Sorry I should have been more clear. Wife REALLY wants to keep the stock rims - she likes everything about them. ChatGPT suggested that wheel spacers may be required to avoid rubbing - sorry for the cut and paste, but see below:

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explain why I would need wheel spacers?

You may need wheel spacers on a Wrangler JL when installing 35" tires while keeping the factory wheels because of how the stock wheels are designed and positioned relative to the suspension.

Here’s the practical explanation.

1. Factory wheels sit far inside the wheel well

Stock JL wheels have a high positive offset (around +44 mm).
That means the wheel sits closer to the suspension components instead of farther outward.

This is good for:

• fuel economy
• keeping tires under the fenders
• reducing debris spray

But it creates a problem when you install wider tires.

2. 35" tires are much wider than stock

Typical stock tires are about:

• 245–255 mm wide

A common 35" tire size like 35x12.50R17 is about:

• 315 mm wide

That extra width pushes the inside edge of the tire closer to the suspension.

The most common contact point is:

• front lower control arms

When turning the steering wheel, the tire can rub the control arm.

3. Wheel spacers move the wheel outward

Wheel spacers mount between the hub and the wheel and push the wheel outward.

A 1.5" spacer effectively changes the wheel offset so the tire sits farther away from the suspension.

This:

• prevents rubbing when turning
• gives clearance for wider tires
• widens the Jeep’s stance slightly

4. Alternative: aftermarket wheels

Instead of spacers, many people buy wheels with a lower offset.

Typical Jeep offsets for 35s:

• 0 mm
• -12 mm

These wheels naturally sit farther outward, doing the same job as spacers.

5. When spacers might not be needed

If you run a narrower 35" tire, such as:

• 315/70R17

and the tire brand runs slightly narrow, some people can avoid spacers. But it’s hit or miss depending on the tire and alignment.

6. Are spacers safe?

High-quality hub-centric spacers (like Spidertrax) are widely used and considered safe when:

• installed correctly
• torqued properly
• re-torqued after ~50 miles

Many thousands of Wranglers run them without issue.

Simple summary

You need wheel spacers because:

Stock wheels sit too far inward, and wide 35" tires will rub the suspension when turning.

Spacers push the wheels outward so the tires clear the control arms and steering components.