OEM Rubicon Wheel Question

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bwkelley76

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Norcal

• Jun 28, 2008

• #1

I HAD NO CLUE! ???

So I just learned that they made the Last-Gen TJ (1997-2006) Rubicon Wheel in a polished-face and some were just powder-coated/painted metallic-grey.

I'm curious if anyone has any input/info on this.

I think I like the painted ones better and these are the only ones I had seen until I found a polished set I'm going to be purchasing wiht tires. Which ones do you like better?

 

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Blaine B.

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Northwest Indiana

• Jun 28, 2008

• #2

Well, it's your opinion that counts! I didn't know they made the polished ones either. I guess it depends if you want more of a "chrome" looking wheel or not, eh?

They'd look hot in black too!

 

Crabapple

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Greensboro, North Carolina

• Jun 28, 2008

• #3

A friend of mine has his powdercoated black on his ZJ. And let me say they look AMAZING.

 

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bwkelley76

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Norcal

• Jun 28, 2008

• #4

lol, yeah I had no clue either. If you go online and look for 2003 Rubicon pics they all seem to have the polished ones. If you lok at 2005 you find mostly painted ones. I guess they are the same wheel except with a little "bling".

 

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jk333

NAXJA Forum User

Location

WA

• Jun 28, 2008

• #5

I like the polished version myself.

 

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jerseyjeep01

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Berlin, New Jersey

• Jun 29, 2008

• #6

Moab wheels on an XJ look SICK!! :yelclap:

 

FitchVA

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Roanoke, VA

• Jun 30, 2008

• #7

i love mine off of an '06 rubi

 

sidriptide

nobody of any consequence

Location

western massachusetts

• Jun 30, 2008

• #8

i didnt realize they made both, so i will add this insight. the clear-coated ones will look alot worse once corrosion sets in where the wheel weights have destroyed the coating.. the colored ones will look better for a longer period... i'm partial to the TJ Ravine wheels myself.

 

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robertcrav

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Orange County, CA

• Jun 30, 2008

• #9

and...I believe there was a special edition Unlimited Rubicon Sahara for the movie that had a machined face and black painted inserts

vs

 

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jerseyjeep01

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Berlin, New Jersey

• Jun 30, 2008

• #10

FitchVA said:

i love mine off of an '06 rubi

Click to expand...

:worship: wow! thats how the xj should sit from the factory

 

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CRJeepin

NAXJA Forum User

Location

York, PA

• Jul 1, 2008

• #11

There's another difference in them too - the 03-05 ones look the same as in the first post on this thread - a smooth transition in between the spokes from the wheel edge to the inside of the wheel.

In 06, they changed them to have a lip an inch in - like shown in FitchVA's picture.

I forget which ones are painted and which are clear coated - I'm pretty sure my 05's are clear coated.

Mine have 31" BFG AT's on them, waiting to go on the XJ when I can afford to lift it enough to clear.....in the meantime they are inspection tires for the Rubi...

 

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bwkelley76

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Norcal

• Jul 6, 2008

• #12

yeah, I just picked up a set of the clear-coated ones in cen-cal and ended up trading them off to a friend. I like them but I needed the other stuff more. Total sacrafice. These things are getting harder to find, especially in good shape. I'm looking at getting a painted set from a guy up here in Norcal soon I hope. I kinda like both actually. Wish I could have a set of both styles. The extra lip on the 06 ones isn't a big enuf difference to me to matter.