Largest Tires Can Fit On Stock JK Wranglers Without A Lift

Some of us want to put on larger tires on or Jeep JK without having to put on a lift, here is a guide you can refer to:

Jeeps Wrangler JK come stock with three different tire sizes and the stock backspacing is 6.25" (The larger the backspacing the further your wheel will be away from the fender, the smaller the backspacing the closer your wheel will be to the fender )

•  225/75/16 (29”x9”)

•  255/75/17 (32”x10”)

• 255/70/18 (32”x10”)

The largest tire diameter that will fit on a stock wrangler JK is a 33" tire. You should not have any problems with this diameter tire on the street, but off-road there will be flex which may allow the tires to hit your fenders and possibly break them.

A 33" x 10" tire will have the least problems even off-road.
A 33" x 11" tire can be used without problems in most cases. You may have to do some very minor trimming or adjust the steering stops by adding some washers to limit tire travel. You may also need to add wheel spacer to avoid tire to suspension component contact, all are easy simple mods to do.

Common tire sizes in 33" x 11" are 285/75/16, 285/70/17, 275/70/18


If wanting to use a 33" tire with a larger tire width than 11" such as 295/70/17 = 33x11.6, 305/60/17 = 33x12, 305/70/16 = 33x12, 295/65/18 = 33x11.6 you will need to use wheel spacers as 1.50" spacers or aftermarket wheels with 4.5" backspacing or less.

Some good tires to replace your stock tires with are:

1. BFG Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 285/75R17 (Dia = 33.90") Sec width on 8.0" wheel is 11.30" fits stock 7.5" wheels. 
2. BFG A/T KO 285/70R17 (Dia = 32.75") Sec width on 8.5" wheel is 11.49" fits stock 7.5" wheels.
3. BFG A/T KO 275/70R18 (Dia = 33.18") sec width on 8.0" wheels is 10.98" fits stock 7.5" wheels.
4. Toyo Open Country A/T ll 285/70R17 (Dia = 32.80") sec width on 8.5" wheel is 11.50" fits stock 7.5" wheels.
5. Toyo Open Country A/T 285/75R17 (Dia = 33.8") sec width on 8.0" wheel is 11.20" fits stock 7.5" wheels. 
6. Goodyear Wrangler Dura Trac 285/70R17 (Dia = 32.80" sec width on 8.5" wheels is 11.50" fits stock 7.5"wheels.
7. Nitto Terra Grappler 275/70R18 (Dia = 33.27") sec width on 8.0" wheel is 10.94 fits stock 18" 7.5" wheels. 
8. Nitto Terra Grappler 285/75R17 (Dia = 33.86") sec width on 8.0" wheel is 11.30" fits stock 7.5"wheels.
9. Nitto Terra Grappler 295/70R17 (Dia = 33.19") sec width on 8.5" wheel is 12.13" fits stock 7.5" wheels. Note, you need to use wheels spacers or wheels with less backspacing than stock wheels with this tire.
10. General Tire Grabber AT2 275/70R18 (Dia = 33.20") sec width on 8.0" wheel is 10.90" fits stock 7.5" wheels.
11. Dick Cepek Radial F-C ll all terrain 285/70R17 (Dia =32.80") sec width on 8.5" rim is 11.40" fits stock 7.5" wheels.

This 4 door Jeep JK is sporting 295/70/17 tires on stock wheels with spidertrax 1.5 wheel spacers, jeep has no lift and no rubbing. (Photo courtesy of jeepforum.com)

Remember going to a taller diameter tire will lift your wrangler JK a little higher up than stock, so it is possible you can rollover a little easier. If you go little higher, it is a good idea to go a little wider as well, this will help the jeep from rolling  over and give it more stability. Many people putting on wheels spacers or aftermarket 4.5" BS  wheels say their jeep handles better and feels much more stable on the street. This also gives your jeep a nice stance over stock looking stance.

Also in regards to handling, generally an 18" tire handles better on the street than a 17" tire and so on. If you are not going to off-road your jeep and want better street manners/handling choose a possible 18" tire rather than a 17" if making a wheel change over stock. Also adding stiffer gas shocks will improve street handling over stock wrangler Sport shocks which are not high pressure gas. The Rubicon comes with gas shocks (red shocks) in stock form, but wrangler sports do not.

Here is a common saying when upgrading tires for new jeep JK owners by long time jeep owners "You don't know it yet, but you will eventually end up here, 35's - 37's tires and a 2"-3.5" lift".




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Jeep Wrangler Doors Hard to Close?

