4.5 Backspacing

…previous post, "Jeep Wrangler Wheels and Tires", we discussed using 17x9" aftermarket wheels with -12mm offset, which is about 4.5" backspacing on a Jeep Wrangler. That sizing, for many people, is the magic combination to fit 33" or 35" tires on the Jeep JK. I was in…

…the issue, I put on 8" wide wheels with 4.5" backspacing. I also ended up installing a 2" spring spacer lift and upgrading to a 33x12.5R15 size tire (same BFGoodrich model) mounted on 15x9" wheels with, yet again, a 4.5" backspacing. Both set-ups worked out great for me both…

…on some sportier looking wheels! A perfect fit would be the new KMC XD Series XD300 Pulley in 17x8 with a zero millimeter offset and 4.5 inches of backspacing. As you can see, these wheels fit the stock tires perfectly and push them out to the edge of the fenders where they belong, rather than…

…as the geometry of where they put the bend. It seems to give a bit more room for big tires with slightly higher offset wheels. Generally, 4.5" backspacing is an easy number to clear big tires on the JK, but mine are 4.75" which give very little clearance to the upper control arms. However,…