Just a quick question, which I could not find an answer to for non-lifted vehicles. What is the biggest size tire that I can run on my stock 16" rims?

Can I go P285s with no lift and without rubbing? Will I need wheel spacers?

I have not done any wheeling yet and am not sure I will do any until my warranty runs out. We do get snow in MI, so I wouldn't want to rub with snow caked tires.

 

If you go bigger than 32" with stock 16" rims, you run the risk of rubbing. Are you running the stock steel 16's? 6.25" of backspacing is crazy...why'd Jeep do that with the stock rims?

I put the SpiderTrax 1.5" spacers on mine...better ride, and I think it looks better with the stock rims pushed out some.
Here's mine with spacers, no lift, 235/85R16s. The spacers push the tires out to the edge of the fender flare.

 

I have 255/85 16 (33"s) on the stock rims. I put 1.5" wheel spacers and a 2" inch spacer lift. No rubbing. I don't think you could do 33"s without at least one of those.

 

I have the 24s pkg, which includes the alloy 16" rims. One step higher than the steelies, but not the Sahara or Rubicon Style rims. They have like 5 spokes. Eventually, I will be getting a BB system, probably RE. But my sister has a Liberty and I was going to sell her my tires. I wanted to get bigger rubber under my JK.

I could fork over an extra hundred or so for spacers, but I didn't want to get tires that would look too small once I get a lift.

So, the Rubicon runs P255s. With spacers, how large could I go with say BF Goodrich Muds or Toyo Muds and no street rub?

You guys and gals are the best!

 

I can answer that for you. Last week I got 285/70/17 installed on my stock X. I do get some rubbing on my sway bar (would have some on my airdam but I had that removed on a trail) at full lock-to-lock. I do need 1.5" spacers and so would you. A 2" lift is also on my list of next-to-do, but a lift will not get rid of the rubbing as it will not increase the distance between your sway bar and tires unless you get an extreme lift. The stock rims just have too much backspacing and so if you plan on keeping these (as I did) you will need spacers.

 

Thanks for your help.

Just to be sure . . . I could go with 285s with 1.5" Spidertrax spacers and be okay on the road? Would 275s work without spacers? If not, I'll probably just go 285s with the spacers.

 

Here is my JK before I added the lift with 285-75R-16 on stock rims no rubbing. So with spacer you'll have no problems.

 

I wouldn't go any wider than 265. 285 is pushing the very limit of what will fit on the stock 16" rim. If that tire heats up on a long drive or you hit a hard bump it could pop very easily. 255/85 (33"s) will still give the height and profile their just not as wide and won't pop off the rim.

 

I am curious what your criteria is for that statement.

 

Yikes I've been challenged. Ok here are the 3 sources I went by.

First: when I was deciding on tire size I talked with a local shop and this was their consenus.

Second: I was also told this at the local tire mega mart store.

Third: Based on the tire size chart on the BF Goodrich website (for mud terrains).
The X (upgrade wheels) come with 16" rims and 245/75 16 tires. This tire will fit on a rim 6.5" - 7.5" wide. The 285/75 16s will fit 7.5" - 9.0" rims. I think, but I can't remember exactly, that the rims on the X are 7" wide. Therefore the 285 could probably be squeezed on there but I would not feel safe driving that way.

If the rim is 7.5" wide then you are at the limit with the 285s. Doable for a mall cruiser but if I'm doing any offroading I don't want my rig right on the edge of what the tires can take.

Caveat: I'm not a tire expert, this is only what I found out when researching mine. Also, the 255/85s are actually bigger in diameter (.2") than the 285/75s but they are a little narrower (3 cm.).