Rear Spare Tire Holder question

Do I have to replace the spare tire rack if I get bigger rims/tires than what comes stock? 2017 Sahara Unlimited JK

 

Should be fine up to a 33" tire. 35" and larger definitely need to upgrade.

 

Where do I get an upgrade? Any recommended places?

 

There is a max weight limit for the OEM tailgate tire carrier and most over-sized upgrade tires will begin to exceed or will exceed the rated capacity. Stories of cracked tailgate welds to cracked tire carrier housings have been reported. Consider how much weight is hung back there as one traverses road pot holes or trail bumps that challenge the OEM tire carrier with 80-120 lbs of weight on the rear mounts. Aftermarket tire carrier choices range from upgraded hinges to frame/bumper mounted tire carriers to handle the increased weight of the wheel+tire combo.

 

Teraflex makes an hd hinder attachment

 

Be sure to relocate the two rubber tire bumpers, located on the tailgate. The bumpers prevent tire shaking and the stress on tailgate. I had 33s on bigger rims, on a 2012, and moved the rubber bumpers outward to touch the wide tire wall, as was the case originally with the stock 32". Also added hockey pucks to the bumpers to elongate them to firmly touch the 33" tire. Had to drill bolt holes for the pucks and fit hard rubber reinforcement into the stock rubber bumpers also, to get them to support the bigger tire and and dampen the shaking. I also installed the MBRP Tailgate Reinforcing kit.

 

There are a dozen different ways to deal with this. Check out Quadratec, morrison4x4 and some of the other big distributors to see some of the options and prices.