XJ Cherokee Wheels & Tires — Finishing the Core 4x4 Build

After months of suspension, steering, and body upgrades, the Core 4x4 shop XJ Cherokee is finally getting its finishing touch: a set of Method wheels wrapped in Kanati Mud Hog tires. Spence and Marissa walk through the last round of prep — bleeding brakes, greasing joints, torquing jam nuts, and clearancing the front driveshaft — before bolting on the new wheels and taking the XJ out for a look at everything the build has become.

Fitment: Jeep Cherokee XJ 1984–2001 | 4.5” lift with full long arm upgrade

Final Prep Before Wheels Go On

Before the new wheels and tires could go on, the XJ needed a handful of items checked off:

• Brake bleeding — there was still air in the lines from earlier work, making the brakes soft during test drives between shops
• Jam nut torque — all suspension jam nuts were re-checked and torqued to spec
• Greasing — Johnny Joints and all greaseable components got a fresh round of grease
• Front driveshaft clearance — some contact with the exhaust required a bit of clearancing work

These are the kinds of small items that pile up on a build. None of them are difficult on their own, but skipping any of them before a trail run is asking for problems.

Under the XJ: Core 4x4 Long Arms and Suspension

With the XJ on the lift, you can see the full Core 4x4 suspension setup underneath. The build runs a 4.5-inch lift kit with a full long arm upgrade — all arms are powder coated in Core Orange to match the bumpers and hardware. Every arm uses Johnny Joints on both ends for maximum articulation and the ability to torque at any suspension position without creating bushing preload.

The front axle also received a WJ knuckle swap, which is one of the most significant steering upgrades available for the XJ platform. It replaces the factory tie rod and drag link with Core 4x4’s 7075 aluminum steering components, giving the Cherokee much stronger and more precise steering geometry. If you have not seen that install, it is one of the earlier videos in this series and worth watching.

New Wheels and Tires: Method + Kanati Mud Hog

The old setup was a set of generic wheels with worn-down 35-inch tires that Spence had sitting around the shop. They got the XJ rolling during the build, but they were never meant to stay.

For the final wheel and tire package:

• Wheels: Method Race Wheels — a bronze/black beadlock-style design that Spence has always liked but never run on a Cherokee before
• Tires: Kanati Mud Hog MT — a cost-effective mud terrain tire that was new to the team, chosen to see how a budget-friendly option performs on the trail

The combination of the dark Method wheels with the aggressive Mud Hog tread pattern gives the Rhino-lined XJ a clean, purposeful look. Wheel and tire choice is personal, but the takeaway here is that this XJ is running a 4.5-inch lift with 35-inch tires on Method wheels — and everything clears with no rubbing issues at full lock or droop.

Wheels Installed: The Finished Look

With the new wheels and tires bolted on and the XJ back on its own weight, the build is visually complete. The Rhino-lined body, Core Orange bumpers from Dirt Bound Off-Road, Bushwacker flat flares, and now the Method wheels all come together.

After filming the wheel install, the crew discovered the trail they wanted to hit was closed. A quick inspection under the hood also revealed the transmission fluid needed changing and the oil was overdue — not surprising for a Cherokee that had been sitting behind the shop for years. The trail run would have to wait.

Full Build Recap: From Rust to Ready

This video wraps the XJ Cherokee build series, so Spence and Marissa took the Jeep out to a dirt lot to walk through every upgrade the Cherokee has received. Here is the full list:

Suspension

• 4.5-inch lift kit — springs, shocks, and all associated hardware
• Full long arm upgrade — Core 4x4 long arms with Johnny Joints on both ends, powder coated in Core Orange
• Hack and tap rear driveline — corrected driveshaft angle after the lift

Steering

• WJ knuckle swap — replaces factory steering with 7075 aluminum tie rod and drag link from Core 4x4

Body and Exterior

• Rhino line — full exterior coating to cover faded paint, overspray, and powder coat that had accumulated over years sitting behind the shop
• Bushwacker flat flares — front and rear, for a cleaner look with the larger tires
• Dirt Bound Off-Road Manta Ray front bumper — winch-compatible, finished in Core Orange
• Dirt Bound Off-Road Highline rear bumper — their newer design, also in Core Orange

Wheels and Tires

• Method Race Wheels
• Kanati Mud Hog MT 35-inch tires

What Is Left

The XJ is trail-ready on the outside, but Spence acknowledges a few items still on the list:

• Winch — the Dirt Bound front bumper is winch-compatible, but no winch is installed yet
• Interior cleanup — the inside is still old, dusty, and needs attention after years of sitting
• Trail shakedown — the next video in the series will be the actual off-road run, whether it is AF Canyon, Mineral Basin, or Little Moab

Why This Build Matters

This XJ started as a rusted, overspray-covered Cherokee that sat behind the Core 4x4 shop for six years. It was in bad shape when Spence bought it as his first vehicle at 16 — and it got worse. The original one caught fire, making this rebuild personal.

The point of the series is straightforward: show what Core 4x4 products can do for an older Jeep when installed correctly. Every suspension component, every steering upgrade, and the full long arm conversion came from Core 4x4 and was installed in-house. The result is a Cherokee XJ that rides, steers, and handles better than it did when it left the factory — and it is built to handle serious off-road use.

XJ Cherokee Wheel Fitment Notes

If you are running a similar setup on your XJ, here are the key fitment details from this build:

With 4.5 inches of lift and Bushwacker flat flares, 35-inch tires on Method wheels clear without issue. The long arm geometry also helps — better arm angles mean less axle shift during articulation, which reduces the chance of tire-to-fender contact at full droop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Content

• XJ Cherokee Long Arm Replacement — custom long arm install on an XJ with Johnny Joint upgrade
• How to Install Adjustable XJ Leaf Spring Shackles — rear suspension upgrade for the XJ
• Why You Need Control Arms — educational overview of what control arms do and why upgrades matter

Shop XJ Cherokee Parts

Fitment: Jeep Cherokee XJ 1984–2001. Core 4x4 products: sales@core4x4.com | (385) 375-2104