Once in a while I run into someone who shares that their Wrangler doors are hard to close. I just smile. That's a good thing. It tells me their new to the whole Jeep thing and just need a little insight to why Wrangler doors are different. In a Wrangler form follows function. There are many unique features on a Wrangler / Wrangler Unlimited with a hardtop that set it apart from all other vehicles:

• The relatively lightweight doors are removable for open-air driving, and lighter weight doors require more effort to close.
• Keeping things simple, Wrangler doors only utilize a check strap in lieu of a heavy mechanical system which aids in closing effort.
• The door opening has no weather seal so you have a clean opening for entry and exit from your Wrangler. The door has a seal with some rubber inserts that helps keep out the wind and water in some challenging locations, such as where the windshield header, hardtop Freedom Panel and door all come together.

So there you have it. Long story short - Jeep engineers had to decide what was more important: an easy to close door, or a door that would seal out the wind and water. They chose the latter. So next time you close the door on your Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited give a little bit more effort as you enjoy your purpose built adventure machine. And enjoy the ride.

Jeep Wrangler LED Modification - Cylon

 

This truly is a Knight Rider! Chris Knight took a 25 "pixel" LED light strip and modified his Wrangler with a Cool Neon Total Control Lighting Developer’s Shield Box. 

You can find the full build guide at the instructables site.

DIY Hacks & How To's: Emergency Power from a Land Line

What do you do when a hurricane creates havoc and you have no power and your smartphone is dead? As long as the phone lines are working you can charge your smartphone with a few simple items from RadioShack. MAKE magazine http://blog.makezine.com/2013/05/06/how-to-get-emergency-power-from-a-phone-line/

gives the full instructions on YouTube and also in their magazine. http://blog.makezine.com/2013/05/06/how-to-get-emergency-power-from-a-phone-line/ Full instructions can be found at http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Get-Emergency-Power-from-a-Phone-Line/

Jeep Rescue Optical Illusion

Jeep Rescue Optical Illusion, a photo by lee.ekstrom on Flickr.

I created a mash-up in PhotoShop of the Jeep Rescue Concept Vehicle and some tires & wheels that have a life of their own. Hope you enjoy this fun Jeep optical illusion.

Jeep Wrangler Pork Chop Optical Illusion

Jeep Wrangler Pork Chop Optical Illusion, a photo by lee.ekstrom on Flickr.

I thought the Jeep Wrangler Pork Chop concept vehicle by Mopar could use some new psychadelic tread. Hope you enjoy my down-and-dirty optical illusion PhotoShop mash-up!

Tucker Combat Vehicle – A Unique Wheeled Fortress

Check out these amazing videos of the Tucker Combat Vehicle (TCV). It certainly has many features that were advanced for the World War II era. If you’ve seen Francis Ford Coppola’s movie “Tucker: the man and his dream” – you’ll realize the man was a genius of design and innovation.

Tucker saw that war was on the horizon in Europe and began designing for a high-speed armored combat vehicle as early as 1939. Tucker was born in 1903 on a Michigan peppermint farm. Tucker returned to Michigan and worked out of a barn in Ypsilanti to develop his ingenious inventions. 

Some of his unique creations include the use of individual wheel brakes – what we refer today as Antilock Brakes or Brake Lock Differentials (03:54 mark), arc welded steel armor plate (00:08), same-size swappable bulletproof windows (00:28 mark), air conditioning in the battlefield (09:21), bulletproof and multi-chambered radiator (01:25 mark), adjustable headlights (00:53), and a V-style hull to protect gas tank (10:09). 

The Tucker Combat Car also had one of the most wicked camo paint jobs around.

Highlights from the 1942 video clip regarding the Tucker Combat Vehicle:

“It is constructed entirely of steel armor plate, welded together by a new method which completely eliminates all riveting.”

“Large windshield and windows of bulletproof glass afford exceptionally wide and unobstructed vision and can withstand heaviest machine gun fire.”

“All windows are of one size and instantly changeable.”

“Specially designed headlamps, also of bulletproof glass, are capable of throwing a beam one mile and are individually adjustable so as to be usable as searchlights.”

“Quickly removable hood gives complete accessibility to engine.”

“The bulletproof radiator shield is so designed that it need not be closed. Each section can be instantly replaced when damaged.”

“The huge pneumatic tires are completely bullet-proof, each capable of withstanding fifty caliber- .50 machine gun bullets.”

“The Combat Car is capable of speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour on paved highways and 65 miles per hour over rough terrain.”

“Because of advanced chassis construction, it can withstand heaviest strains and shocks of rough terrain.”

“Its low center of gravity assures perfect stability up to 45 degrees tipping angle.”

“Individual wheel brakes eliminate spinning wheels.”

