Topic: Tire Size??

[jeepownerforlife]

I have a 2000 tj and I currently have 30-9.50 tires on it.  I was wondering what the largest tire I could have on it without it rubbing or without having to lift it or regear it.  Basically I was wondering if I could fit 31" BFG-AT's under there without having any negative consequences or the bigger tires killing my highway performance.

[Jeffy]

31's till fit with some rubbing minor.  You'll probably need to turn your steering stops out to keep them from rubbing at full lock too.  You may still notice a power different though.  You'll also want to recalibrate your speedometer so as not to throw the PCM off even more.

[StefanBidi]

I had quite a bit of rubbing with my 31x10.5".  Adjusting the steering stops helped quite a bit, but I had to put 2 washers, which made my turning radius bigger.  Power-wise, it does fine.  I have nothing to comment on that part.  The 4-banger handles the extra tire size quite well, and doesn't even struggle.  In most cases (flat ground) I can get going from a full stop in 2nd gear (I get bored easily and start doing stuff like that some times).

[01amberfirewv]

I as well as a few of our club members run 31's.  Mine almost never rub but I have 2" spacers and hockypuck bumpstop extensions up front to compensate for the factory sag and my winch.  Some of the guys I wheel with rub at full turn due to factory wheels with factory back spacing and others rub their fender flares when they are at full stuff.  I would recomend getting 31x10.50 MTs on 15x7 (instead of the more common 15x8s) aftermarket wheels.  This will alow them to tuck nicly into your fenders but keep them from rubbing at full turn.  The only problem with 15x7's is that most tire stores won't put tires wider than 10.5" on them but if you are happy with BFG's then that won't be a problem because when your decide to go bigger they make 33x10.50's.  I noticed some loss of power on out hilly WV interstates but around town and on flat stretches of interstate my Jeep runs great.  I am running TrXus Mt's (awsome tires) which are very heavy though and that cuts into my power a good bit.  
HTH

[Jeffy]

I think what he wants to do is put the new tires onto the stock wheels.

As for wheel width, it won't change how the much the tire sticks out past the flares.  That's dependant on the wheels offset/backspacing.  If he's staying with stock wheels then it's not a problem.

[01amberfirewv]

I think what he wants to do is put the new tires onto the stock wheels.

As for wheel width, it won't change how the much the tire sticks out past the flares.  That's dependant on the wheels offset/backspacing.  If he's staying with stock wheels then it's not a problem.

Sorry I was think wheel and tire, in that case an 8" soft 8 for example with 4" back spaceing would stick out more than a 7" soft 8.  I believe it is about 1/2" more but havent measured.

[Jeffy]

I'm not even sure what you're trying to say. :shock:

[01amberfirewv]

With factory wheels it is a moot point but I was saying with aftermarket wheels that have less backspacing 15x7's are less likly to rub than 15x8's which usualy rub the flares @ full stuff.

[Jeffy]

That's why you use offset not backspacing.  If the offsets are the same then there is no difference in where the tire sits.  For backspacing, you will need to add 1/2" to the wheel for it to have the same offset.  This is minimal and wouldn't really be noticed.  This really has no bearing on the actual width of the wheel.  (ie, if the tire rubs on a 7" wide wheel it will still rub with a 7".)

Problems occure when people start using negative offset wheels on a positive offset or neutral wheel which is what you're trying to say, I think.