31" tires (lift vs no lift)

TJim

TJim

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Hey everyone,

I would like to run 30-31" tires on my 4 cylinder TJ.

Can you help me understand the pros and cons between running 31" tires with a 2-2.5" lift kit vs stock suspension (no lift)?
 
A stock TJ can run 31’s without a lift. IMHO, the proportions look more balanced with a 2” lift tho.
Do you drag your skid plate now? That would be a good reason to lift.
 
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You'll want a 1" lift if you want to maintain factory up-travel. If you don't understand the importance of up-travel, you need to do more research.

Can you fit 31s with no lift? Absolutely

Should you run 31s with no lift? Personally I wouldn't.

All you need is a 1.25" body lift and you'd be good to go. That is cheap as hell. There's honestly no reason not to do it.
 
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Chris said:
You'll want a 1" lift if you want to maintain factory up-travel. If you don't understand the importance of up-travel, you need to do more research.

Can you fit 31s with no lift? Absolutely

Should you run 31s with no lift? Personally I wouldn't.

All you need is a 1.25" body lift and you'd be good to go. That is cheap as hell. There's honestly no reason not to do it.
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Thanks, so just to be clear:

In order to maintain the up-travel, the only thing I need is 1" or more lift with 31" tires. This can be achieved either with a suspension lift kit, or a body lift.

The only reason besides from the up-travel that many combine a 2-2.5 suspension lift kit with 30-31" tires are just the looks?
 
TJim said:
Thanks, so just to be clear:

In order to maintain the up-travel, the only thing I need is 1" or more lift with 31" tires. This can be achieved either with a suspension lift kit, or a body lift.

The only reason besides from the up-travel that many combine a 2-2.5 suspension lift kit with 30-31" tires are just the looks?
Click to expand...

Correct

You could either do it with new springs, coil spring spacers, or a 1" body lift.

Either way is completely fine, the body lift will just be the cheapest way to do it.

Technically speaking I think a 2-2.5" lift is better suited for 32" tires. That would maintain the factory up-travel for a 32". For a true 31" tire though, 1" should give you almost exactly 4" of up-travel, which is what the factory has in stock form.
 
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TJim said:
Hey everyone,

I would like to run 30-31" tires on my 4 cylinder TJ.

Can you help me understand the pros and cons between running 31" tires with a 2-2.5" lift kit vs stock suspension (no lift)?
Click to expand...
Hell we have a customer that runs 32" on a stock suspension.
His off roading is mud only.

You can run 31's all day long with zero trouble.

A 2.5 lift makes it work better.

Moreover with the right shocks on a 2.5 lift it will ride nicer than factory.

Good luck
 
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Just an fyi...but most (not all) never really stop at just their first tire increase. Keep that in mind too if you decide down the road you want a 32 or 33.

Sure you'll have to do something else like a gear change (maybe...im not sure how flat your area is and your on road driving style and expectations)

But if you only do a 1 inch lift now...you'll be lifting again down the road.

Plus I assure you with the proper shocks and the new springs it will just wow you on the ride difference between what you have now and some 2.5 springs/ shocks
 
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My 31" bfg's have a plenty of flex with stock height, but you can never have too much room, well as long as you don't use 31's and a 4 inch lift. That's just goofy.
 
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Rubicon88 said:
Hell we have a customer that runs 32" on a stock suspension.
His off roading is mud only.

You can run 31's all day long with zero trouble.

A 2.5 lift makes it work better.

Moreover with the right shocks on a 2.5 lift it will ride nicer than factory.

Good luck
Click to expand...

Thanks, since I prefer performance over just looks, I think I will follow the lift option.
 
Rubicon88 said:
Just an fyi...but most (not all) never really stop at just their first tire increase. Keep that in mind too if you decide down the road you want a 32 or 33.

Sure you'll have to do something else like a gear change (maybe...im not sure how flat your area is and your on road driving style and expectations)

But if you only do a 1 inch lift now...you'll be lifting again down the road.

