Whats the cheapest, best looking rims for an xj, and are there any advantadges other than looks by upgrading to a 16 or 17"?

 

You're gonna get a ton of different opinions on this, but here's a basic intro.

Steel rims weigh more, but are more durable and cheaper than aluminum.
The width of the rim needs to be based on the width of the tires you run, same with back spacing.
The diameter of the rim will influence 2 things: looks (for good and bad) and cost of tires. The bigger the rim diameter, the more expensive the tire.

With all that said, I'd recommend Crager steel rims for aftermarket. About $55 each, tough as nails, and they look good. I'd stick to a 15x8 with 3.75 backspacing. This will let you run a 12.5" wide tire without worrying about rubbing on your LCA's.

 

X2..Jegs has soft 8s or D windows for like 45 a piece of so.. Get 5 on 4.5 pattern for an XJ..and go for a backspacing of around 3.75 or so

 

Bigger diameter means you can put on bigger aftermarket brakes. That's the only advantage I know of.

 

I agree with them but im running the procomp rock crawler's 15x8 3.75 bs an it looks great i bought em from 4wp store had em next day an ran me 300 for a set of 5 after ca amazing taxes but also gotta think bigger rim depending on tire size will mess with the ride an comfert

 

Just don't get soft 8s, they've been done to death.

 

My $45 Jegs D Windows adorned with Jeep center caps (painted black) and 31"Treadwright Guard Dog M/T's.

Love the look, don't care how many people have these wheels - this is MY Jeep so who cares?

 

They look just like BFG A/T KOs...

 

Thanks everyone i think ima get a set of cragars from quadratech. Ill remember the 3.75 backspacing, im going to buy a set of wrangler mts 31 10.50 15 for now until next year when i go bigger.

 

sounds like a plan. Honestly, though, unless you really need new tires now, I'd wait until you're ready for that "bigger" to buy tires. They get expensive and you'll end up spending more buy getting 31's now then whatever your "bigger" size is later than just getting the bigger size only.

 

Well when i say bigger, i meant changinh gears and transmission rebuild and a 6" long arm to run 37s. I just want to do some light wheeling now while i build up the cash to do so major modding.

 

That makes sense then. If bigger = 33's, then I'd definitely say just wait, but since you're looking at axle swaps (D30/D35/8.25 really shouldn't be used for more than 35's due to strength) and regears and all, then yeah, get a set of treadwrights and some d-windows from either Jegs or Crager.

 

That's the sidewall I chose. You get to pick the sidewalls you want to use when you order your tires from TreadWright.

Apart from the sidewall, they look nothing alike. Here's another angle.



And here's a shot when they were shipped to me, next to my Jeep with my old BFG A/T KO's still mounted:


So yeah, quite different.

 

A different tire with a bfg sidewall? Thats weird.

 

I work in a tire shop....looks like a recap to me...good idea I like the tread pattern