Rim / Tire Question

I have a 1988 Wrangler with 30x9.5x15's on it.  I am putting a Rubicon Express 4 inch lift on it and will put 33x12.5x15's on it when lifted.  After reading a ton on wheel backspacing and offset, I am more confused than ever.  So to run 33's, what rim size should I be looking at?  8 or 10 inch wide and what about backspacing?  Thanks for the help.  

If you have the stock wheels then you can run those with the 12.50s and not have any rubbing issues if you adjust the steering stop bolts.  
Get a real jeep! (pre '75)

If you have the stock wheels then you can run those with the 12.50s and not have any rubbing issues if you adjust the steering stop bolts.  
Get a real jeep! (pre '75)

TheJeeper:
If you have the stock wheels then you can run those with the 12.50s and not have any rubbing issues if you adjust the steering stop bolts.

Dude, you're putting out some bad info!


For a 12.50 tire on the TJ you want to run a 8" rim with 4.5" of backspacing. Offset is the product of both rim width and backspacing. So the offset would be zero in this case. You want to try and keep your offset at zero or a positive offset.

16" diameter wheels will probably give you more tire choice options than 15", especially in the future. But 16" tires are more expensive than 15" tires.  

Yea your right. I was thinking that the stock TJ wheels had allot less backspacing.  
Get a real jeep! (pre '75)

I am not sure if it matters, but a 1988 I have is a YJ, not a TJ.

So the message I got is buy a rim that is 8" wide with 4.5" of backspacing.  Right?

Sam  

Oops, I thought it said 1998. Ya, that's still the right backspacing for a YJ. 4.5" of backspacing on an 8" rim will keep the front tires out of the leaf springs and the sway bar.

The reason you don't want more backspacing is because it starts to have a negative effect on steering, is harder on the bearings, and acutally decreases the maximum possible tire diameter that will clear the front fenders.