Going from 16" stock to 15" Soft 8's

Havok · **Joined:** Thu Jul 14, 2011 9:06 am **Posts:** 32

Currently running 235/70/16's - Rene rims.

I want a little extra width and hight for sand and offroading.

I can get a very good deal on 5 of these

problem is that they are 15x8 - Ideally i would have liked 15x7

What do you guys think? I am scared that the tyres will klimb off the rims if I go 15x8.
Looking at this site
http://www.bridgestone.co.za/products/4 ... eler_d694_
most of the rim measure in inch is less than 8.00 unless I go quite a bit bigger in tyre size but then I will def. need a lift.

Should I go 16x7 rather or just stick with my normal Renegade rims and just go 245/70/16 or maybe even 245/75/16?
Anyone on the site running a KJ with 245/75/16's without lift so i can see what it looks like?
Will 265/75/R15 fit on a stock KJ?

Lots of Q's but i'm kind confused as to what will work and what not.
I love the look of that soft 8's and if it will work well with a good tyre without having to lift then I would probably go for it but if the 245/75/16 will work beter I can just leave my rims and get the tyres.

JBHARDWARE · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2012 5:24 am

Idealy, you want to stick to a !5x7 or 16x7 with 4"BS for a soft 8. The 8" wide rim will cause more rubbing in most cases.

A 245/75/16 will fit without a lift but you will rub on pinch weld and inner fenders during turns and flexing, in other words you can run em but much better witth a lift.

As far as 265/75/16, I would not attempt this without a lift, even with a 2.5-3.5in lift the 265/75 a gear change for the front and rear diffs to a 4:10 are recommended. With out changing the gears you libby with become sluggish at best.

I feel the info I am giving here to be accurate, please correct me if I am wrong.

When in dobt ask tommudd!

Pippobug · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2012 6:26 am

Hi Havoc,

I did run for a while 245/75R16 without a lift. Now yes they fit, you will get some rubbing in the front pinchweld, but the biggest problem I had was at the back where the tyres scarped against the back when flexing the rear axel and caused some damage. You can resolve this by adding some bumpstops at the bottom 1 or 2 inc. Best if you decide to fit bigger tyres is to fit a Lift. Otherwise just go for 245/70R16 they fit well.

Fil.

Havok · **Joined:** Thu Jul 14, 2011 9:06 am **Posts:** 32

Thanks guys.

yeah i also got informed that the 15" have issues fitting over the brakes.

So i'll stick to the 16"s and 246/70/16 or get a 1.5/2" lift and go for the 245/75/16's. Thinking of doing a spacer/spring lift maybe.

I just now need to decide if I want the Soft8 rim in 16x7 or should I just keep my current Renegade rims. I suppose there will be no real difference accept estetics. The Soft8 rims do look more rugged and can take a beating, but the Stock Renegade rims are lighter.

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:29 am

For less issues stick with the stock wheels and 245-70-16s, 245-75s may work but only if you don't go over any curbs, speed bumps and drive straight down the road. Not knowing for sure what year you have/mileage etc thats the best answer.
As far as a spacer lift may as well take your money and throw it down a rat hole. Unless its a brand new KJ thats never been driven with zero miles, suspension has already started to sag and not worth it in the long run.

Havok · **Joined:** Thu Jul 14, 2011 9:06 am **Posts:** 32

Thanks for the advise guys.
Will be skipping the 15''s

KJ_WHEELER_2010 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:23 pm

Yeah deff, I'd stay with 16s. I like the handling better. If I end up running 33s I'll do it with a 17" wheel.

NewOldTimer · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2012 11:26 pm

ProComp makes a 16 inch with 4.5 inch backspacing that
looks allot like the Soft 8.

I have the version with the simulated bead lock on my KJ.

2006 KJ · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2012 11:31 pm

15in wheels are cheaper.. and 15in tires are cheaper. if you NEED tires i'd buy some cheap wheels and put 15in tires of 15in wheels... because it will be cheaper to replace the tires in the future and you want wheels anyway.

i just bought 15x7 soft 8 rip off wheels that were summit brand from summitracing.com. they have 3.75 backspacing and were $44 a piece.

i put 31x10.5 15's on.. and they do look very nice on my jeep and you wouldnt need a crazy lift to clear them. Just trim a little and pound the pinch welds.

as far a brakes... 15in steel wheels (soft 8 or D windows) will fit. 15in alum. wheels will not fit.

for pics look at my posting in the tire/wheel section

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=64586

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2012 11:42 pm

KJ_WHEELER_2010 wrote:

Yeah deff, I'd stay with 16s. I like the handling better. If I end up running 33s I'll do it with a 17" wheel.

