Posted 10.23.26 in Tips & Instructions
Rock lights glow on the ground. Jeep wheel lights put the color on the wheels themselves, the part of a build people spot from across a parking lot. XKGLOW's XKmax RGBW wheel ring kit gives you four rings of addressable chasing LEDs for $551.99, run from the XKmax app with 4-button key fob control. It also asks for real garage time: XKGLOW rates the install at 4+ hours, and its own Jeep install video has a chapter called Removing Wheels and Brakes.
What the XKmax Wheel Ring Kit Puts on Each Wheel
Each kit carries four reinforced aluminum rings. The light tubes are fully potted, and XKGLOW credits that for the kit's impact resistance and IP67 water resistance. Wheels throw spray and grit, so those ratings matter more here than on a grille light.
The LEDs are addressable RGBW: 16 million RGB colors plus a dedicated pure white LED, run as chasing patterns instead of one flat color. XKGLOW's page rates the LEDs up to 80% brighter than competitors.
One controller drives the set. It takes a 12V DC input and has two output channels rated at 60 watts each, and the page lists a maximum of 11 watts per ring. Four rings top out at 44 watts, a rated figure rather than a measured draw. The controller also supports firmware updates, which XKGLOW's XKchrome-versus-XKmax guide says enable major feature upgrades at no extra cost.
Standard or ULTRA: Which Jeep Wheel Lights to Buy
XKGLOW sells two XKmax ring kits, and its Jeep LED Lights category lists both.
| Spec | Standard kit | ULTRA 3-Row kit |
|---|---|---|
| SKU | MX-WHEEL-KIT | MX-WHEEL-KIT-ULTRA |
| Price | $551.99 | $719.99 |
| Ring size | One size | 16.5 in or 15.5 in |
| Install | 4+ hrs | 4+ hrs |
Prices are from XKGLOW's product pages at the time of writing.
The ULTRA 3-Row kit costs $168 more and gives each ring three rows of LEDs. It also comes in two sizes: you choose 16.5-inch or 15.5-inch rings, "whichever best fits your wheel setup," in XKGLOW's words. The two pages list the same addressable chasing, 28-plus themes, app and key fob control, 10 lighting zones per controller, and three sensor wires.
Pick the standard kit if you want the XKmax look at the lower price. Pick the 3-Row if you want three LED rows per ring or need the smaller size.
What the 4+ Hour Install Involves
XKGLOW lists 4+ hours for both ring kits. Its XKmax rock light kit lists 2 to 3 hours, and its 5th wheel light lists under one hour.
The install video is embedded on the product page and filmed on a Jeep. It runs about 10 minutes. Its chapters cover removing the wheels and brakes, prepping each ring, replacing the brakes, repeating for all four rings, wiring, mounting the XKmax controller, and pairing. The video description's tool list includes a jack and jack stands, a ratchet and sockets, an Allen wrench, a tape measure, binder clips, and a drill with a 5/32 bit.
Two of those chapters involve the brakes, so decide up front whether that work is yours. If not, the page offers a "Need Install Help? Find an Expert" link that goes to XKGLOW's dealer locator.
Control: App, Key Fob, and Sensor Wires
The rings run on the XKmax app over Bluetooth, and you can program quick access on the 4-button key fob. The app carries 28-plus pre-built chasing themes, a DIY builder for colors, patterns, speed, and brightness, and Music and Speed Sync that follows your music, your speed, or your acceleration. One controller runs up to 10 lighting zones. XKGLOW's support page has app how-to videos, including setting a default mode, making a startup animation, and adding accessory lighting to the controller.
Three sensor wires tie the rings into the Jeep. XKGLOW says they can turn the rings into turn signals and brake lights. They can also sync the rings with the courtesy lights, which switches them to pure white when you open a door. The page lists no road-legal rating for any of it, so check your state's rules before you run signal or color functions on the road.
What to Check Before You Order
Fit is the open question. XKGLOW's page says the rings fit all types of vehicles, Jeeps included, but it publishes no wheel-size chart and no Jeep model list. The standard kit lists one ring size. Read the Mounting Instructions the page links, watch the install video, and ask XKGLOW before you order if your wheels or brakes are unusual.
The page lists no wire lengths for the kit itself. It sells extension wires from 3 to 13 feet long, in 2-piece and 4-piece packs priced from $14.38 to $81.56, so measure from the controller to your farthest wheel first. A 4-channel controller upgrade costs $24, key fobs add $16.79 each, and a single add-on ring costs $107.99 and works only with the XKmax Wheel Ring Kit. Check the product page for the kit's warranty terms. XKGLOW has you register products to activate coverage.
One trap: XKGLOW also sells an older XKchrome ring kit. It uses 15-inch rings with RGB color, runs on the XKchrome app, lists no chasing effects, and costs $362.99, with a 15-18 inch adjustable version at $472.99. Check that the product title says XKmax before you order.
Build the Rest of the Jeep Around the Rings
The kit's page sells XKmax rock pods and 24-inch tubes under "Make it even brighter." Two or four rock pods cost $107.98 or $215.96, and two or four 24-inch tubes cost $88.78 or $177.56. XKmax rock lights use the same Bluetooth app control and 4-button key fob as the rings, and so do the hood and body strips. XKGLOW's Jeep lighting guide shows where the rings fit among its other Jeep kits.
For the spare tire, the XKmax 5th wheel light fits the Wrangler JL, JK, and TJ and lists at $229.99. If you want height instead of a ring at each wheel, that is a separate kit: whip lights.
Settle two questions before you buy Jeep wheel lights: who is doing the brake work, and whether the ring size fits your wheels. After that, the choice is $551.99 or $719.99. Build yours today.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Jeep wheel lights cost?
XKGLOW's XKmax wheel ring kit costs $551.99 for four rings, and the ULTRA 3-Row kit costs $719.99. A single add-on ring costs $107.99. Options such as extension wires, key fobs, and a 4-channel controller cost extra. Prices are as listed on XKGLOW's product pages at the time of writing.
What size wheel lights does a Jeep need?
XKGLOW sells the standard kit in one ring size and the ULTRA 3-Row in 16.5-inch or 15.5-inch rings. The product page publishes no wheel-size chart or Jeep model list, so read the Mounting Instructions it links and ask XKGLOW to confirm fit before you order.
How long does it take to install wheel ring lights on a Jeep?
XKGLOW rates the install at 4+ hours. Its install video, filmed on a Jeep, has chapters for removing the wheels and brakes and replacing the brakes, and its tool list includes a drill. The product page links a dealer locator under Need Install Help for anyone who would rather hand it off.
Are LED wheel lights legal on the road?
Not always. It depends on your state and your settings. Flashing lights and red or blue colors are the usual restrictions on moving vehicles, and XKGLOW's ring kit page states no road-legal rating. Keep show modes for parked or off-road use, and check your state's vehicle code before you drive with the rings lit.
Can wheel ring lights match my rock lights?
Yes. The ring kit's page sells XKmax rock pods and 24-inch tubes as add-ons, and XKmax rock lights use the same Bluetooth app control and 4-button key fob. XKGLOW's support page also covers adding accessory lighting to the controller through the XKmax app.
