Tire sizes with 2.3-3" Lift, no re-gear, opinions welcome.

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JasonJ

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So new tires are in my future.. probably late next year. At that time, I'll have the typical 2.5" OME lift installed, with top plates and extra iso's, about 3.0" over stock.

I also have a set of '03 Moabs for my next set of tires. I am currently on stock 16" Limited wheels with 245-70-16 AT's. I like the size and overall appearance now, but when lifted, I want to avoid the tall and skinny look (too much). I understand since the Moabs will be wider, this appearance and tire size will look different then as well...BUT...

So the usual upgrade would be 265's, but if I did not want that tire size, should I just stick with the size I have and put those on the Moabs?

I do not plan to re-gear, at least not likely to anytime soon. Probably will in the future, but not within the lifetime of my next set of tires. I am perfectly content with the power and acceleration and all that as it is currently with a 29.5" diameter tire.. but am worried that moving up to 265's would just kill it.

What say all of you? Put 265's on and just deal with it if she ends up being a dog (I do not drive aggressively anyhow....) or continue with the 245-70's on the 16x8" Moabs until I can get around to moving to 4.10s?
 
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kejobe

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I have 265/70/16's on the stock wheels. They rubbed pretty bad and not only did I have to pound the pinch weld over, I had to beat the **** out of it. Plus I was rubbing on the frame rails so I lengthened the steering stops with some weld. I got it to work for me, but that doesn't mean it will for anyone else.

Remember, this is on STOCK wheels. With the Moab's, I don't know.

Now as far as the gearing, I'd like to go 4:10's but I've been driving it for about 2 years now with the 3:73's. It's done any and everything I've wanted or needed it to without complaint.

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tommudd

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So new tires are in my future.. probably late next year. At that time, I'll have the typical 2.5" OME lift installed, with top plates and extra iso's, about 3.0" over stock.

I also have a set of '03 Moabs for my next set of tires. I am currently on stock 16" Limited wheels with 245-70-16 AT's. I like the size and overall appearance now, but when lifted, I want to avoid the tall and skinny look (too much). I understand since the Moabs will be wider, this appearance and tire size will look different then as well...BUT...

So the usual upgrade would be 265's, but if I did not want that tire size, should I just stick with the size I have and put those on the Moabs?

I do not plan to re-gear, at least not likely to anytime soon. Probably will in the future, but not within the lifetime of my next set of tires. I am perfectly content with the power and acceleration and all that as it is currently with a 29.5" diameter tire.. but am worried that moving up to 265's would just kill it.

What say all of you? Put 265's on and just deal with it if she ends up being a dog (I do not drive aggressively anyhow....) or continue with the 245-70's on the 16x8" Moabs until I can get around to moving to 4.10s?

Ideally you want to run a tire that has a 8 inch wide tread , like the 265-70-16s BUT if it was me I would want to regear also. Trust me you will lose some gas mileage and power not only on hills but also on interstate hiways with slight hills .
I'm running 2.5 inches of JBA coilover lift on my 03 with Moabs and 265-70-16s , have for the last 40,000 miles. Works great
245-70-16s are too narrow on an 8 inch wheel for me
Plus no matter how you drive , if not aggressivly then it will be a dog since you will not be keeping the revs up. Have to remember these motors like to have their revs kept higher , dogging them down is ******* motor, transmission etc
 

u2slow

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A wider wheel will need an even wider tire to not look tall/skinny... and the KJ doesn't have abundant tire clearance in the first place.

Currently running 245/75R16 on stock wheels. Spacers keep the rubber out flush with the flares. 255 or 265 still fits a 7" wheel - which I may try when its time for tires next.
 

JasonJ

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I have 265/70/16's on the stock wheels. They rubbed pretty bad and not only did I have to pound the pinch weld over, I had to beat the **** out of it. Plus I was rubbing on the frame rails so I lengthened the steering stops with some weld. I got it to work for me, but that doesn't mean it will for anyone else.

Remember, this is on STOCK wheels. With the Moab's, I don't know.

Now as far as the gearing, I'd like to go 4:10's but I've been driving it for about 2 years now with the 3:73's. It's done any and everything I've wanted or needed it to without complaint.

You must be registered for see images attach

Looks good! I already figured on pounding the pinch weld over, that was a given. It's encouraging to hear that the 3.73's aren't completely killing you with the 265-70-16's either. I may have to just start getting more aggressive with the throttle.

