Tires / Wheels 2.5-3" Lift, No Other Mods - Safe Tire Size?
This is a discussion on 2.5-3" Lift, No Other Mods - Safe Tire Size? within the Tires / Wheels forums, part of the Jeep Liberty - KJ (02 to 07) category! Continuing my hours of reading, I found these two (2) posts to be helpful with my question, but didn't hit ...
Questions about wheels and tires. |
1Likes
02-23-2017, 09:53 PM
|
#1 (permalink)
|
Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: N. Carolina
Posts: 31
|
2.5-3" Lift, No Other Mods - Safe Tire Size?
Continuing my hours of reading, I found these two (2) posts to be helpful with my question, but didn't hit my specific need-to-know:
>>> Rookie needs help with tires/rims before I make a costly mistake
>>> 245/75-16/2.5" lift/pinch weld rubbing question
I'm looking for guidance on this ...
With:
- The recommended 2.5-3" lift (will never go any higher)
- No pinch weld modification
- No Fender Liner modification or other trimming
- 3.73 gears, no plans on changing
- Preferred no rubbing, insignificant rubbing acceptable
- Assume Tire Selected will be BFG's AT T/A KO2's
> What is the optimal Tire Size on stock 16x7's?
> What is the optimal Tire Size on Rubicon 16x8 MOAB's?
Caveats:
I'd accept an answer that the MOAB rim is not an option (mine would just be for sale afterwards). I'd accept an answer to stick with the factory tire size of 235/70-16 (just looking to max the potential possibilities).
Also, just to mention, I'm not against the mods mentioned here at all - good stuff, just not in "my" particular plans with this KJ.
Last edited by OxLibertySport; 02-23-2017 at 10:16 PM.
|
|
|
02-23-2017, 11:09 PM
|
#2 (permalink)
|
Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Pompton Plains, NJ
Age: 26
Posts: 3,609
|
It's pretty hard to tell...as every KJ tends to be slightly different. I rub my 265/70s on moabs with 4" of lift, while others do not.
Right off the bat I would say skip the Moabs due to the extra inch in width. That's where the pinch weld kills you. If you modify the pinch weld, you should have zero problems with the wheels. It's not a hard nor dangerous modification whatsoever. Best tire size here would more than likely be 255/70 or 245/75 (The latter with minimal sidewall protection...not ideal). I wouldn't recommend 265/70s due to my slight rub with 4" of lift.
I would guess that your best bet would be 245/75/16s on stock wheels. You MIGHT rub a little bit...but shouldn't be much if any. Without the extra inch in width of the tire you will clear fenders and what not much easier. Other, smaller options to consider would be 215/85 (skinny and tall), 235/75 (kinda skinny, but shorter), and 245/70 (the least skinny, but the shortest)...but my recommendation would be to try 245/75s.
Keep in mind that the BFG tire might have a wider tread area, making it more susceptible to rubbing in WIDER sizes, as opposed to skinnier sizes.
Addition: I don't have much experience with the stock wheels...but with their high backspacing, you may see more rubbing towards the inside of the fender rather than the outside, AKA the sway bar and the likes.
__________________
'04 Silver KJ
-OME927 springs/90009 shocks, 3/8 inches of top plate, conduits, and JBA UCAs in the front. JBA 4" springs/Monroe Load Levelers in the rear.
-LT265/70/16 Hankook Dynapro ATM, Load Range D2
-Magnaflow Muffler
-Sport 4x4 Hood Decal, Graphite Jeep Hood Emblem (Woo!)
-Altezza Tail Lights, all LED bulbs and load resistors, LED third tail light
-IRO UCA w/ Iron Forge Customs bracket
|
|
|
02-24-2017, 04:42 AM
|
#3 (permalink)
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Petersburg VA
Posts: 369
|
245/75 has better options in off-road style tires, 255/70 mostly has Street and all terrain styles 235/85 fit on mine fine at 3" tall narrow tires but they were commercial AS tires off the back of my dualie lol
My 255s were weak in the sidewall department that was my biggest complaint with them. Other than that they were great tires, i replaced them with 245 m/ts then with 31x10.5 generals, I've never had rubbing issues except with the 255s with 3" lift and running spidertrax spacers it rubbed the fog light access doors but it wasn't bad , which is fixable
__________________
03 Black KJ -Front and Rear TrailReady (extinct) KJ bumpers Trailready RockRails, 790+plate&clevis ft / JBA4 rear - 4.10s and DTTs
|
|
|
02-24-2017, 06:43 AM
|
#4 (permalink)
|
Gold Supporter/Admin
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Western WI
Posts: 20,799
|
x2 on the above.
I have 245/70/17s which are the same as 245/75/16s, with about 2.5" of lift, and no rubbing. Had to trim the air dam and the front of wheel wells a bit, but left the pinchweld alone. I actually just passed on a set Moabs for these reasons....thought they'd create some problems for no benefit (I like my stock wheels just fine).
