:smile2: Heh Heh, these are the same problems we've had for 11 years on the JK's-

There are 10 different special fender ops for clearance, also wheel spacers, or front bumper trim for clearance and-the JL RUBY has wider Dana 44's to push the tire out for clearance and the fenders are mounted 2" higher-

The DAYSTAR TAILGATE UNIVERSAL POLY BUMPTOPS will cure the spare tire/3rd brakelite problem-

No problem-

Good luck

:nerd: JIMBO

 

Right now I think spacers would hurt more than help. The shoulder of the tire is just even with the inside of the fender, so when it tucks in it should rotate into the pocket. A spacer might force the shoulder into the edge of the fender under flex. The Rubi fenders look more flat, and don't seem to have the drooping overhang of the Sport/ Sahara.

The more I look at it the more I think Im in the clear. Though, I won't know for sure until I run this thing off road.

 

Just for fun, heres what we're looking at. Stock Sport S sizing vs Rubicon sizing (what it has now).

Stock Sahara sizing vs stock Rubicon sizing.

It doesn't look like much here, but in real life its a BIG difference. The stock michelin's had an actual footprint of 7.3" shoulder to shoulder. The BFG's have an actual footprint of 9.6" shoulder to shoulder. The michilen's, while true 245's by the definition of the metric (actual width of the tire), are deceptively narrow since the sidewall bows dramatically in to a tread the same width as a 90's civic (185mm). This, of course, referring to the base level street (donut) tire on the Sport S, NOT the optional 245/75r17 AT's. Those actually have a decent footprint and tread pattern. If mine had come with these, I probably would not have gone to the BFG's.

I did drive on pavement for about two hours today, and about an hour on 4" snow covered two tracks with wet shallow mud underneath. No problems in either respect.

 

THEY RUB

but only a little, in one area, under full flex.

This is what I was trying to flex on today, I think I got it about flexed to the max with the swaybar still connected, both to the left and right. I heard a faint creaking sound coming from the back while crawling up these mounds, but didn't think it was a rub. Turns out the aggressive shoulder of the KO2's were barely snagging the top corner of the rear bumper. Enough to deform them a bit.

The tires tucked into the rear fenders. No apparent rub in the fenders themselves.

Front fender tuck, uphill side ( just barely clearing the frame)

Downhill front fender, on the front, just BARELY clearing the Sport splash guard and the underside air dam

Aftermath of the rub. I think a lug snagged the corner of the bumper and pushed it in a bit. I think it snagged as I was reversing down the mound the way the top corner was pressed in a bit. Kind of odd though, since the fender and bumper line up quite well, but there was no evidence of a rub on the fender.

 

:smile2: Aftermkt fenders---------or 2" lift !

Either one, you'll have to either trim your existing bumpers, or replace them too, trouble is the aftermkt may not have any decent priced ones ready yet-
BUSHWACKER

MCE

You can also trim your existing fenders MUCH CHEAPER--goto youtube for "JK JEEP fender trim"-

When you buy a new jeep, you could leave it alone and it'll go most places you'll ever want, but jeeps are like our old "Hot Rod" days, when you start playing/modifying--you open the valve for aftermkt profits--

Join the club-

Whatever

:nerd: JIMBO

 

I don't mind rash here and there, or mods to accommodate mods (I did a fair amount to the JK)

I think I was too fast to judge though. I was going through other pics of the JL when I first got it, because I honestly do not recall hearing a rub like that. I don't think the tire did that dent.

Here's a pic of when I first got the tires put on the JL. This was when the jeep had seen nothing but street.

You can see a bulge on top of the corner of the bumper, and a slightly skewed body line on the top and descending body lines.

That corner of the fender directly above the dent in the bumper is completely unmolested too, which leads me to conclude that either the tire shop did it while installing the tires.....or more likely the bumper was dropped right on that corner in the factory. Ill go back and try to recreate the same flex tomorrow as I did today, but for now I feel a bit of relief that this tire size should work without issues (though its a TIGHT fit on a stock sport)

 

So, I apologize for not being able to simply go back and edit a previous post, but here's the definitive answer:

The bumper damage is in no way related to tire rub.

It must have been damaged at the factory. I flexed the Jeep to the point it was starting to lift tire, and the tires are nowhere near the bumper, and only within around an inch of the fender well.

Time to just wheel it, and not worry about it.

I still wouldn't go any larger without a lift though.

 

Lookin' good........ I agree that for the most part, you won't see much difference.

Just out of curiosity, does the JL have the "pinch weld" issue in the rear wheelwell that we have with the JK?

 

Everything is covered with a plastic fender liner. No exposed metal anywhere except for the frame. And no sharp pinch seam! At least nothing like what the JK had.

 

i have 37s and never touched the pinch on my 12. i set the rear axle back about 1.7", at 4.5 lift. total center to center is 97" wheel base, stock they are 95.4. front i moved forward about 3/8".

 

:smile2: Yeah Doc the JL 2dr wheelbase is 96.8" and the 4dr is 118"-

Things are looking up !

:nerd: JIMBO

 

:OffTopic:


Is that piece between your front fenders and bumper removable? The Rubis and Saharas don't have them and was wondering. The non-LED lights look good on the JLs too.

I'm settled on trying to find a used JK, mainly for price and the JL only being a year old. The more I look at the JLs, the more and more I like them. Nice looking Jeeps guys!

 

:OffTopic:

Is that piece between your front fenders and bumper removable? The Rubis and Saharas don't have them and was wondering. The non-LED lights look good on the JLs too.

I'm settled on trying to find a used JK, mainly for price and the JL only being a year old. The more I look at the JLs, the more and more I like them. Nice looking Jeeps guys!

It is, with just a couple of easy access big Phillips heads.

I'm not entirely sure why the sport got them, and the Sahara didn't. Looking at them, they look more like something that would be a mopar accessory rather than a standard unit, like the plastic mud flaps.

My only thought is that they were added to hide the awkwardly small and skinny 245/75r17 street tires the base sport comes with.

I'm torn on if I want to keep them on there or not. Mud still splashes over the top of them, but I remember my JK's plastic bumper was chewed all to hell from the MT's throwing stones and rocks at it all the time before I got a plate steel bumper. I almost like the look of them on there.

 

Did you notice any performance decrease by going up to that size of tire?

 

Acceleration, not so much. The JL felt 'fast' for a Jeep on the skinnies (0-60 in like 7), and with the new AT's it feels more like what you'd expect (0-60 in 8 maybe). Still plenty of passing and merging power.

Off road is bogs a bit in deep mud or axle deep snow, but with 8 gears and a low range to work with it's not a big deal.

Mileage went from 22-24 hwy to 17-20 hwy at 70.

It doesn't like to hold 8th gear above 68 unless it windless and flat. Not enough torque at 1400 rpm. In 7th it holds about 2200 at 70-75. Still plenty of passing power at that speed. It likes to cruise at 60 mph. That's where it drops into and holds 8th and does 23 mpg all day.

It could probably use a regear, but since I'm not towing or in the mountains I'm not bothering.

 

Gotta say this was a very informative thread. Really appreciate the comments here. I am looking at tires for my JL sport. Same size as these. Been researching everywhere and this is the first honest review I have found. Having my new tires installed today. After this review the hardest question I had was white or black letters facing out. I went with the black 🙂

thanks again