Tire clearances

[Donnie Malone]

I have purchased a 1998 wrangler sport. It has stock suspension and 7 inch by 15 inch wheels. I am wanting to install new tires and am trying to decide on the size. If I run 31x10.5x15 tires will they rub under full articulation? I am not concerned about full lock steering rub as I can correct this by spacing the steering stops. If this size will limit my articulation off road I prefer to stick with a 30 inch tire. Please let me know what your experience with this has been. Thanks

 

[JMT]

Sometimes fine and sometimes not. With these vehicles now 20+ yrs old the springs sag and it’s hard to say. Many add a 1-1.25” body lift and that makes enough room. See Black Magic Brakes for a solid 1.25” body lift.

 

[Donnie Malone]

Sometimes fine and sometimes not. With these vehicles now 20+ yrs old the springs sag and it’s hard to say. Many add a 1-1.25” body lift and that makes enough room. See Black Magic Brakes for a solid 1.25” body lift.

Thank you

 

[TheBoogieman]

X2 on the BMB BL for 31s.

 

[OldBuzzard]

Measure your springs as it sits. OEM is 12" on the front, 8" on the back.

If they're still at that height, it hasn't sagged and the 31s will probably not limit your articulation.
You might have more limitation from not-perfectly-sized shocks (because they come in 1-2 inch increments, not the perfect size for every vehicle).

 

[jjvw]

Sometimes fine and sometimes not. With these vehicles now 20+ yrs old the springs sag and it’s hard to say. Many add a 1-1.25” body lift and that makes enough room. See Black Magic Brakes for a solid 1.25” body lift.

The original Rubicon, right off the assembly line, would lightly rub it's tires on the front fenders if the front sway bar was disconnected and the axle allowed to reach full articulation as defined by the shocks.

There is a lot to unpack in that statement.

 

[Donnie Malone]

The original Rubicon, right off the assembly line, would lightly rub it's tires on the front fenders if the front sway bar was disconnected and the axle allowed to reach full articulation as defined by the shocks.

There is a lot to unpack in that statement.

Yes, good info. Thanks

 

[Donnie Malone]

X2 on the BMB BL for 31s.
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Sounds good. Thanks

 

[TJ4Jim]

I have purchased a 1998 wrangler sport. It has stock suspension and 7 inch by 15 inch wheels. I am wanting to install new tires and am trying to decide on the size. If I run 31x10.5x15 tires will they rub under full articulation? I am not concerned about full lock steering rub as I can correct this by spacing the steering stops. If this size will limit my articulation off road I prefer to stick with a 30 inch tire. Please let me know what your experience with this has been. Thanks

I'm running the 31's on my stock setup and I'll get a minor touch of rub when going full lock to lock steering but that's it, really never noticed anything offroad.

 

[Donnie Malone]

X2 on the BMB BL for 31s.
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View attachment 656609

Would I need to change anything else for the body lift?