15 inch rims

bigmd · **Joined:** Sat Aug 26, 2006 10:51 am **Posts:** 169

can 15 inch rims be used on the liberty?

RAYMAN975 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 29, 2007 6:45 pm

yes, i know for sure that cragar 15" steel wheels fit, like the soft-8, or the d-window. other black steel offroad wheels should also fit. but 15" aluminum wheels wont fit

bigmd · **Joined:** Sat Aug 26, 2006 10:51 am **Posts:** 169

ok cool.thats what i was looking at,the soft 8.why wont aluminum fit?is the speedo going to be off?will i have to compensate with a taller sidewall tire?

bigmd · **Joined:** Sat Aug 26, 2006 10:51 am **Posts:** 169

how wide of a tire can u go with those rims?9.5?10.5?

jason thompson · **Posted:** Wed Aug 29, 2007 7:17 pm

YES
but IMO they cause problems
the ones that will fit have to little back spacing and thus push the tires out to far causeing rub issues with smaller tires
the ones with the proper back spacing either do not clear the breaks or if they clear the breaks hit the outter tie rod ball joint
Just what I have found

I have tryed
OE TJ steelies and the rims off of a Sahara 1 hit the breaks the other hit the steering
nolakj has soft 8's and runs a 30X9.5 with a rustys 2" coil lift and has more rubbing than I do running
OME stuff with OE wheels and 245/75 MTR's
I have less lift with more tire a full inch more tire

RAYMAN975 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 29, 2007 9:06 pm

the speedo wont be off with a smaller diameter wheel. as long as the outside diameter of the new 15" tire is the same as stock. as in the 235-70-16 stock tires on mine, the 235-75-15 were almost exactly the same outside diameter. i had cragar d-window wheels, 15x7, with 4.5" BS with a 235-75-15 tire and it didnt rub, but was close to rubbing when turning,not bad though, just closer than with the stock tire/wheel setup, becaus the new wheel stuck out a little bit more

Johnboy · **Posted:** Wed Aug 29, 2007 9:25 pm

Dont quote me but I have heard problems with the brake assembly fitting in 15in rims. Might be worth checking into...

Guest · **Posted:** Wed Aug 29, 2007 10:15 pm

SOME 15" steel wheels will fit. Alloys will not. be sure they fit before you buy.

FastTRX · **Posted:** Thu Aug 30, 2007 12:47 am

I've considered 15" Cragars. Whats the difference (if any) between fitment on the 03s and up and the 02s that have drum rear brakes like my KJ? I've wondered if it will make a difference in the fitment on the rear. Anyone have any info on this or tried 15s on their 02 with drums?

bigmd · **Joined:** Sat Aug 26, 2006 10:51 am **Posts:** 169

so i guess stay with a 16 inch rim?what backspacing?

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 30, 2007 8:07 am

Quote:

Anyone have any info on this or tried 15s on their 02 with drums?

Since the rear drums are smaller then the rear disc brake setup you could put a 13" rim on the back of a KJ with drums.

warholamo · **Posted:** Thu Aug 30, 2007 10:02 am

Here is a pic of 15'' Cragars on drums on my '02.

Ignore, if you would, the leaking axle seals.

chrismc · **Posted:** Thu Aug 30, 2007 10:37 am

I just installed 15x8 Crager Soft 8's with 4.75" backspacing. They are a close fit around the front calipers (about 1mm clearance), but they fit. The backspacing is perfect. The tires do not stick out. I'm running 31x10.50 TrXus MT's. I had to remove the front fender liner, pound down the front pinch weld, and trim some of the lower air dam on the front to make the tires fit. So far, I have not made any modifications to the rear wheel wells, but I have also not taken it offroad yet.

Now if I can just get those TrXus MT's to balance I'd be in great shape...

FYI- I'm running a Frankenlift II CRD without the 1" spacers (all OME components).

FastTRX · **Posted:** Thu Aug 30, 2007 10:55 am

I'm aiming for 265/75 Trxus MTs for the 15", which like Tjkj2002 says equates to a 31.9 (pretty much a 32). I'd like to make this work...would spidertrax spacers help at all?

Hunk · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 1:47 pm

Hey Rayman What kind of tire were u using when u were running the 15inch rims? Thanks .

Pote · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:00 pm

i have read that the 15" aluminums don't fit because aluminum rims need to be thicker for strength. someone else might confirm or deny.

Christopher · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 5:09 pm

I run 15 inch alloys with no problem but they only have 4.25 backspacing. That can be a issue with rubbin on turns. Mines not too bad with 31x10.50. Had to do major trimming though.

Chris

JPaul · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 11:27 pm

I've got a set of 15" aluminum cherokee rims, they won't fit because of the tie rod, but I've got some 1.25" spacers on their way and that will allow them to fit perfect, I checked for rubbing issues for the tires I will be running (Big O M/T 235/75r15) and whilie I can't be 100% positive until I mount the setup with the spacers, I don't see that there will be any rubbing, if there is it will be slight.

Yes, aluminum rims are MUCH thicker than steel due to structural integrity differences between the two metals. That's why you can snugly fit steel wheels most of the time, but almost never fit the aluminum 15" rims. I can get the aluminum cherokee rims within 1/2 inch of sitting flush against the spindle, but the tie rod prevents it from fitting properly, it actually clears the caliper just fine.

nlife · **Joined:** Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:43 pm **Posts:** 226

This is a very good question. I was thinking the same thing myself. There are also a better selection of 15" tires out there as well. My question would be are the 15" tires that much softer causing them to wear faster.

I'll have to swap out my brothers 30.5 BFG MT's on steel, Cherokee rims and see how they work.

N

Christopher · **Posted:** Thu Oct 18, 2007 6:49 pm

I dont think rim size will effect tire wear. Just because the sidewall is taller doesnt mean the tire compound is softer.

Chris

15 inch rims

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