Ok,let me ask it this way, has anyone ever used wheel spacers and how was the ride. Did your front end parts wear out any faster, or any vibration or shimmering.

 

The tyres are great quality, I have BFG A/T on my Cheropkee but in 30x9.5x15 which are slightly larger (0.8" diameter, 0.2" rim width). They fit great on a stock 1995 rim and do not rub at all, no more back spacing needed.

The recommended rim width for yours is 6.5", are your stock rims 7"? Sorry, struggling to see why you would need to increase backspace.

You can put spacers on but if you move the tyres out and increase the track width you will have to do something with the fenders, they will rub on the outside of the rear flares. My experience with spacers on CJs is that they work and the ride quality is unchanged but the fenders need attention. Not sure I would do it on a Cherokee unless it was a very big lift and then I would be doing a lot of other stuff.

 

If you plan on using the current wheels, you shouldn't need to change rims or use spacers. If the goal is to change the look, Wheel spacers or negative backspacing both have the same effect on the vehicle, they both move the tire farther from the center line.

I'd check cost of spacers, and compare to the cost of rims +dismount/mount/balance and see what you're comfortable with.

 

From the notes I've gathered over the years it's my opinion that wheel spacers are as half-assed as suspension spacers.
Tires need to be retorqued shortly after reinstalling, but you gotta keep taking the tires off to retorque the wheel spacers. You'd also wanna make sure you get hub-centric spacers so they aren't relying on the cone of the nuts to hold them still, otherwise you get an orbital effect from the tire when/if they come loose.
Rims are gonna cost more in most cases but are worth every penny to save the headache. As far as backspacing (measured in inches from the inner edge of the rim to the mounting surface) or offset (measured in mm + or - from the center of the rim [negative (-) offset will move the tires outward]), too much outward and you find you'll need a lift to install them. I bought my Ultra rims from my local LesShwab and they only offer them in +5 or -19 os. I opted for the -19os (~3.25" bs) to go as far out as possible for the stance. Upon their attempt to install them with 31" tires, they were not going on without a lift. So I lifted it, but I wanted to lift it anyway, so ++. But if you don't wanna lift it, just keep this in mind. Had I been running 235's like you, they may have fit sitting still, but hitting a hole with the wheel turned could cost you a flare or even a fender.

 

Ok, thanks guys. The reason for question is because when these wear out i was going to go with a 31x9.50 or 10.50 (witch ever is a little wider than the 235's) so that is why the question about spacers or off set rims. Plus I am going to do a 2-3 inch lift for sure.
The 235 are great, just a little narrow as my son has 30x9.50/15 on his 94 zj with a 2 inch lift.
Now his measure 8 inches width on ground, mine measure 7.5, so not much difference.
mine is all stock. so i presume 7 inch width on wheels.
But if a wider tire is going to cost me gas mileage just to increase width by a inch, not worth it.
But will do a 2 inch lift. BB, but with actual long AAL, or new spring pack for rear, with new coils up front.
Or used from a jeep that will fit.

thanks for the reply's and bringing up the pros and cons of spacers. I did use them once on the rear of a van with no problem when moving. Or after wards for a year. Can get a set online for $60-$100.
Been checking craigslist for rims.

 

If all you plan to do is 2", you're gonna want to go with 30x9.50 tires, unless you plan to pull the flares and trim the fenders. Then almost anything is possible, within reason.

 

OK, was just talking to my son and he said i should do a 4 inch.
But I said I don't want to be messing with new slip yokes, wobbles, ect.
He said that most guys might remove the stabilizer bars that's why they are getting the wobbles or shimmering.
With big tires.like 32 or 33.

 

Anything past 3" takes on a whole new list of concerns. At 4"+ the stock components (control arms, steering, and driveline angles) hit their peak. You'll spend more to contend with these issues, or don't and dislike the result forever thereafter. This includes binding, loss of steering radius, repeatedly replacing u-joints, etc. There are fixes for all of these problems, but how invested are you willing to get?