“The Combat Car is armed with a forward battery of three machine guns and an American Armament of 37-mm. anti-aircraft gun or anti-tank gun, mounted in a revolving turret.”

“This armament is capable of laying down a withering fire at the combined rate of 2,820 shots a minute.”

“The turret gun has a 360°traverse and a 75°angle of elevation.”

“The unit can also be furnished with electric controls in place of, or in addition to, manual elevating and traversing controls. The electric device has a speed range from creeping motion to 360° in ”

4.6 seconds.

“It is fully automatic and fires 37-mm. explosive projectiles against airplanes or armor-piercing projectiles against tanks.”

“Bracketing and hitting aerial targets. Note tracer which indicates path of projectile.”

“Demonstrating efficiency of its armor-piercing projectiles against steel armor plate.”

“Perfect visibility enables drivers to avoid tank traps and defenses.”

“Forced air conditioning eliminates crew discomfort and dangers of flame attack.”

“Perfect spring suspension affords maximum riding comfort and stability, assuring high accuracy of fire while in motion.”

“The crew is fully protected against any explosion of the gasoline tank by heavy armor plate and by a device which directs the force of explosive outward.”

“Engine compartment louvres are so placed as to act as windshield defrosters.”

“The Combat Car has a 12-inch clearance and its bottom is completely armor plated against bombardment or damage from attacks.”

“The unit has provisions for dual rear wheels, four-wheel drive and caterpillar tracks.”

“A fleet of Combat Cars at Rahway plant, fully tested and ready for delivery.”

Testing of the TCV was done at the Rahway, New Jersey factory owned by the

American Armament Corporation. Harry Miller, a Tucker employee would take some of Tucker’s suspension designs and apply them at Bantam where he helped in the development of the first Jeep prototype vehicle.

Sadly Tucker’s original fast-moving armored car design wasn’t mass-produced because the Belgian government that commissioned his services was invaded by the Nazis before production could begin. The U.S. Military rejected the concept because it was too fast to be safe. In addition the contracts were already awarded by the time they tested the vehicle.

According to LEF magazine His revolutionary plexi-glass gun turret that was eventually used on the B-17 Flying Fortress, the B-24 Liberator and other American bombers. The “Tucker Turret” was even used by the Navy on many of its PT boats and landing ships. 

1978 Jeep Expedition of the Americas - Jeep Song

The 1978 Jeep Expedition of the Americas was an ambitious 21,000 mile trip from the southern tip of South America to uppermost tip of Alaska. Mark Smith and his team of partners took stock Jeep CJ-7 and Wagoneers to accomplish this feat. But why did they do it? They were not sponsored by any company and put up their own money for the expedition. A five month excursion. The resounding message in this clip was "for the thrill of it." They put their Yankee ingenuity and Jeep equipment to the test, especially when crossing the wild Darien Gap. These explorers did it so they could enjoy the adventure for its own sake. They did it all for the pure joy and adventure of just doing it.

A song at the 16:14 mark carries the message though of this amazing adventure:

There’s a spot that finds its way

into a special kind of man

that lights a fire deep in his soul

that tells him “yes you can.”

He can get out from behind his desk

And go try something new

Driving up the side of the world

Is just the thing to do.

Cause he’s driven by a dream

A rainbow is his guide

He get’s his strength from mother earth

And a billion starry lights

He’s driven by a dream

Crossing rivers, climbing trees

To turn the heartaches and the joys

Into treasured … memories.

This spark becomes a torch

And is passed from man to man

You can see it in their faces

As they go lend a hand

Each step makes him taller

And fills his heart with pride

When your driving up the side of the world

You take it all in stride

Nissan DeltaWing as Sleep Aid

I appreciate Nissan in their “throw away the rule book” innovation applied to their DeltaWing racing car. The concept of the car is to half the aerodynamic drag, half the power, half the mass, half the fuel consumption, half the tire consumption, and still achieving the performance of our competitors. Technology gains from endurance racing the 24 hours at LeMans are said to translate into real-world benefits to the Nissan engine program. According to Ben Bowlby, Nissan DeltaWing Chief Technology Officer, "it’s about guilt-free high-performance motoring.” The industry is all about efficiency, but do we really need to move in this direction? So we can sleep at night?  

Roosevelt and General Patton Jeep

Roosevelt Jeep, a photo by lee.ekstrom on Flickr.

Found this wonderful shot of President Franklin D. Roosevelt seated in a Jeep with hat over his heart. General George Patton can be seen saluting the flag on the other side of the Jeep vehicle. Photo was taken in Casablanca on 01/18/1943. I touched up the dust spots from the original.

Courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library.