Size of modern tires for original wheels?

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sweetjeep
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Size of modern tires for original wheels?

Post by sweetjeep » Tue Jun 29, 2021 8:00 am

I am sure this has been covered plenty, but my search-fu is failing me (turning up far too many non-relevant topics).

Can anyone suggest the max width tire I can put on the original wheels? And anyone have any suggestions of what tires they are running?

Basically, I have some NDCCs of indeterminate age (NOT LESS than 20 years old and likely over 30) and I have been driving the hell out of the Jeep this year and I'd like to decrease the beating I take with some rubber that's not made from stone and I don't necessarily want to run a set of new NDCCs. And I don't really want to get new wheels. However, if the stock wheels really limit what I can run, I am not opposed to a new set of wheels like a set of "wagon" wheels or something.

Thoughts?

Thx


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dpcd67
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Re: Size of modern tires for original wheels?

Post by dpcd67 » Tue Jun 29, 2021 9:08 am

That is a question for your local tire shop. There are good radial tires that will fit. Cross referenced to 700x16, into the modern way of measuring tires.
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sweetjeep
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Re: Size of modern tires for original wheels?

Post by sweetjeep » Thu Jul 01, 2021 10:41 am

What I've determined thus far is that you can run, roughly a 185ish+. It's the narrow rims that are the killer. It seems that the original rims are about 4.5" wide and most modern (off road biased) tires want a 5 minimum.

That said.. "what's the worst that can happen?"

I did find that (I forget who) makes a clone of the original wheels in a 16" but a 5.5 width rim, which is likely the direction I'll head.

sweetjeep
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Re: Size of modern tires for original wheels?

Post by sweetjeep » Tue Jul 06, 2021 10:35 am

For future readers.. the width of the original wheels (4.5") limits you to weird size road tires. Nothing even off-road looking, never mind off-roadable. While going legitimate 4 wheeling is pretty low on my priority list for this guy, it's the look I'd like to maintain.

I did find that Omix (I think) makes a stock looking wheel that's 5.5" wide and allows for up to a 215 width tire.

Personally, at this point I think I'll just get a new set of NDCCs and call it a day and hope that modern construction of an old looking tire grants some of the ride improvement I'm trying to get.


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