 

Completely agree with S8NNG8, if you want to go any higher than 3", or even sometimes at 3", you will be messing with a whole lot of other parts to make your Jeep work the way you want it to. At 2" you will be able to maintain a lot of the stock components. But at 3" you will want at least new lower control arms and shocks, maybe a slip yoke eliminator. Higher and the list gets longer. My girlfriends Jeep is lifted 1.5" on 235's and I think it looks pretty good the way it is. Stock wheels with no spacers. Everything stock except for the new leaf springs and front spring spacers.

This is Crown HD leaf springs in the rear and a 1.75" spacer in the front on the stock coil spring. New stock shocks with BPE's for some added length.

 

I bought my Jeep with 32s and some old ugly wheels. It had Bushwacker fender flares. I picked up some stock Jeep wheels and put 30x9.50r 15 . They did not look right so I added 1 1/2 inch spacers and have had no problems. I used locktite when I put the spacers on so I would not have to retorque them all the time. I have used spacer on many other vehicles with no problems. If you have the choice get a wheel that you won't have to use spacers on but don't be afraid of them if needed.

 

thanks s8, that is what i was figuring, i dont want to do a lot of things to it, just get a little lift and better look

redjeepster, thats my jeep exactly, same color, exact body style even the roof rack. I was just turning in my drive way to day and the tire rubbed on the sway bars.
So it is spacers or wheels. Nice jeep. That lift looks good so i know a 2 inch would look just as great on mine.

soapy, what is your lift at now, in the pic. do those wheels have a back space, and what are they off of.

 

My XJ had the lift installed when I bought it at auction. I think it is a 3 to 4 inch lift. Terra flex stuff. I think the wheels came off a TJ. Picked them up at a local junk yard for $40 each/ got a set of 5. With 30x9.50 r 15s I can still put the spare inside in the stock location.

 

thanks soapy
Found a set of jeep wheels, 5 spoke,stock jeep with center cap. Said has 5.5 back space.
$20 for all 4.
Maybe i will buy them.
offset may be too much though. Have to do more reading here.

 

These rims off my '95 Exploder were a nice change from the stock Jeep backspacing. Brought the tires out a bit, but the hubs need opened up on the rims. I used a dye grinder on my air compressor to do it. Nothing crazy, just a hair shaved off all the way around. Otherwise, they're so close to fitting, I literally pressed the front ones on with the lugnuts by mistake the first time. What a pain to get off!

 

made a mistake, i meant the suspension arm it rubbed, the lower.
If im correct, my rims at 7 inches the middle would be 3.5 inches from either side.
So a set of wheels with a 5.5 back space would move my tire out 2 inches, if im doing this right.
And should not stick out from my fender flare., i have to make sure.

 

made a mistake, i meant the suspension arm it rubbed, the lower. If im correct, my rims at 7 inches the middle would be 3.5 inches from either side. So a set of wheels with a 5.5 back space would move my tire out 2 inches, if im doing this right. And should not stick out from my fender flare., i have to make sure.

Your part way correct. 3.5 is the middle of the 7" rim, but the wheel doesn't mount in the middle. Most of the stock wheels had 5.5" of backspacing. That means that the mounting surface of the rim is 5.5" from the inside edge of the rim. A less amount of backspacing means the wheel will stick out farther. So a 7" wheel with 5.5" of backspacing will stick out less than a 8" wheel with 5.5" of backspacing. Most aftermarket wheels will be 8" wide with 3.5-4" of back spacing.

If rubbing the control arms is your issue, you could always just put a washer on your steering stop. That would fix the issue. I never had any trouble running 235's on stock wheels with no lift. I also ran 31x10.5's on 15x8" wheels with 3.75" backspacing with no rubbing issues. I now run 33x12.5 tires on 15x8" rims with 3.75" of backspacing and had to adjust my steering stops to get rid of the tire rub on my control arms and unibody.

 

Thanks for that info. You just saved me $20 because i was thinking about buying those rims, but the way you just explained it, i would be buying what i already have.
I will have to measure my rims.
I was thinking about new rims for a more wider stance, and for future lift anyway.
My rims are the stock with the little square or oblong holes all the way around the edge.
I want something a little more classier.

 

Wheeled my girlfriends Jeep at Rausch Creek this weekend with her 235's and 1.5" lift. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to DD and have fun on the weekend. I was amazed where it went.

 

Nice, thanks for posting your pics.