Ideally you want to run a tire that has a 8 inch wide tread , like the 265-70-16s BUT if it was me I would want to regear also. Trust me you will lose some gas mileage and power not only on hills but also on interstate hiways with slight hills .
I'm running 2.5 inches of JBA coilover lift on my 03 with Moabs and 265-70-16s , have for the last 40,000 miles. Works great
245-70-16s are too narrow on an 8 inch wheel for me
Plus no matter how you drive , if not aggressivly then it will be a dog since you will not be keeping the revs up. Have to remember these motors like to have their revs kept higher , dogging them down is ******* motor, transmission etc

All good points... re-gear and 265's is the clear way to go, I just know that it'll be a few years out yet (unless some insane circumstance occurs, like a 4cyl 4x4 KJ breaking down in front of my house and the owner just abandoning the pos and giving it to me) before I re-gear the thing. But tires will be needed soon, and 2 of my 5 Limited 16x7 rims bead leak no matter what is done.

A wider wheel will need an even wider tire to not look tall/skinny... and the KJ doesn't have abundant tire clearance in the first place.

Currently running 245/75R16 on stock wheels. Spacers keep the rubber out flush with the flares. 255 or 265 still fits a 7" wheel - which I may try when its time for tires next.

Hmm.. 245/75-16's are the same overall diameter as 265/70-16s, a good option to go taller/bigger on the stock wheels.

So when we go up an inch, or 1.5" in diameter our speedometers are obviously off, do we just live with it and adjust, or can they be recalibrated in some manner?
 

u2slow

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Hmm.. 245/75-16's are the same overall diameter as 265/70-16s, a good option to go taller/bigger on the stock wheels.

So when we go up an inch, or 1.5" in diameter our speedometers are obviously off, do we just live with it and adjust, or can they be recalibrated in some manner?

265 fits well on a 7" wheel also (factory combo on many vehicles.) I run 285's on 7" wheels on one of my Dodges with good results.

I find our KJ's speedo is closer to correct with the bigger tires. But now I'm changing ratio (3.55->3.73) so it will be a tad off again. Doesn't concern me at all.
 

tommudd

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....................and in the meantime, more transmission wear and tear, motor lugging down, less gas mileage ............oh well
 

JasonJ

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....................and in the meantime, more transmission wear and tear, motor lugging down, less gas mileage ............oh well

So, to recap, we all know that the 265 fits an 8" tire more appropriately and that re-gearing is pretty much required for all the reasons you've mentioned here, and in other posts..

I'm hesitant to put new tires (of any size) on my OE Limited rims since they are so prone to leaking around the bead.. corrosion and such has been cleaned off of them numerous times; two of them just keep leaking.

BUT, and I know this is a compromise, perhaps if I had to forego the re-gearing for roughly the life of a single set of tires, say 4 years or so, sticking with the 245's would be better, even if on the 8" wide Moabs?

The TJ Rubicons did come with that size on the Moab rims as OE... even if it was just so they can say it had a 30" tall tire... it did work.

Just trying to calculate the options if, hypothetically, re-gearing was off the table for the time being.

Thanks for the replies.
 

u2slow

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I'm hesitant to put new tires (of any size) on my OE Limited rims since they are so prone to leaking around the bead.. corrosion and such has been cleaned off of them numerous times; two of them just keep leaking.

Are your tires being mounted with tire grease? Its better at sealing than the usual tire soap. If they're really bad, some paint will help. I don't think I've ever had a wheel I couldn't get to seal.
 
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JasonJ

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Are your tires being mounted with tire grease? Its better at sealing than the usual tire soap. If they're really bad, some paint will help. I don't think I've ever had a wheel I couldn't get to seal.

Probably whatever cheap bucket of tire grease they got at Discount Tire that the part-time intern monkey uses.. plus abrasion techniques to remove corrosion around the inside rim of the wheel.

I'm half tempted to get some tire spoons and tire grease and dismount them myself... but the OE Limited wheels I have now are so rough looking, paint chips, clear coat peeling, pitting on the face, I'd hate to put any real time into them. But I have a leaking tire and refilling it gets old really fast.
 

u2slow

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Probably whatever cheap bucket of tire grease they got at Discount Tire that the part-time intern monkey uses.. plus abrasion techniques to remove corrosion around the inside rim of the wheel.

The slime/soap is all I see the mainstream shops using now. They'd rather upsell you on new wheels.

You might find them still using tire grease at a truck tire shop, or some other back country garage.
 

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