New here... howdy!

Hello from Alaska!
Have been "lurking" here ... and recently purchased a '46 titled (actually a '48 according to the serial number: 175335) CJ2A.
I bought it via EBay.... yes I paid too much.... then I had it shipped to Anchorage.... which only added to financial woes!  All that said... I'm happy with the deal, for the most part.  As it turns out, the steering is nasty and a couple of the wheels "wobble" according to my buddy who followed me home from the shipping port.  (10 deg F with no top (included, but boxed for shipping) and a 7 mile drive -partly through downtown Anchorage rush hour- on glare ice in a vehicle I'd never driven before..... Lol, I sure did get a lot of waves from folks! .... even managed to slide through one red light!)
The Jeep was advertised as "18,000 original miles" .... and I believe it.  No rust anywhere, very original paint underneath and on the firewall (obvious and beautiful body repaint and advertised as such), seat covers,  quiet gears, etc.
Am in the process of dealing with the steering.  Bought new tie-rods, bell crank parts etc. and hopefully when the weather warms up (at least in my garage) I will deal with this.
My big question is this:  the tires need to be replaced.My problem is that here in Alaska, the cost of shipping some NDT tires is out of the question...  I want to get some new rims and tubeless tires.  So... am curious as to what would be a good tire/rim combination.  Don't want anything wide or outrageous.... just looking for suggestions.  Any comments would be appreciated.
Sorry for the long post! 
Thanks in advance.

Welcome ....I remember that one on e-bay ...sure is pretty...I'll bet is was cold driving through Anchorage without a top  

 





Edited by hillbilly21 - 07 Feb. 2009 at 10:00am

Welcome from Kentucky, and that is a very nice looking jeep!

Welcome! Very nice Jeep,..from New Jersey.

Edited by CJ2aAl - 07 Feb. 2009 at 7:05pm

AlaskaJack wrote: . . . . As it turns out, the steering is nasty and a couple of the wheels "wobble" according to my buddy who followed me home from the shipping port.  (10 deg F with no top (included, but boxed for shipping) and a 7 mile drive -partly through downtown Anchorage rush hour- on glare ice in a vehicle I'd never driven before..... Lol, I sure did get a lot of waves from folks! .... even managed to slide through one red light!)

Welcome from me as well!.

Thanks for the warm welcome!  Yes it was a cold ride across town.... you'd think after 43 winters up here I'd be use to it, but I seem to be more effected by the cold with each passing year!

As for the tire and rim situation.  The rims are repaint and two of them are slightly bent...  I have located some stock rims so may stay with them, although trying to match two replacements to the color of the ones I have may be problematic.  Am going to research getting some NDT tires shipped up here ... as I would prefer them over any other tires.  I've already spent so much $ that a bit more won't hurt! (groan)
Was just thinking of the convenience of tubeless tires... 
I don't plan on "winter driving" so the NDT's on ice shouldn't be an issue.
Anyway, lots of plans to make and change before spring comes around!

Jack, I haven't been to Alaska for over 30 years so I'm not aware of what tire suppliers you have. When I got my NDT's, I bought them at the local Discount Tire. They got them from Coker tire. the interesting part of it was I got them cheaper than if I had bought directly from Coker, and the shipping was half as much. (I could have gotten the shipping for free if I wanted to wait for their normal delivery schedule). You might investigate that avenue. I don't know if Discount is in Alaska, but there might be another tire store that can order from them.  Oh, almost forgot my manners., Welcome. 

Let me at my Welcome to the list!  Glad to have you on the forum.  And I too, think you have a beautiful jeep there!  I'll echo what bkreutz posted, check your local tire dealers to see if any of them can get a set of Coker NDTs for you.  I'll bet that they can, if you give them time for delivery. 

I had my Blue Mule with me when I was stationed at Ft. Rich in the late 70's.  We used to ride up toward Matanuska Glacier, and over Burma Road along the Little Susitna River.  Great rides!!

Hey gents,  thanks for all the kind words and suggestions.  Thanks for the info Tony.... looks like I'd best start saving my pennies!  I expect 600x16's might be about ten bucks cheaper off the total!  Perhaps I should wait 'till the economy goes farther down the drain....maybe the prices will drop..