Tire Discussions

[treeofliberty]

Need is probably relative. You could make it work with the stock 8x15's, but you'd need spacers, which is less than the optimal choice. Even that wouldn't be necessary if you stick to 10.5" width (pizza cutters).

What you say is the best course of action though. Buying new wheels that suit your tires is the best choice, if you can swing the dough.

[RubiRedLJ]

I've ran a few tires on SWB Wranglers and this is of course just my little point of view but, here it goes:

1. Super Swamper Bias Ply's-31" on stock rims, on my old TJ. Never again! Just plain dumb to put this type of rubber on a DD.

2. BFG MT's-33" on after market, 15x8 rims. Good all around tire. Definitely better in the mud than the MTR's. Not as good as the MTR's on the road, (icy & snowy conditions especially), and it is a fact that the sidewalls have been known to not like sharp or jagged rocks.

3. Goodyear MTR's-35" on AE589's, 15x10 rims. Best all around tire I have ran IMHO. Good on the road, slightly noisy but, so is any aggresive off-road tire. Excelled in snow, ok on icy roads BUT, nothing is very good in these conditions. (just a smart driver) On the rocks these things were the sh!t!!! Mud though, is another story. Being as I'm from the Midwest, I do have alot of muddy, trails around in the Off-Road Parks we do frequent. This is why I went to my next choice in rubber...

4. Super Swamper SSR's, 35" on same AE589's. Great off-road tire! Works AWESOME in the thick, goopy mud, and does as well as the MTR's did on the rocks. You can and people do run them on the street and for DD BUT, I will not do that again. They wear out quickly, and you sound like a B-17 coming in for a bombing run!(not to mention that they are very heavy and can put some serious strain on the axles, and steering components. (my brothers 37" MTR's weighed almost as much as my 35" SSR's)

so that's it. when I do lift the LJ in the summer, 33" or 35" Goodyear MTR's will be back on my Jeep. I think they are a proven tire and I have plenty of personal experience with them. None of the other tires out there, with the exception of the TrxXus Mud terrain, is something I might look at. (but I have read these are hard to balance though...)


ryan

[dblanco]

I just bought a 2004 Wrangler Unlimited and I want to lift it a little and put some larger tires on it. I was thinking about a 2 inch body lift, but I am not sure of the size tires I can put on it without having to worry about the tires rubbing. I also do not want to buy new wheels. Any suggestions for tires I can put on the wheels that are stock on the vehicle. Basically I just want to make it look a little tougher. I am a sales rep, and spend a lot of time on the pavement.
Thanks

[moneypit]

Don't do a body lift, do a 2 "coil spring lift. If you do not want to change your wheels you will have to stay with 31" or go to 32" and get some wheel spacers. The stock wheels have about 5" of backspacing. As you go up in tire diameter the width usually gets wider. .This means your wheel backspacing has to change or use the spacers. With a 2" lift and 32'S you will get some fender rub if you run with your swaybar disconnected.

[dblanco]

If I don't lift it, what size tires can I get away with without worrying about the tires rubbing?

[04unlimited]

dblanco said:

If I don't lift it, what size tires can I get away with without worrying about the tires rubbing?

If you don't do anything but change the tires, the largest you can go without a lift or running spacers is realistically 31x10.5.

[wilcav]

This says it is for a YJ and you can add 1" to the tires on the street for a TJ. Seems useful for figuring out tire size vs. lift.

www.off-road.com/jeep/jeeptire.htm#What_fits

[wv4x4]

blackdog said:

I am buying an 06 rubicon unlimited. How much body lift would be the minimum required to put on 32" tires? Also how much for 33" tires?

I do not want to lift the body any more than necessary.

Thanks for any input.

I wouldn't go any higher than 1 inch on the body lift. If you wan to fit 33's the best way (IMO) is to get a budget boost and 1" body lift. Cheap, easy way to get 33's under your jeep.

[Belfast]

OK, you have me curious.

If I can run stock suspension with the stock 30" tires and no rub, how will 32" tires rub with a 2" lift? My math says that you are adding 1" to the tire height inside the wheel well (you are really looking at the radius increase, not diameter) and with a 2" coil spacer you are adding 2" in clearance inside the wheel well.

I am not doubting your expertise, just trying to figure out where my logic is not correct. I was thinking of going with 32's now that I put the BB in - I don't want to do a BL if I can avoid it and don't want to settle with just a 1" increase in tire size.

[RubiRedLJ]

sorry I must had too two many brew-z cause i saw i alreay posted o ntheis thread!


sorry.....

[treeofliberty]

With over 27,000 on my tires now, I'm starting to think about what I'll be replacing them with, in another 10-12,000 miles or so. I'm leaning toward the Interco TrXus MT's:



I've heard good reviews, and I like the TrXus tires I have right now. I'd just like a more aggressive tread for the rocks. I'm told they are pretty quiet, like the STS's I have, and have the same strong sidewall that has saved my butt over and over. The only negative I can see is the weight. I'm told they need rotating often to keep them in balance. And I can't argue the price either.

[dblanco]

Hey Chris from PA,
I'm thinking of doing the same setup you have, the 31x10.5x15 BFG AT K/O's
2" Skyjacker BB

Can you please post a few pictures so I can see what it looks like?

I'd appreciate it.

Dave
(new member)

[dblanco]

All advise is welcome.

After doing as much research as I can with my limited mechanical knowledge, here is what I think I would like to do as far as a lift and tires go.

I am going to do a 2" BB, and either BFG All Terrain K/O 31, 10.5X 15, or 32, 10.5 X 15. I know that if I stay with the 31's, I dont have to worry about changing the spare tire carrier, and possibly the need for spacers. I think I would like the look of the 32' better. Can I put 32's on without using spacers? Is I worth the spending the extra money for 1" of tire?

Thanks again for the help.

[04unlimited]

I posted some photos on this thread:

wunlimited.proboards27.com/index.cgi?board=easymods&action=display&thread=1127096901&page=1

and I have a couple of shots with the wheels off.

I wouldn't recommend running 32's without spacers, and I am not sure about the fit on the spare carrier, but I am pretty sure you will have to put longer lugs on, or use and aftermarket type.

To me, it was not worth the extra hassle of spacers, and issues with the spare to gain the extra 1/2" height.

The Syjacker BB works well, and I love the BFG's. If you have any questions on the install, feel free to ask.

[04unlimited]

Here is how the Jeep sits with the 2" spacers, and the 31's.