A Comprehensive Guide to Upgrading Your Bronco Wheels and Tires
Looking to upgrade your Ford Bronco wheels and tires, but don't know where to start? The first thing to consider is what you'd like to use your Bronco for; is it a daily driver that only hits the trails every now and again? Do you just want an aggressive look without having to commit to a full suspension upgrade? Or are you ready to go all in and build that rock crawler that you've always wanted? A proper wheel and tire upgrade makes all the difference in the way your Bronco looks and performs, but there's a few things you'll want to consider before jumping in. In this article, we'll break down everything you need to know about upgrading your wheels and tires on your 2021+ Ford Bronco.
LET'S TALK TIRES
First things first, let's talk about tires and how much a few inches can completely alter your Bronco's appearance and functionality. A popular size upgrade for the Base model Bronco is to bump up from 30" to 33". It's a good starting point that will give you a bit of lift and look a little bit tougher. You'll still get good fuel mileage, and you won't hear any additional road noise. The Big Bend, Black Diamond and Outer Bank all start on 32" tires from the factory, and can go all the way up to 35" without having to upgrade the stock suspension. The Base model and the Badlands are also able to make this jump. The benefits of a 35" tire set-up is that you'll have a larger contact area when you air down for rocky terrain, a bit more clearance, and it just looks cool. Your fuel consumption might go down a little, and your bigger tires are probably going to hum on pavement, but it will be a beast on the trails. Read more about airing down your Bronco tires here.
GO BIG
If you opted for the Sasquatch package, you started out on 35s, and a range of other off-road features like locking front and rear diffs, Bilstein shocks, wider fender flares and high-clearance suspension. While the other Broncos need to eliminate their crash bars to upgrade beyond 35", the Sasquatch model has already done away with them. Broncos rocking the Sasquatch package seemed tough enough to begin with, but there is always room for more ground clearance, better traction and total off-road domination. That’s where 36”/plus tires come in, just keep in mind that pushing beyond that 36" height will require you to install a lift kit, remove or upgrade crash bars and possibly even re-gear your rig. To learn more about upgrading to 36” and beyond, read here.
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WHY IS OFFSET IMPORTANT?
Moving on to wheels, let’s talk a little bit about offset. Choosing the right offset for your Bronco depends on a few factors. Again, it’s about how you want your Bronco to look and function. If you’re mainly using your Bronco for daily driving, the +55 factory offset will keep your wheels and tires tucked under your fenders. It’s a good configuration for highway use, but you won’t have that wider stance for attacking the trails. It’s possible to have the best of both worlds by upgrading a non-Sas package to a 34” tire with an offset range of +30 to +0, giving you the ability to hit some moderate off-road terrain, while still maintaining your street functionality. One thing to remember is that a higher negative offset number pushes your wheels further out from your fenders. A -12 offset will get you tons of off-road stability and some props for the aggressive styling, but it will likely affect your in-town usage. The guide on the right will give you an idea of what different offsets will look like on your Bronco.
| Wheel Offset | Approximate Tire Poke | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| +55 mm | 0" | OEM Bronco wheels |
| +30 mm | 1" | Sasquatch package |
| +18 mm | 1.5" | Mildly aggressive stance |
| +0 mm | 2" | Wide stance for moderate off-road use |
| -12 mm | 2.67" | Maximum stance, aggressive off-road look |
THE DAILY DRIVER
Narrowing down the criteria of your intended Bronco usage should help you to hone in on your wheel upgrade. For example, a wheel with a +35mm offset would sit 20mm closer to the street-side than the OEM version, so this mild update would still be nestled under the fender, making it a pretty good option for a daily driver. The next jump up would be a wheel with a +0mm offset. This setup would sit flush with your Bronco’s fender flares, giving you a touch more off-road potential, without really affecting your street performance.
THE OFF-ROADER
If you’re dedicating your Bronco to off-roading, you’ll find plenty of wheel upgrade options with features designed specifically for trail use. A more aggressive setup with a -12 offset wheel can give your Bronco a wider stance, improve tire clearance, and provide a more capable look on and off the trail. As you go up in size, you’ll want to consider some wider fender flares, or removing the fenders altogether with a fender delete kit to maximize your tire clearance. This upgrade will push your Bronco into a more dirt and trail-specific configuration, so be prepared for a little more wheel noise and a tad more fuel consumption.
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ROCK-CRAWLER TERRITORY
Going even further will put you into rock-crawler territory, where you may want to consider true bead-lock wheels. Extremely rough terrain and very low tire pressures can cause a tire to de-bead, but a beadlock ring acts like a clamp, securing the tire bead to the wheel for maximum reliability on the trail. A wheel with an aggressive offset in the -44mm range will push the wheels farther outside the Bronco's fenders, providing additional clearance for larger tires and maximizing suspension travel.
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Upgrading the wheels and tires on your Ford Bronco can take your ride to the next level, whether that is adding a touch more off-road capability to your daily driver, maximizing your Bronco’s off-road potential, or landing somewhere in between. Finding the balance is crucial to how your Bronco will function, so if you have questions, give us a call at (410)840-3555 or feel free to send us an email at sales@iagoffroad.com - we’d love to help!