What tyres/ wheel combo for 03' Wrangler

[scottjmartin]

Hi everyone, I am about to purchase a new '03 Wrangler soft top manual, and would like some advice as to the best tyre/wheel combo. I drive 40km a day along a freeway to and from work, and will do a bit of off road on the weekends (hopefully a lot in the future). I want a package that is good on road (noise and grip), but capable off road. I am a novice off roader so I won't need tank treads for a little while yet.
As I am going through a dealer, I wondered what would be a good tyre/wheel combination to specify. As a guide I was thinking a 31" tyre (Michelin or Pirelli Scorpian) on American Racing 15". I have not costed this set up, and I don't want to spend heaps extra until I get a feel for the vehicle. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
In case you are wondering why I am choosing a jeep, it is quieter and drier than my CBR 600 bike. graemlins/dunno.gif

[LEXX]

Great to see another Mexican skyva, we'll have to get you out on those trails!!!! As for tyres and wheels you've opened up a pandora's box on that, but it sounds like you have a good idea of what you which can be the biggest problem. The American Racing wheels are nice to look at but I don't know what they are like on the trail, don't know if they are prone to trail rash or not, a few of the other guys may be running them. As far as tyres go I'm a big Cooper fan but the BFG are also a decent tyre and accomidate the all terrain pattern well.

Let us know when you're ready to go for a run and we can orgainse it. Ra one of the other guys on the forum is desperate to get out in the couple of weeks and would love another Jeep to come along.

Here's a quick overview of a few of the VIC boys and their Jeeps.
RA's Vic Jeep page. (http://ozzyjeeps.4pd.com.au/)

Catch up with ya soon mate!!!! graemlins/beerchug.gif graemlins/rock.gif

[Steve]

Having owned the BFG All Terrains before I'd say they are a pretty good tyre on the road and in the sand. Offroad in the dry they are "ok". Offroad in the wet and mud they suck pretty bad. Clog up very fast in the mud and in no time you might as well be using drag slicks.

Having just upgraded to BFG Mud Terrains I can only say they are pretty decent onroad. Very quiet compared to the TSL SX Super Swampers I was running! Having only had them on for less than 1 week that's all I can say about them at present.

I think from the sounds of it the Cooper ST (not STT) would be a good tyre for you. Not as aggressive as a full on mud tyre, but more aggressive than an All Terrain.

Rims..well personal choice really. I myself prefer a steel wheel for offroad use. They won't crack like an alloy and you will always have the chance to bend them back into shape if you damage them. Depending just how bad they are bent.

Best of luck and welcome to the wonderful world of Jeeps!

[MR. 04 X IV]

Lexx...where'd you get those wheels?
They look like wrangler wheels re-welded with deeper dish?? graemlins/dunno.gif

[LEXX]

MR.04XIV: They surely are mate, cost about $60 from TW with my old rims traded. Give them a few coats of paint and they are as tuff as hell. As was pointed out to me, powdercoating wasn't the way to go because it wouldn't flex as well as a decent paint job. So I re-coated these about 4 times within about 2 months when I first got them, now I can ram them into the side of a rock and see very little damamge.

Skyva: I run the 33" Cooper STT's at the moment and I LOVE em I used to run the 31 ST's and decided to stay with the Coopers because of them. As Steve said the ST are a good all purpose set of tyres compared to the BFG (in my opinion only!) and you get a guarented 80,000 out of the Coopers if you keep to their warranty specifications, which is easy.
Saying all that there are a lot of tyre manufactures out there that make great tyres, Procomp for example as well. If you check out the FOR SALE section there are a few good sets of tyres for sale there at the moment, both a set of 31 ST's and a set of 31 Procomps so they also be an option?

graemlins/beerchug.gif graemlins/rock.gif graemlins/beerchug.gif

[BlackCat]

Judging by your usage patter, which sounds much like mine when I started ...

Standard wheels and 31 inch Cooper Sure-Tracs are a good combo. And it makes sense to do it as part of the original purchase as the dealer will give you an allowance for the standard tyres. I swapped fo 30 inchers (didn't know any better at the time)and it cost me only $50 a wheel (though STs would probably be more).

Remember this - the ability to stop quickly and surely on a wet road is more important than mud ability if it is a daily driver. If mud, rock etc is important, buy a second set of wheels and tyres.

[TJ Dave]

Pirelli scorpion AT's are good in my opinon,(stepdad's Landbarge) i've actually got 2 different types on the jeep now (2 kumho, 2 others) not sure why the previous owner did this,
anyway, can't beat ET's as a second set for wheeling.

