35-inch tires are very popular for Jeep drivers. They are also favored by off-road enthusiasts who frequent drives through city streets as they strike a balance between handling and offering a smooth ride both off-road and on-road.
Many people who choose to use best 35-inch tires often ask what size wheels do I need for 35-inch tires.
The wheels you choose will also affect how your car handles itself, and as such, is an important decision. This article will help you with that.
Table of Contents
What Is Tire Profile?
Before you can attempt to choose wheels that will work with 35-inch tires, you should know more about tire profiles.
A tire profile mainly consists of some stats or measurements of a tire that can, at a glance, give you a fair amount of information.
When selecting a wheel, some of these measurements are very important to keep in mind.
A tire profile can be read from the tire itself and can resemble something like 255/75R17.
Using this example, we can go over what a tire profile consists of.
255
The first set of numbers (255 in this case) represents the width of the tire in millimeters.
75
The next number after the slash gives us the aspect ratio, which is written as a percentage (in this case, it is 75%).
This parameter is very important and is sometimes referred to as the profile of a tire. The aspect ratio is the height of the sidewall divided by the width of the tire.
Since you’re likely to know the width of the tire, calculating the sidewall is easy.
This is important for tire fitting. Lower aspect ratios indicate tires with greater stability.
R
After the second set of numbers, there is a letter (R in this case). This letter denotes the internal construction of the tire.
There are usually two types known as Radial (denoted by R) and Diagonal or Bias (denoted by D).
In a radial tire, the layers are made either from left to right or right to left. The diagonal tire consists of layers built diagonally. Radial tires are the more common variants.
17
The last number (17) represents the rim diameter in inches. Looking at this will give you a good idea of what rim size fits well with the tire.
What Rim Size Goes with 35-Inch Tires?
A combination of both tire size and rim size ultimately decides on how well your vehicle handles rough terrain.
If you’re choosing to use 35-inch tires, then you will want to use rims that are at the minimum, 17 inches wide.
The larger your tire, the wider your rim should be. Mismatch of tires and rims can cause many issues, including a decrease in handling and damage to both the suspensions and tires themselves.
When changing or fitting wheels, it is important to consider the sidewall height and aspect ratio.
Generally speaking, lower aspect ratio wheels are generally stiffer. They provide strong grip and handling, but on a rough road, they don’t allow the suspension to fully compress and relax.
This will result in experiencing a bump in the road much more strongly and will cause your suspension and tires to quickly get worn down. They also cause more noise, which can prove to be a major problem.
Also, bigger rims are generally more prone to getting damaged by rubble, especially off-road, which can leave them with dents and bruises.
It is recommended to go with 17-inch rims for 35-inch tires for the best balance.
You can increase it by an inch if you feel like it is more comfortable, but any higher will probably cause problems with the specified tire size.
Should I Use Wheel Spacers?
This entirely depends on certain factors. Before you decide, it is recommended you go over some of the advantages and disadvantages of a wheel spacer.
Advantages:
Improved Handling
Wheel spacers can allow a more even distribution of car weight. This increases vehicle stability, and in turn, increases the car’s ability to corner well.
Allow Better Fitting
If you make a mistake in measurements when buying rims, you can correct the mistake by adding wheel spacers.
This is usually known as correcting the wheel offset and prevents the rims from colliding with the fenders or brake.
Disadvantages:
Lowering Life Span of Tires
Wheel spacers decrease contact between ball bearing and the wheels. This can cause your tires to wear out, especially if the wheel spacers aren’t connected properly.
Improper Installation Can Cause Severe Damage
Wheel spacers are not easy to install and require precise measurements. Not installing them properly will severely hamper the performance of your car.
And wheel spacers are generally used to install larger tires while also maintaining a greater degree of stability.
However, they are somewhat difficult to install. If you feel that 17-inch wheels aren’t to your liking, you can make use of wheel spacers to install bigger rims.
Otherwise, it is not recommended to use them.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article has given you an idea regarding what size wheels you need for 35-inch tires. Remember to drive safe out there.