"Just Jeepin'" (macintux)
11/30/2018 at 14:05 • Filed to: None
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"Just Jeepin'" (macintux)
11/30/2018 at 14:05 • Filed to: None | 0
| 12 |
I’ve been considering buying a local set of 15” wheels from a TJ in order to throw snow tires on them, but I’m still relatively new to caring about wheels and tires. (For previous cars I’d just tell Discount Tire to give me the cheapest tires that wouldn’t kill me.)
I couldn’t think of any reason why downsizing (as a Rubicon, mine came with 16” wheels) would be a real problem, and I thought tires for 15” wheels tended to be cheaper than for 16”, but then I discovered that 15” tires seem to be harder to find. Blizzak, for example, doesn’t seem to offer any light truck sizes comparable to what I use for 15” wheels.
Are 15” wheels too passé for tire manufacturers to support ? Should I think about going with something non-OEM in the 17” size instead? (Jeep changed the lug pattern from 5x4.5 to 5x5 when they introduced 17” wheels for Wranglers.)
Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
> Just Jeepin'
11/30/2018 at 14:12 |
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I think 15's are becoming very uncommon for trucks. The last time I bought 15's was in 2012
for my Isuzu and they were 30.5x10.5's on 15" rims. All of our work trucks use 17's and 18's.
vicali
> Just Jeepin'
11/30/2018 at 14:16 |
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16 are the new 15.. also check your brake clearances, not many cars/truck will fit 15 over discs anymore.
functionoverfashion
> Just Jeepin'
11/30/2018 at 14:20 |
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My options were pretty limited in 31 x 15" when I replaced the tires on my truck this spring. That’s about all I can tell you...
HammerheadFistpunch
> vicali
11/30/2018 at 14:30 |
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I was going to write a thing...but this was it.
dogisbadob
> Just Jeepin'
11/30/2018 at 14:34 |
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The 15's will be better.
But make sure you get a real winter tire, not an A/T. They are not the same. What tire size would go in the 15-inch wheels? I don’t
want to recommend anything that isn’
t available in your tire size.
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Just Jeepin'
> dogisbadob
11/30/2018 at 14:38 |
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I currently have 265/75R16, which would be equivalent to a 265/80R15.
Why do you think the 15” wheels would be better, given the apparently increasing lack of availability of tires?
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dogisbadob
> Just Jeepin'
11/30/2018 at 14:53 |
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Smaller wheels will let you get
a narrower tire and possibly
more sidewall. Many people like narrower tires because they can push on the snow bettor
(smaller contact patch)
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Just Jeepin'
> dogisbadob
11/30/2018 at 14:56 |
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I definitely agree in theory.
I’ve been interested in going with skinnier tires even before I started thinking about snow tires, but finding true skinnies seems to be a lost cause.
Anyway, I’m reluctant to put myself in a corner. Indiana rarely gets serious snowstorms and often has longer stretches of warm weather, which probably means my snow tires aren’t going to last for all that many years; if I’m going to be replacing them after 3 or 4 winters, I don’t want to pay more because no one wants to make that size.
MUSASHI66
> Just Jeepin'
11/30/2018 at 16:47 |
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Here is one thing to think about when it comes to winter tires. They suck on dry asphalt, r egardless of how cold it is. If your city doesn’t get a ton of snow, your handling will suffer.
My wife and I drive 2017 WRXs - I decided to buy a set of wheels with winters on, and my wife decided to just go with all-seasons. My tires suck balls! I put them on month ago or so, because November+Denver=snow and we have a few days with some snow so far. My tires are horrible in dry weather. Horrible as in my braking distance on dry seems to have doubled, my tires squeal in every corner, my car was still dancing over ice the other day when it we had a snow storm over night. They ain’t cheap either: $145 each, Yokohama iceGuard iG52C.
From what I’ve read, I should have gone with Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3's. Or, I should have done what my wife did - just take of the summer tires and replace them with all-seasons. We just don’ t get enough snow in the city. I might change my tune if I live in the mountains.
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Just Jeepin'
> MUSASHI66
11/30/2018 at 16:50 |
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Yeah, that’s definitely one reason I haven’t pulled the trigger. The increased braking distance makes me wary.
The_Answer_is_Heep
> Just Jeepin'
11/30/2018 at 20:23 |
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Buy my take off winter tires 265/70r17 on xk wheels and then buy some 5x4.5 to 5x5 wheel spacers.
Otherwise I think you are stuck. You can get 17 mustang wheels pretty cheaply but then you are back into spacers to get the backspacing correct. You could look into explorer wheels from and early 2000s. I think they came in 16 and 17 and should have a 5x4.5 with an offset that would be close.
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Just Jeepin'
> The_Answer_is_Heep
11/30/2018 at 20:30 |
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Appreciate the info.