Jeep Wrangler Wheels
Jeep Wranglers are far and wide considered to be the king of off road vehicles. With its participation in (successful) World Wars and Hollywood films, the Jeep Wrangler has definitely earned its stripes. Outside of the trenches and glitz, the Wrangler JK and Wrangler JL are proven work-horses. Enthusiasts around the world find it hard to keep these things in showroom condition, which in our opinion, is a great thing. Typically, the first modification Jeep owners do are wheel and tire upgrades. That’s where the experts at Wheel Suppliers come in. In this fitment guide you will find all the information you need to fully understand the proper aftermarket off road wheel measurements and fitments for your Wrangler.
OEM Jeep Wheel Fitments
Before we get into aftermarket fitments, let’s first take a look at the factory wheel setups. If you’re totally new to diameter, width, offset and backspacing, we highly recommend you read our bolt pattern and general wheel fitment resources first.
| Jeep | Wheel Diameter | Wheel Width | Wheel Offset | Bolt Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wrangler JK | 16" to 20" | 7.5" to 9" | +25 to +50 | 5x127 (5x5) |
| Wrangler JL | 16" to 20" | 7.5" to 9" | +30 to +50 | 5x127 (5x5) |
Please keep in mind that the Jeep Wrangler has a lot of trims available, so laying out every possible OEM wheel size would make for a very large list. That said, the above information should give you a good idea of what to expect. If you’re not sure what your Wrangler is running, check out this resource for a more in-depth look.
Are Wrangler JK and JL Wheels Interchangeable?
The short answer is, YES! Both generations of the Wrangler come from the factory with 5×5 bolt patterns (also known as 5×127). Both Jeeps also share the same 16-20″ diameter stock wheel options with 71.5mm bore size and equal offsets. The only key component is to remember that the lug bolt used for the Jeep JL and JK differ.
For example, say you have a Jeep JL (14×1.5mm lug size) and want to run a stock JK (1/2″x20 lug size) wheel. You will be able to mount the JK wheel to JL only if you have the proper lugs for your generation vehicle. In this example, a 14×1.5mm lug will need to be used. Thus, you may interchange the wheels from both Wranglers only when using the proper size lugs for your vehicle.
Jeep Wrangler Wheels: Offsets
In short, wheel offset simply determines the distance between the mounted wheel and the suspension components tucked inside. Choosing your desired offset boils down to a few different things. The first and most important thing to consider before mounting wheels is clearance. What does this mean exactly? Whenever you mount an aftermarket wheel, you want to make sure that the wheel in the neutral position, as well as full lock to both the left and right are not rubbing against any fenders, fender liners, or suspension components (i.e: shocks and struts).
So how do we know how much clearance we need? This is when the number of your offset matters. There is a positive offset and negative offset. Simply put, positive offset is when the wheel is sitting deeper within the fender well, but pushing the face of the wheel out towards the street side. Having a higher offset typically means the wheel is flatter and provides less of a concave or dish effect.
Inversely, there is negative offset. Negative offset allows the wheel to sit more aggressively. A negative offset will allow the wheel to sit closer to the hub and give your wheel room for a deep dish or concave style wheel. When talking about Wrangler wheels, the perfected offset is typically anywhere from 0 through -12 for most true off road look. Bigger wheels tend to stray towards the -25 through -44 offset range. To learn more about offsets and backspacing, visit our in depth guide here.
Jeep Wrangler Wheels: Fitments
Lucky for Jeep owners, most reputable manufactures have done all the hard work and provide Jeep wheels with perfect fitments out of the box. However, knowing the few options available to you will put you ahead of the game and allow you to rest easy knowing your new wheels will fit perfectly.
Wrangler JK & JL Fitments: Stock Suspension
Ideally, the best fitment for the Jeep is when the wheel is sitting just outside the fender flare. By popular demand, most manufactures create wheels to match this look. All the information listed in the table below is the exact specifications you will need to achieve this look.
