First time Jeep owner.

I just bought my dad’s 2005 Wrangler with 65k miles. 6 speed manual 2.4L.
I’m looking forward to making some upgrades. I want to get larger wheels and tires but need to understand the offsets and backspacing yet. I’d like to do a 2-3” lift. I’m thinking 15” or 16” x 8 or 10” wide wheels with 33” tires. I’ve been watching out for set ups I like and then checking wheel and tire sizes. Hopefully no one gets miffed at me for checking out their ride.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

It needs a new top and a little paint work on the bottom of the doors before winter. The clear coat is starting to peel and since Illinois salts everything I don’t want to let rust start. (It’s been in Florida all it’s life)

I’m thinking some type of summer soft top too but not mesh since I am hair challenged on the top of my head.

 

Welcome from north central West Virginia nice looking TJ good luck.

 

Welcome @Jim2005 ...great jeep to start with. TJs with little to no rust are a hot commodity. Start your search by checking out the lift kits at Quadratec.com and go from there. Some jeepers just rinse the frame well per salt/brine bath and/or use fluid film type products to ensure the TJ doesn't suffer the dreaded frame rust and some drill a drain hole preemptively etc. Florida sun is hard on paint and soft tops which don't last forever so get a new soft top

 

Nice old TJ. I wouldn’t drive that in the winter, personally. It’s cool, and unusual, and any beater vehicle can get you through the winter. Definitely clean it off, paint it and fluid film it. With a 2” lift you could probably install a 33x12.5 tire/wheel depending on the look you want. But you could also install a 33” tire and retain the stock look if you went with OEM Jeep 17” wheels and a Falken Wildpeak 255/80/17 tire. That’s an AT tire and gets pretty good reviews. It’s the only AT that I know of that offers an 80. Btw, a lot of serious off road guys like narrower tires, although they don’t look as cool as 12.5s.

 

My wife would kill me if I made this another summer only vehicle. I already have a ‘66 SS Impala and a 2013 Caddy CTS coupe taking up space in the garage in the winter. I just gave our 2013 Fiat 500 to our daughter so that opened up a slot in the garage. She’s in Florida so it can be driven year round now.

 

I did talk to a local tire guy and he made some wheel and tire suggestions. I ended up ordering some 18x9.5 wheels and he’ll put on some 33x12.5’s. I’ll probably do at least a 2” suspension lift and maybe a 1” body lift.

I’m in Florida now and gonna drive it home in a week. I want to go through it before I drive 1000 miles. I may buy a seat cushion for the ride because I don’t think the shocks have ever been replaced.

 

Go with a quality 2-3" lift kit complete with new shocks, adj arms etc. IMO skip the body lift and seat cushion and just go for it..

 

33x12.5s are going to look great! Good choice! What backspace are you getting? I’ve seen -12 and it seems to work.

 

I went with -12’s. I got the oil changed today. I usually do my own but I didn’t have my tools. I had to sign a waver after having it serviced because the tires are 11 years old. I asked if he checked the spare too. It is a Goodyear wrangler that might have 10 miles on it but looks dry rotted. It is probably 16 years old and came with the Jeep from the factory.

 

I put the 3.25” lift in last weekend, got the tires mounted and an alignment. I’m happy with it until I figure out the next upgrade. That may be a new spare tire mount with stronger hinges.

I

 

Now that the lift kit is installed it’s time to replace those old dry rotted tires. Good time to upgrade to a larger size relative to the lift kit.

 

Nice Tj my favorite

 

Gorgeous Impala!

 

Thanks!