The thought of cheap 2-1/2” spacers on the front of my rig at interstate speeds began to give me reason to pause. A couple of the holes weren’t perfectly drilled on the lug circle and the material was so thick that I had a couple threads still showing on my normal height lugnuts.
After weeks of research I pulled the trigger on a brand hammer new set of wheels and tires!!!!
I wanted to use a set of like new H2 wheels I bought a few months back but their backspacing was ‘just’ too tight at full steering lock.
So I sold my H1 rolling stock, sold the H2 wheels and brand new spare with a new BFG AT tire on it.
Through an exhaustive amount of web mining I found what should be one of if not the best tire for my needs/wants.
Mud traction- I don’t drive an autocross car so…..
Wear- quality 37” tires aren’t cheap
Quiet-a couple hours on the road in a thin steel drum with a large f’glass echo chamber bolted to the top filled with the soundtrack from a million angry bees wears you down quick.
Availability- How many ads have you seen for 3 used tires and said “Those are cheap!”, only to find they are discontinued?
Stability- I’ll likely do some towing, if I can ever get this thing on the road! D range radial is as much as I need.
For the wheels I wanted common size, big brand name and a design that as been around and will likely continue to be (that replaceable availability thing again).
So I finally took the plunge after narrowing the field to 2 tire and 3 wheel options.
17x9 -12BS American Racing Bajas in back
37x12.50x17 Cooper Discoverer STT Pros
The 3-2-3-2 center lug pattern is supposed to all but eliminate road whine even on a tire this aggressive!
That is a penny laid in the tread. When viewed across the tire the top of it is just barely visible
Whew!
My quandary about whether to go LJ or CJ8 length has also been made! I was draggin my feet on tearing into the stretch since 'GOOD' used tops in Fla for a Scrambler are either absurdly priced or they don’t turn out to be that ‘good’ when viewed as the person (me) handing over the money vs the one (seller of a f'glass mess that once fit a Jeep) getting paid. Used LJ hardtops are are made of unobtainium, so I was going to have to shell out full price for a new aftermarket unit. Then one day my CL ad (had been up for months) got a nibble that sounded somewhat promising and now I have an ACME full length Scrambler top sitting in my side yard!!!! It came from Colorado so it hasn't had its roof melted into a bowl shape by the SUNshine state! It even has opening side windows and the key to the lift gate lock. Pics of it still on the seller’s Jeep.