__________________
05 KJ Limited 4x4 in Light Khaki: Detours USA Backbone, Warn M8000, Huskyliners, RockLizard Super Skink sliders, OME/Bilstein Lift, JBA UCA's, Moabs, 245/75/16 Hankook Dynapro ATMs, Transgo shift kit
15 KL Limited V6 4x4
07 LR3 SE V8
96 XJ Country
It's better to have a winch and need it than to not have a winch and not need it
|
|
|
02-24-2017, 09:43 AM
|
#5 (permalink)
|
Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Southeastern Ohio
Age: 63
Posts: 17,082
|
Originally Posted by OxLibertySport
Continuing my hours of reading, I found these two (2) posts to be helpful with my question, but didn't hit my specific need-to-know:
>>> Rookie needs help with tires/rims before I make a costly mistake
>>> 245/75-16/2.5" lift/pinch weld rubbing question
I'm looking for guidance on this ...
With:
- The recommended 2.5-3" lift (will never go any higher)
- No pinch weld modification
- No Fender Liner modification or other trimming
- 3.73 gears, no plans on changing
- Preferred no rubbing, insignificant rubbing acceptable
- Assume Tire Selected will be BFG's AT T/A KO2's
> What is the optimal Tire Size on stock 16x7's?
> What is the optimal Tire Size on Rubicon 16x8 MOAB's?
Caveats:
I'd accept an answer that the MOAB rim is not an option (mine would just be for sale afterwards). I'd accept an answer to stick with the factory tire size of 235/70-16 (just looking to max the potential possibilities).
Also, just to mention, I'm not against the mods mentioned here at all - good stuff, just not in "my" particular plans with this KJ.
|
with those perimeters
245-70-16s on stock wheels
255-70-16s on the Moabs
guaranteed no trimming/ not much if any loss of power since you're staying stock gearing
__________________
I'm just here to comfort disturbed people and disturb comfortable people.
MUDD'S MOTORSPORTS
WE DO IFS LIFT INSTALLS
04 Kilimanjaro Edition 4.5 INCH JBA LIFT/ 32s/4.10s/ etc
03 OVERLAND EDITION, Timberline Green Pearlcoat, JBA 2.5 inch Total Control Lift, Kilby gas tank skid, Skid Row, 4XGuard mixture, MOABs, 265-70-16s, 4.10s, Mudds bumper
05 Limited/stock for now
|
|
|
02-26-2017, 01:38 PM
|
#6 (permalink)
|
Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: N. Carolina
Posts: 31
|
Originally Posted by dude1116
It's pretty hard to tell...as every KJ tends to be slightly different. I rub my 265/70s on moabs with 4" of lift, while others do not.
|
I agree ... reading through now 100's of posts, it seems there are always multiple answers / experiences.
Originally Posted by tommudd
with those perimeters
245-70-16s on stock wheels
255-70-16s on the Moabs
guaranteed no trimming/ not much if any loss of power since you're staying stock gearing
|
So, in case I don't sell/trade out of my MOAB's, to confirm - "255-70-16" is the safest tire size with no trimming, hammering, or re-gearing?
|
|
|
02-26-2017, 01:57 PM
|
#7 (permalink)
|
Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Southeastern Ohio
Age: 63
Posts: 17,082
|
Originally Posted by OxLibertySport
I agree ... reading through now 100's of posts, it seems there are always multiple answers / experiences.
So, in case I don't sell/trade out of my MOAB's, to confirm - "255-70-16" is the safest tire size with no trimming, hammering, or re-gearing?
|
with 2.5-3 inches of lift should not be.
with 2.5 inches and 265-70-16s I had to do pinch weld, wasn't touching but too close for me and do light trimming in front
__________________
I'm just here to comfort disturbed people and disturb comfortable people.
MUDD'S MOTORSPORTS
WE DO IFS LIFT INSTALLS
04 Kilimanjaro Edition 4.5 INCH JBA LIFT/ 32s/4.10s/ etc
03 OVERLAND EDITION, Timberline Green Pearlcoat, JBA 2.5 inch Total Control Lift, Kilby gas tank skid, Skid Row, 4XGuard mixture, MOABs, 265-70-16s, 4.10s, Mudds bumper
05 Limited/stock for now
|
|
|
02-28-2017, 06:38 PM
|
#8 (permalink)
|
Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: NY/PA
Age: 29
Posts: 606
|
with my 255/70 16s on 16x7 cragars with 4' bs i had to do some trimming, also a regear is not needed but noticable power mpg loss and trans gets confused around 45-50 mph....nothing that would REQUIRE a regear for a DD but i am doing it as it will be beneficial....but will also probably up my tire size then also
still get very minor rubbing in reverse while turning. pinch welds also needed pounded
__________________
07 ltd > ironman HD lift 4''front 4.25''rear
JBA UCA's
jba top plates
extra rear iso , rear bilsteins
3ish ring clevis
soft 8's > 255-70-16 toyos
mixed skids
|
|
|
02-28-2017, 06:56 PM
|
#9 (permalink)
|
Administrator
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: on here
Posts: 15,698
|
Running 245/75/17 with stock 5 spoke 17" wheels and 2 1/2" lift. Barely hit inner wheel liners which I trimmed.
Dave
|
|
|
02-28-2017, 08:29 PM
|
#10 (permalink)
|
Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: N. Carolina
Posts: 31
|
Originally Posted by Dave
Running 245/75/17 with stock 5 spoke 17" wheels and 2 1/2" lift. Barely hit inner wheel liners which I trimmed.
Dave
|
Having a harder time than I thought moving my MOAB's - might end up using them.
So, with 255-70-16's - on 16" MOAB's - what's the unmodified pinch weld rubbing potential? I could even stand to go down another size if there's a potential. I'll have at-least a proper 2.5" lift installed before.
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
|