Nothing wrong with 15s.Sad part is my 35" tires are cheaper then some of your guy's stock sized tires in 16" and 17" rim sizes.Sucky thing is the rims I want will force me to 17" rims on the next set of tires so I'm stepping up to 37" tires to retain 10" of sidewall.Good way to spend $4500 on just rims and tires :banghead:

,when my current 35" tires and 15" alloy rims cost less then $1500.

2006 KJ · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2012 11:48 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

KJ_WHEELER_2010 wrote:

Yeah deff, I'd stay with 16s. I like the handling better. If I end up running 33s I'll do it with a 17" wheel.

Nothing wrong with 15s.Sad part is my 35" tires are cheaper then some of your guy's stock sized tires in 16" and 17" rim sizes.Sucky thing is the rims I want will force me to 17" rims on the next set of tires so I'm stepping up to 37" tires to retain 10" of sidewall.Good way to spend $4500 on just rims and tires :banghead:

,when my current 35" tires and 15" alloy rims cost less then $1500.

i hear that. I just bought 4 15x7 3.75BS steel wheels and 4 31x10.5 15 studded goodyear duratracs.. everything shipped for under $900 brand new.

15's for the win

Havok · **Joined:** Thu Jul 14, 2011 9:06 am **Posts:** 32

2006 KJ - Loving the look of those wheels on yours man and the bullbar.

Thing is if those 15's where 15x7's i would have gone for it, 15x8's not so sure.
maybe it's better to stick with the stock wheels and use the money that was going to be used for the rims for a proper lift rather than doing a spacer and coil lift?
I'll have a look and see what the prices for the 15x7's are. The 15x8's was a very good pricefor 5 as i can get it used, but in great condition.
The 15x7's will be new so at least double the price.

So you say that the Steel 15 ones will fit over the brakes then?

Pippobug · **Posted:** Fri Jan 13, 2012 3:49 am

Havok wrote:

So you say that the Steel 15 ones will fit over the brakes then?

Hi
15 will fit depending on the offset, you need a lot of offset to clear the brakes otherwise they won't fit.

Your stock rims are pritty strong, personally I use the orinianal alloy one my KJ came with, but have 2 set one with AT and one with MT and I haven't had any problems.

Fil.

Havok · **Joined:** Thu Jul 14, 2011 9:06 am **Posts:** 32

Pippobug wrote:

Havok wrote:

So you say that the Steel 15 ones will fit over the brakes then?

Hi
15 will fit depending on the offset, you need a lot of offset to clear the brakes otherwise they won't fit.

Your stock rims are pritty strong, personally I use the orinianal alloy one my KJ came with, but have 2 set one with AT and one with MT and I haven't had any problems.

Fil.

Thanks Pippobug.

yeah i think i am going to stick with the stock rims rather. Then use the bucks i save on a lift rather and 245/70/16's or 245/75/16's depending on which lift i get.

Thinking OME, Ironman or EFS. Still doing my homework on each but so far i'm leaning towards EFS. Absolutely awesome warrantee and i know they are very strong - 100 000KM's

Pippobug · **Posted:** Fri Jan 13, 2012 6:58 am

Havoc

I fitted OME all round to my KJ and I am very happy with it. There are a lot of post on here about lifts. Just remember the higher you go you will need to change the UCA otherwise you will have problems.

Fil.

Sport · **Posted:** Fri Jan 13, 2012 10:32 am

Havok wrote:

2006 KJ - Loving the look of those wheels on yours man and the bullbar.

Thing is if those 15's where 15x7's i would have gone for it, 15x8's not so sure.
maybe it's better to stick with the stock wheels and use the money that was going to be used for the rims for a proper lift rather than doing a spacer and coil lift?
I'll have a look and see what the prices for the 15x7's are. The 15x8's was a very good pricefor 5 as i can get it used, but in great condition.
The 15x7's will be new so at least double the price.

So you say that the Steel 15 ones will fit over the brakes then?

I run 15x8 soft 8 and they are fine. The only reason why I would run 15x7 at this point is for a little bit of weight reduction.

vintageroy13 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 12:06 pm

about to buy the black rock soft 8 equivelent in a 16x7. should i go with the 4 in back space or the 4.5 inch back space.

Going from 16" stock to 15" Soft 8's

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