a few questions about wheels and tires

[YJMudslinger]

i have 4 questions, one how big of a tire could i fit on a 95 yj with a 4" lift, two, what kind of tires are good (as of now im leaning towards mickey tomson baja claw radials) three, will i need to get new rims as well, and finally four, how big of a tire will a 4 banger be able to turn, if i eventually plan to throw in a 4.0 HO before next summer (ill be putting it in during the winter some time) thanks

 

[TwistedCU]

You're gonna get alot of different opinions here but here goes...

First of all, 4" of lift on a YJ will clear 33's. I'd recommend a 33x10.50x15 or a 32x12.50x15 because of the 4 banger, as the 33x12.50x15's that are more common will certainly be a strain on the 4 cyl. The 33x10.50's would be lighter and have less wind and rolling resistance, and in my opinion they look better on the SWB Jeep.

If you get wheels, I would recommend something with around 4 to 4.5" of backspacing. If you want to use the stock 15x7" wheels, you can run the 33x10.50's with merely adjusting your steering stops (5 minute mod) as the factory backspacing is 5.25". Going more that 4" BS will have the tires sticking out past your flares and will rub the flares when you flex the suspension. TJ flares or wider flares will remedy this but you won't have to worry about it if you get the backspacing right.

As for the tires, BFG makes both the AT and the MT in a 33x10.50. I would get the MT's if you like to play in the mud alot (speaking from personal experience here). Also, Interco Super Swamper TSL radials come in that size and if you don't mind a little quicker tire wear and don't do alot of highway driving they are a great choice for the trail. If you are set on the MT Claws, they perform great offroad but like the Swampers they have been known to wear quick if they see alot of pavement time. The Claws don't come in a narrower 33 so thay may be a factor too.

I'm not saying you can't run a 33x12.50 on the 4 cyl, but expect to lose 5th gear and big hills will be embarrassing. The 4.0 with the 4.10 gears that came stock in your 4 cyl will make this alot better of a setup.

Hope this helps.

 

[jeepmaster]

i have MT/R's and i love them... im also a fan of the black AR wheels, they're only like 36.50 a rim, you should look into them

 

[bryanjeep]

They discontinued those rims. I was so pissed off when I found that out because I was in the market for really cheap rims.

As for the tires, I would say either 33 x 12.50 TSL's or 33x 13.50 Claws. Get a 4" suspension and a 2" body lift. That would clear them just fine. Good luck with whatever you chose.

 

[Junkpile]

Add a BL to that 4" susp and run some aggressive 35s or even some 36s. Just don't go too wide, stay with a 12.50. Lower your bumpstops if you need it to keep the tires from hitting the fenders, you'll still have plenty of flex from droop. A bigger tire is more important in the mud than a few inches of wheel travel. For mud tires.....what else?....Swampers.
Don't go crazy with the gearing either, a really low gear is great when climbing a rock but you want maximum wheel speed for the mud......build power and decrease the weight to make up for the mechanical advantage of lower gears. The 4.0 swap will take care of the power. Even with the swap the Jeep would benefit from a diet, but the main secret to running the four cylinder is to keep the weight down. Losing weight is as good as building power. A lighter rig will also be more economical, perform better, and break less parts.

I'm assuming you'll primarily be mud running because of your user name.

 

[Tug-n-pull]

No matter what you do to the jeep as far as lift and bigger meats go the little 2.5L engin "my personal favorite" will suffer. My last 4 banger was a sweet running little motor and when I went up to as small as 31" Mickey T Baja Claws I lost all but the memory of fifth gear on any kind of a hill. It was a great off road Jeep after this though. All the bolt on power up grades, exaust & intake improvements and yada yada were all options but not that much help leaveing the need for regearing to regain the lost power was the finnal straw in selling my beloved YJ. Wish I had keep the ol gal and done the regear and added some lockers now. AhhhhHindsight. tug

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

33" tires will rub with only a 4" suspension lift. You'll have to add a little more clearance, wether it be with a 1" body lift, shackle lift, or fender trimming/TJ flares.

33x10.5 would be a good choice for the 2.5L as it has less rotating mass than the 33x12.5, the extra reduction in weight means a lot to the 2.5L engine.

I love my 2.5L, and wouldn't recommend installing a 4.0L as you'll just have another run of the mill 4.0L jeep with a install more hacked than all the factory 4.0L jeeps out there. Either trade up to the 4.0L to save time and money, or install an engine that will make the trouble worth while.

 

[TwistedCU]

33" tires will rub with only a 4" suspension lift. You'll have to add a little more clearance, wether it be with a 1" body lift, shackle lift, or fender trimming/TJ flares.

I have seen quite a few YJ's with the 4"/33's combo. My 3.5" lift never rubbed with 32's fully stuffed and it looked like it would be fine with 33's if I had used the bumpstops that came with it, and when I added a 1/2" shackle lift giving me a net of 4" of lift I have no doubt I would have not had problems with 33x10.50's without the extended bumpstops. Too much backspacing and you'll rub the leaf springs at any lift height, even with 31's. Too little backspacing and you'll rub the flares. With the proper backspacing it can be done without rubbing.

RE recomends a 33" tire for their 4" lift, as do many other "good" lift manuf's.

4" and 32" BFG's, room for 33's:

Fully stuffed (at 3.5" lift - before the 1/2" shackles):

 

[laneiac]

Put TJ flares on no matter what. Its an easy mod and makes a YJ look much better.

 

[jeepmaster]

They discontinued those rims. I was so pissed off when I found that out because I was in the market for really cheap rims.

they discontinued them? check out summitracing.com you can get ones that look just like them by US Steel.. same price too

 

[hi_c]

33x10.50's will definitely fit with a 4" susp. lift. At least with stock wheels. Because under full stuff, the wheel comes inside the fender well. But this is only true if you install the bumpstop extensions. I have 4.5" lift and I could fit 35's (with my bumpstops installed) but my 2.5L can't handle that size tire. Maybe one day when my Jeep becomes a trailer queen, I will regear it to 4.88 and move up to 35's. But for a daily driver... 33" is maxxed out.

I have the 33x10.50 on 15x7 stock rims... I love it. They are a little skinny, but I don't care for the roller-skate look when wide tires are under Jeeps. Even with extended fender flares it looks wierd. But it's all opinion.

Corey