerably cheaper than the 17" tires so I am not complaining. Plus I do some light offroading in mine so the extra rubber is helpful (though really not enough to make it worth airing down).

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Sun Dec 03, 2006 8:05 pm

dog_party wrote:

In America, the 16" rims were an automatic "adustment" when you selected the "CRD Option" during the 05 model year. That "CRD=16 rims" "adjustment" offset the standard 17" rims inculded with the "Limited" package during the 05 (American) model year. I belive the same continued through the 06 model year too, but I might be wrong there. Regardless, the only "stock" rim on the 05 CRD KJ was the 16" rim.

Same for the 06 Limited. I like the CRD wheels. Some think they made up for the reasonably priced diesel upgrade by charging more for options and this would to my thinking be a downgrade. The diesel option on my 06 limited was $1360 and that's cheap for a diesel :shock:

Gator4x · **Posted:** Tue Dec 05, 2006 7:51 am

Joe Romas wrote:

dog_party wrote:

The diesel option on my 06 limited was $1360 and that's cheap for a diesel :shock:

Yar! No doubt about that one!!! One of the cheapest diesel options out there...

In the end though I'd tell whoever wants to run 15" rims or 20" rims to just do what makes them happy. Your super torquey CRD motor isn't going to send 17" rims flying apart. Low profile tires DO help cornering ability, but it's a JEEP with a high roll center! So you could drop it... :shock:

I suppose or just buy a Scion xB...

anyway, I've devoted too much detail to this already...

later,
Nick

ColoradoCRD · **Joined:** Sun Dec 10, 2006 9:25 am **Posts:** 60

There was speculation when the CRD first came out that the 16 inch tires were established for noise reduction. The 16's have a higher aspect ratio, meaning that they are thicker. Thicker tires are more quiet than thinner tires. The CRD has several noise reduction features due to the diesel.

Why no 17" factory wheels on CRD?

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