Take note that any sizes beyond those listed below will need special modification. Modifications to fit a larger diameter wheel or tire will require a chassis lift as well as removal of fender liner. You’ll notice the tire sizes are all the same. This is intentional, and we recommend staying within this range in order to avoid suspension or body modifications. If you do decide to go with 35″ tires, we highly recommend to reserve that size for road driving use.
| Wheel Size | Wheel Offset | Tire Size |
|---|---|---|
| 17x8.5 | +0 | 33x12.5 or 35x12.5 |
| 17x9 | -12 | 33x12.5 or 35x12.5 |
| 18x9 | -12 | 33x12.5 or 35x12.5 |
| 20x9 | +0 or +1 | 33x12.5 or 35x12.5 |
| 20x10 | -18 to -25 | 33x12.5 or 35x12.5 |
KMC KM724 Impact OL
17×8.5 +0
Fuel Off-Road D680 Rebel
17×9 -12
Black Rhino Glamis
18×9 -12
4PLAY 4PS12
20×9 +0
Wrangler JK & JL Fitments: Leveling Kits
A leveling kit will lift the Wrangler just enough to allow for a larger wheel and tire diameter. As you may have noticed, the offsets tend to stay within the same range as the non-lifted Jeeps above. On the same note, a leveling kit should add enough room to comfortably fit a 35″ tire.
| Wheel Size | Wheel Offset | Tire Size |
|---|---|---|
| 17x8.5 | +0 | 33x12.5 or 35x12.5 |
| 17x9 | -12 | 33x12.5 or 35x12.5 |
| 18x9 | -12 | 33x12.5 or 35x12.5 |
| 20x9 | +0 or +1 | 33x12.5 or 35x12.5 |
| 20x10 | -24 or -25 | 33x12.5 or 35x12.5 |
| 20x12 | -44 | 33x12.5 or 35x12.5 |
| 22x10 | -24 or -25 | 33x12.5 or 35x12.5 |
| 22x12 | -44 | 33x12.5 or 35x12.5 |
XD XD811 Rockstar
20×10 -24
Hardrock Offroad H505
20×12 -44
XD XD820 Grenade
22×10 -24
Axe Off Road Zeus
22×12 -44
Wrangler JK & JL Fitments: Lift Kits 2.5" & Up
When we start discussing lift kits above the standard road use range, we begin diving in the world of specialty fitments. Jeep enthusiasts who run lifts this large tend to add a number of modifications to satisfy rock crawling clearance and performance. Lifts like this typically include special gearing, skid plates, and beadlock wheels.
Alternatively, due to the recent popularity of show builds, some Jeep owners stray away from the performance aspect of suspension lifts and use them strictly for aesthetic purposes. For example, a Jeep with an 8″ lift can stuff a massive 26×14 wheel and 37″ tires. Here is when you may see a slight variation in sizes and offsets offered.
| Wheel Size | Wheel Offset |
|---|---|
| 24x12 | -44 / -47 / -50 |
| 24x14 | -76 / -81 |
| 26x12 | -44 |
| 26x14 | -76 / -81 |
Hardrock Offroad H504
24×12 -44
Moto Metal MO992 Folsom
24×14 -76
Fuel Off-Road D714 Contra
26×12 -44
American Truxxx Xclusive
26×14 -76
Cast vs. Flow Formed vs. Beadlock
Similar to deciding which size wheel you want to run, another consideration you will face is the type of wheel you’ll need. Depending on what the purpose of your Jeep is, there are typically three standard options:
Cast: Cast wheels are manufactured by pouring molten aluminum into a mold. Cast wheels are by far the most popular choice of wheels among enthusiasts as they are cost effective, reliable, and readily available.
Flow Formed: Similar to cast wheels, Flow Formed wheels start their life out in a similar mold stage. Flow Formed wheels are simply a cast face wheel which has been heated and spun at high rates of speed to be stretched and compressed. Because of this process, Flow Formed wheels are stronger and lighter than cast.
Beadlock: These are for true rock crawlers and off road vehicles. Beadlock wheels lock the tires to the wheel. The purpose a beadlock wheel originally was to prevent wheels from dismounting when placed under massive amounts of torque load and lower-than-normal tire pressures. Beadlock off road wheels typically come in a Flow Formed or full Forged configuration.
Conclusion
As Jeep owners, you will find yourself in a rabbit hole of research trying to figure out what the next best move is for your rig. Lucky for you, we made one thing a hell of a lot easier for you! The information in this guide is intended to make your search for your Jeep Wrangler JK and Wrangler JL wheels a much more enjoyable experience.
We’d like to also mention that this guide is a reference point, and not the end-all-be-all. The wheels you buy will depend on the goal of the car. An off road setup differs greatly from an enthusiast road car and show car build. The general rule of thumb is as follows: Off road build, go for 17×9. Enthusiast and show car builds, the options are endless.
If you still need help finding a set of Jeep JK or JL off road wheels, please do not hesitate to reach out to us! Our team of experts would be more than happy to help get you set up properly.