Many people seem to think that Jeep wheels and accessories are just made as eye candy. There is a misconception that they are flashy in addition to your jeep just as you would wear a watch or a necklace as an accessory. The fact is that wheels can be a cool way to customize your Jeep, that is not the only purpose. We are not denying that rims are typically one of the first things that people notice on your Jeep. We do not ignore the fact that there are countless exciting designs that catch the eye but upgrading can also offer significantly better performance and durability. That will come in handy on your next great off-road adventure. even for your on-road activities, an upgrade offers better handling and fuel economy.
The question is how do you choose and how will you know if it will fit. We have heard these questions so many times and they are certainly important questions. Let us outline the top 6 ways to help you choose the perfect wheel for you.
Material
When you are browsing through the range of Jeep wheels, you may realize that they basically come down into two main categories, namely steel and alloy. Steel is generally thought of as the best choice for people who off-road. With steel, the rims are heavier, durable, more uniform and more affordably priced than the alloy ones. Steel rims are quite easily repairable, this is because steel can easily hammer back into place.
On the other hand, alloy rims are made from light materials. They are typically made from aluminum or magnesium which can be several pounds lighter than steel. In this way, alloy rims are ideal for daily driving. The lighter weight makes it much easier for you to start and stop your Jeep, which will help in terms of fuel economy and vehicle handling. The lighter weight also means there will be less strain on your suspension components. It also gives your Jeep the ability to dissipate heat away from the brake parts when you drive through extreme conditions. On the downside, alloy wheels are usually more expensive than steel ones because of the manufacturing techniques involved. In addition, their lighter weight can compromise on their durability.
Bolt pattern
All Jeep rims have a specific bolt pattern that helps to mount the rim onto the wheel hub. As an example, Wrangler wheels are typically either 5×4.5 or 5×5. Meaning that they are 5 lug wheels, with the lugs spaced out evenly on a 4.5 or 5-inch circle. CJ ones are usually 5×5.5, while ZJ WJ and XJ all vary.
Rim size and wheel width
Matching the rim that you want to a specific tire is as easy as matching the diameter of each and then following manufacturer’s width recommendations. If for example, you have a 15-inch tire like a 215/75R15 you will need a 15-inch wheel. From that point, each of the tires will have certain width guidelines, in this case, it would be 7-8 inches. You could just shoehorn a tire on a different sized a 10-inch, for example, but you should use this with caution. To ensure your safety, we recommend that you follow the particular tire manufacturer’s guidelines when you choose a wheel width. Whichever ones you decide to choose, you can still use your Jeep’s Tire Pressure Monitoring System, if you have one installed.
Offset/backspacing
This is where things start to get a little more technical. Every wheel has an offset and backspace measurement, in addition to the standard bolt pattern. In general, these are key figures if you plan on adding a lift kit, body lift, or otherwise raise your vehicle.
When it comes to offsetting, this is the distance from your mounting pad to the centerline of your wheel. As a rule, the lower the offset, the further outward it will mount, in general, this is good for lifted Jeeps. Backspacing then is the measurement from your mounting pad to the inner edge of your wheel. Much like offset, less backspace means that it protrudes less into the wheel well, in this way it reduces the risk of rubbing. All rims will have a list of these measurements. You can simply compare them to what your respective suspension lift recommends.
Beadlocks
This is a perfect style for you if you like extreme off-roading and need lower tire pressure when you are trail riding. If you are this type of driver you will often find beadlocks as a necessity to avoid rolling the tire off the rim. In most cases, beadlocks use either an inflatable tube inside the tire or a clamped ring on the outer bead in order to grip the tire or even a spacer that fits right between the beads.
Although this is a good way to help you in enhancing your off-road performance in tougher driving conditions, it is not recommended for on-road use. This is because most bead locks are actually heavier and much harder to balance than the standard wheel. Sometimes beadlocks can fail at higher speeds and have sudden deflation. These failures are usually a result of human error but if you are like most drivers and do not often find yourself in extreme terrain, your best choices are steel and alloy are
Hub centric vs lug centric
Granted, these terms can be quite confusing. In fact, the terms have been argued over for the past few years.
In simple terms hub-centric refers to the space inside the center bore of the wheel that is designed to perfectly fit on the axle. This means that the wheel is centred by the hub connection and then the lugs can hold it against the mounting plate. With a hub-centric design, the connection will be able to bear the weight of the Jeep. Most stock wheels and several steel aftermarket versions are hub-centric and many drivers believe that they provide the best ride quality.
Lug centric refers to when the wheel is centred by the lug nuts. Several aftermarket alloy wheels are into this category, manufacturers are producing them with larger hub diameters in order to fit a wide range of cars. When they are installed, there normally is a space between the axle and hub instead of flush contact. Some drivers say there is no difference in driving between hub and lug-centric. This is usually the case when you use acorn style lugs to center. On the other hand, many other drivers say that lug centric rims often cause a degraded driving experience and can fail in bad driving conditions. A good way of correcting this is to purchase hub centric wheel spacers, these will add strength and provide a better ride.
We have a vast selection of high-quality alloy and steel Jeep rims and accessories to offer you from popular brands including Pro Comp, Mickey Thompson, iON, and Cragar. With us, you will be able to find the right fit for you at an affordable price. Come by and talk to a member of our team to treat yourself to a wheel upgrade on your Jeep wheels.