Stock 2005 LJ tire upgrade?

**mysigp226** · 02-21-2010, 09:42 PM

I have a stock 2005 LJ with I think 30" tires. Can someone confirm? (see picture in my gallery for a closeup if needed)

The dealership changed the stock tires to Lemans Pathmaker A/T. I like the style/tread design, but I'm thinking of moving up in size just a wee bit.

This is a 99% DD but I like the more aggressive look.

What's the maximum tire size I can go before needing to do other work? (lifts, speedo gauges, etc).

If I put a 2" lift on, does that change the max tire size?

Sorry for the noob question, first Jeep I've had money to spend on

ps: Any Jeep shops in the Chicago area that do lifts and tires drop me a PM

jr1966 · 02-24-2010, 08:06 PM

For a 99% DD, meaning on-road, you can get by with 31x10.5 without any lift, but a 2" lift would make the Jeep look better.

mgaspard · 02-24-2010, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jr1966

For a 99% DD, meaning on-road, you can get by with 31x10.5 without any lift, but a 2" lift would make the Jeep look better.

I'm with this guy. Put some 31's, a budget boost and call it good.

**mysigp226** · 02-25-2010, 05:41 PM

jr1966,

How do you like your power step (in your signature)? My wife is 5-2" and concerned about getting into the jeep

after the "upgrades".

**masedd** · 02-25-2010, 05:44 PM

If you add a 2 inch lift 32s will fit and look good. If you stay stock 31s are a good choice. General Grabbers are a great daily driver All Terrain. The long Jeeps have 3.73 gears so 31 to 32s will work. 33x10.5 will also work with a 2 inch lift.

**Unlimited04** · 02-25-2010, 06:51 PM

Go with a 1" BL + 31x10.50R15s.

BL won't change suspension geometry, and it puts you in a good position for a MML, Tummy Tuck, high clearance gas tank skid plate and other mods later down the road if you choose to.

jr1966 · 02-25-2010, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mysigp226

jr1966,

How do you like your power step (in your signature)? My wife is 5-2" and concerned about getting into the jeep

after the "upgrades".

For a DD, it's great! My wife and kids love it. But for rock crawling, it's not a good idea but I have read that those who have these removed the steps (only) which is not a hard thing to do.

jr1966 · 02-25-2010, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masedd

If you add a 2 inch lift 32s will fit and look good. If you stay stock 31s are a good choice. General Grabbers are a great daily driver All Terrain. The long Jeeps have 3.73 gears so 31 to 32s will work. 33x10.5 will also work with a 2 inch lift.

Yup, 32s gonna look better than 31s but there will be additional investment in wheel spacers and the Jeep is gonna be noticeably sluggish that is hardly felt with 31s. Also, there is the argument on the 32" spare's effect on the stock tire carrier as some had gone by it without any issues and some otherwise. That is the thing about Jeeps, every 1" increase in tire higher than 31s lead to more investment somewhere else.

**CB3** · 02-26-2010, 02:27 AM

If you want to go taller than a typical 31, then I suggest some Parnelli Jones Dirt Grip 31 X 10.5 R15 because they run 31.5 X 10.5 R15, which is a full inch taller than most brands of "31". No mods needed to fit it because it's 10.5" wide.

Really, the PJ 31 is really more like having a typical height 32. PJs are good on road and off road. A hybrid tread (between AT and MT).

Trxus 31 run 31 X 10.5 R15, which is a half inch taller than most brands of "31". This would be like having a tire halfway between a typical 31 and typical 32. Trxus also have a hybrid tread, but a bit more aggressive than PJ, but still very streetable. No mods needed to fit it because it's 10.5" wide.

If you wanted to go one step taller yet, then I'd suggest a BFG AT or MT 33 X 10.5 R15. If you got the MT, have center treads and inner half of outer treads siped. However, for this you'd need a lift.

There is also the Dean SXT MT 33 X 9.5 R15 which runs slightly short at about 32 X 9.5. Have more sipes added to center treads. Might needs a slight BB lift for this, or might not. I've seen this on a stock TJ and they looked perfect fit to me.

A 9.5 or 10.5 wide tire (all the above) are narrow enough to be great on street. The 9.5 being ideal on winter roads. The 10.5 being good on winter roads. The 9.5 sinking a bit to much in mud and sand. The 10.5 being OK on sand and good in mud.

Wider tires (11.5+) are going to be much less satisfactory when daily driving on road, and they suck up a lot more gas mileage. In fact, wider tires suck proportionately more gas than they are proportionately wider. The only things wider tires are better at is rock crawling and sand, but is much less able on winter roads. For mud it doesn't matter what width you have, but 10.5 and 11.5 are often the best for mud, IME.

Bottom line, get whatever height tire you want, but stick to 10.5 wide for the most versatile daily driver tire, good gas mileage, winter roads, and reasonably good offroad too, especially at mud (assuming suitable tread).

**CB3** · 02-26-2010, 02:28 AM

Also, a 10.5 wide tire won't need wheel spacers or new wheels up to 32" tall. It's easy to fit. But a 10.5 wide tire might need new (wider) flares to clear a 32 X 10.5 tire without a lift.

Now the 32 X 9.5 tire I mentioned will fit on stock wheels with stock flares and look they they were made for it. I've seen this done on a stock TJ and looked great. I also saw this on a 2" BB TJ and also looked great. My only concern is that a 9.5 wide tire (while excellent DD tire width for an XJ or TJ, is a bit to narrow to support an LJ offroad - sinks to much because LJ heavier).

So you might be better off fitting a 10.5 wide tire, even if that might necessitate wider flares or a BB with stock flares. (I'd suggest the 32 X 10.5 with wider flares).