The Truth About Wheel Sizes?

[eternus]

I'm going through different site configurators to pick wheels that fit my Gladiator and keep coming across an error that it doesn't fit my vehicle, though I've seen them on people's builds. This is pretty standard stuff, how do you get around the dumb configurators? What I look for...

Diameter 17"
Width 8.5"9.5"
5 Lug
5 x 5 aka 5 x 127

There seems to be a bajillion variations on the 5 x 127.

If you've found another value that must be met, what is that value? Bore? Backspace? Offset? (I know the last to are relative... so are the configurators just failing if the offset pushes it out past the fender?

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[Lateralus]

Alot of tire sizes are metric so you have to do some math. On a 285/75/17 tire 285 is width, 75 is the height of half the tires cross section as a percentage. 17 is wheel diameter.

You can figure wheel diameter by taking 285x.75x2+17=tire diameter.

I searched for rims and tires on websites based on size not vehicle. Figure out what you want in terms of tire size and backspacing. I went with stock backspacing for my aftermarket rims to keep the tires from sticking out too much from the fenders. You can browse many wheel configurations on the show and tell threads here and determine what you want for backspacing.

I went with a 17x8.5 rim with a 35x10.5" tire. The 10.5 width of the tire allowed me to run stock backspacing with no rubbing. On a 12.5" width tire you'll want the wheels out more for clearance.

 

[eternus]

Alot of tire sizes are metric so you have to do some math. On a 285/75/17 tire 285 is width, 75 is the height of half the tires cross section as a percentage. 17 is wheel diameter.

You can figure wheel diameter by taking 285x.75x2+17=tire diameter.

I searched for rims and tires on websites based on size not vehicle. Figure out what you want in terms of tire size and backspacing. I went with stock backspacing for my aftermarket rims to keep the tires from sticking out too much from the fenders. You can browse many wheel configurations on the show and tell threads here and determine what you want for backspacing.

I went with a 17x8.5 rim with a 35x10.5" tire. The 10.5 width of the tire allowed me to run stock backspacing with no rubbing. On a 12.5" width tire you'll want the wheels out more for clearance.

That’s good information. It's stuff I already know, but worth repeating. I really like the look you got there, so did you just do 0mm offset when you say "factory."

Pardon me for being pedantic, here is one correction;

285 = tire width in millimeters
75 = % of the width, that's the wall height so multiple it times two after calculating
17 = wheel diameter

That translates into: (285*.75)*2 + 17" = 427.5mm + 17" = 16.8" + 17" = 33.8" tire size

I’m sorry if it sounded like I needed help with tires.

What I’m actually trying to figure out why online wheel sites will say that a wheel isn’t compatible with my vehicle. Tire size isn’t the problem I’m running into, it’s the wheel size. I *think* it might be when you try to pick a wheel width wider than factory... so Discount Tire doesn’t want me to use a wheel that’s 9”+ with a Sport S. But again, that’s inconsistent. It might be just wheel size with a positive offset, so it’s sucked too much wheel into the wheel well, but again... nothing consistent seems to turn up.

 

[j.o.y.ride]

just don't enter in a car you are trying to fit to for those websites and you should be fine.

 

[eternus]

just don't enter in a car you are trying to fit to for those websites and you should be fine.

Yah, that's my current modus operandi. I just want answers.

My dealer gave me a site to check out for the wheel options THEY have and I see wheels I like that I know fit, but the system says don't. I'm trying to be ahead of some ignorant salesman telling me I can't have a wheel I want even though I know it actually fits.

 

[kevman65]

Center bore of wheel has to be input. Can't remember now what you need for the JT.

There are a LOT of wheels out there that fit until you get to the center bore.

 

[eternus]

Center bore of wheel has to be input. Can't remember now what you need for the JT.

There are a LOT of wheels out there that fit until you get to the center bore.

See, now this is the information I'm looking for. Most sites never mention a bore size. I see on the site mentioned in my previous post that wheels with a ~71.5-78 (mm?) bore work, but when I find some that have that bore plus the other numbers mentioned on my first post correct... still not allowed. Sadly, Discount Tire doesn't give me all the details about a wheel that I need to know why they say it's off limits.

 

[kevman65]

When I was doing wheel searches, I found that when I put in 2020 Gladiator and anything wider than stock, there were times I got the incompatible response. Drop the vehicle out of the search, just do wheel size, lug pattern, wheel width. Then you can start filtering out offsets and backspacing you don't want. Just remember to double check the center bore.

To get full information on a wheel you're interested in, go to the manufacturers site and be prepared to dig a little bit. Some sites have "technical specs" hyperlinks, click that.

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