[mattc]

Skyva, get the 5 and just use some spacers to raise the centre brake light - plenty of people have 33" hanging off the tail gate with a spaced light.

[sir_camel]

I have a 31 on my tyre carrier thing without any mods at all. All i did as take the rubber spacer bits off the tailgate itself....no lifting of the light should be needed....unless its different on an 03

[scottjmartin]

Thanks guys, it looks like the choice might be either cooper ST's or the Scorpions, probably depending on cost. Any ideas on a good place to start costing a set of tyres and rims? A dealer quoted me $1900 for american race rims and a set of 4 31" (unknown)tyres. Apparently they don't like doing 5 as a 31" on the tail gate partially obscures the eye level brake light, which makes it non-adr compliant. Given dealers margin, I migh be able to do comparable around the traps.
What are the OEM tyres like on the road compared to the cooper ST's and Scorpians (if known)? I agree that wet road braking is most ciritical to me at this stage.
Once I get set up I will definitely be up for a trip or three.

[LEXX]

Give TW a call at USA 4x4 he will be able to help you out with the Coopers and a decent set of rims, he's in Mordialloc.

[Red Rat]

Skyva,

Have a look at latest riceburner edition (4WD Monthly March issue). Have a pretty comprehensive review on about 17 all-terrain rubbers. Some real suprises (if you believe in the testing!) and with the different categories (eg gravel, sand, highway, firetrail, dirt) you can choose a tyre to suit your driving.

As for American Racing wheels: pretty :D but expensive. :mad:

[Wooders]

If you're going to the expense of a new set of rims make SURE you get 15x8 NOT 15x7...Otherwise you'll be cursing if you ever need to go wider than 10.5's.....

[scottjmartin]

Thanks for that, I will pick up the mag and check it out. I wondered about 7" width wheels as a road car should normally have wheels as wide as the tread for best grip/least tyre movement on wheel. I was told that 4x4 tyres are narrower at the bead so you don't need to run wide rims, although I will take that advice with a grain of salt. Anyway the original wheels aren't too bad and I was quoted $3k for new wheels, which is a lot of dough just for a better look. As I might not have off street parking in the future I was thinking I might be better off spending that money on a dualtop. Down the track I can get a nice set of muddies and wider rims I guess and have two sets of tyres.

[mattc]

Otherwise you'll be cursing if you ever need to go wider than 10.5's.....
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Damm you narrow wheels! Damm you to hell! :mad:

[Deane]

Originally posted by sir_camel:
I have a 31 on my tyre carrier thing without any mods at all. All i did as take the rubber spacer bits off the tailgate itself....no lifting of the light should be needed....unless its different on an 03<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">AND the mouse mat?????

[PK]

For a good all round tyre , I still find it hard to go past BFG All Terrains, although I will give Cooper ST's a go next time.
Having said that, anyone who went to Wandin on Sunday morning - on the wet roads, who lost count of the number of slides they did around r'bouts, corners, red light Grand Prix etc? I suppose 6 months of no rain, combined with oil, dirt etc makes for slippery roads when a bit of rain comes.........

[BlackCat]

Can a tyre that behaves in the way you say in the wet be described as a good all round tyre?

[Jeeps]

For some reason, all my toyota/nissan buddies won't touch BFG because they have had a lot of problems with punctures on the rocks with them. They all seem to prefer the new range of Goodyear Wrangler tyres - mostly MT/R's. Maybe all that extra toyota weight doesn't go so well with BFG???

80% of guys i know who currently run BFG say they will never run it again...

[ 20 February 2003, 12:41 AM: Message edited by: Jeeps ]

[Steve F]

A few guys I know run BFG A/T's. These guys are in the Toyota Landcruiser club and have taken them from places like Calabash, Menai and touring up to Cape York. Mostly on Prados and the 100 series. One guy has a double locked 100 Diesel running on BFG A/Ts and it seems to give them a pretty hard workout. I did notice a few chunks missing from the tread but he seems happy with them.
I also run BFG A/T and although I haven't had a chance to give them a real workout I like them on the road and they work well on the sand.

Cheers
Steve

[mattc]

I also have the BFG AT KOs and they have been fine. Though I don't plan to continuously abuse the side walls at low pressures on rocks and am getting a second set of dedicated offroad tyres.

Wet weather pefromance?.... What rain ;) They are saying Canberra's current water restrictions will probably increase to stage 2 or 3 and stay in place all winter and through next summer too.

But PK is right, first rain after a long dry spell is crazily slippery (is that a word smile.gif )