Plus I assure you with the proper shocks and the new springs it will just wow you on the ride difference between what you have now and some 2.5 springs/ shocks
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. I dont think I am going to increase more than 31" tires since except for my off road trips, its also my daily driver and its the SE model, 4 cylinder.
 
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My experiences reflect what has been said already. Stock and 31in ko2's were fine on the street but they rubbed easily during "light" offroading. Later I added a 1.25 body lift and .75in spring spacers for and overall 2in of lift and that was perfect. It looked perfect and I never had any rubbing issues.
 
IMAG0398.jpg


There is a 2.5 lift and 31's with 15x8 with 3.75 back spacing wheels.
 
Chris said:
Correct

You could either do it with new springs, coil spring spacers, or a 1" body lift.

Either way is completely fine, the body lift will just be the cheapest way to do it.

Technically speaking I think a 2-2.5" lift is better suited for 32" tires. That would maintain the factory up-travel for a 32". For a true 31" tire though, 1" should give you almost exactly 4" of up-travel, which is what the factory has in stock form.
Click to expand...

Sorry to top an old thread, but could you elaborate on up-travel? I think it might be exactly what I’ve been trying to figure out for my scenario. I just bought a low mileage ‘04 that’s bone stock except a 3“ suspension lift and 33” tires; it’s essentially a replica of my very first Jeep. I’m trying to understand what stock would have been on that so I can recreate it on the one I just bought. Well, ALMOST recreate it — I am going to run 31s instead of 30s but I want the lift height to be similar. Not sure if this is helpful, but here’s the build sheet for my first Jeep – the one I’m essentially trying to rebuild:

https://www.jeep.com/webselfservice/BuildSheetServlet?vin=1J4FA49S94P700142

My plan was to do a 1 or 1.5” lift but I’m not exactly sure how to achieve that. I don’t wheel and I’m not super knowledgeable with this stuff.
 
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wborisenok said:
Sorry to top an old thread, but could you elaborate on up-travel? I think it might be exactly what I’ve been trying to figure out for my scenario. I just bought a low mileage ‘04 that’s bone stock except a 3“ suspension lift and 33” tires; it’s essentially a replica of my very first Jeep. I’m trying to understand what stock would have been on that so I can recreate it on the one I just bought. Well, ALMOST recreate it — I am going to run 31s instead of 30s but I want the lift height to be similar. Not sure if this is helpful, but here’s the build sheet for my first Jeep – the one I’m essentially trying to rebuild:

https://www.jeep.com/webselfservice/BuildSheetServlet?vin=1J4FA49S94P700142
Click to expand...

Up-travel would be the distance the shock has to travel before bottoming out. If you are not, at least maintaining the factory up-travel number, then you’re making your TJ worse off.

For 31s 1-2” of lift should be just fine.
 
Chris said:
Up-travel would be the distance the shock has to travel before bottoming out. If you are not, at least maintaining the factory up-travel number, then you’re making your TJ worse off.

For 31s 1-2” of lift should be just fine.
Click to expand...

Thank you! Another question — with a 3” suspension lift on there right now, what’s the best way to achieve the look I want? I’m not entirely clear on suspension lift vs. body lift.
 
wborisenok said:
I am going to run 31s instead of 30s but I want the lift height to be similar.
My plan was to do a 1 or 1.5” lift but I’m not exactly sure how to achieve that. I don’t wheel and I’m not super knowledgeable with this stuff.
Click to expand...

I'd do a 1.25" BL for 31s and be done with it. You'd have to remove the lift you have on it now though. Option #2. Leave the 3" lift on and drop to 31s (pictured).
81061t-white-1997-tj-3-lift-31-tires-copy-dsc_0083.jpg
 
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TheBoogieman said:
I'd do a 1.25" BL for 31s and be done with it. You'd have to remove the lift you have on it now though. Option #2. Leave the 3" lift on and drop to 31s (pictured).
View attachment 396620
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Love the white on black! I definitely don’t want the 3” lift, so that’s out. But I have no clue how lifts work; it’s a 3” suspension lift right now so what do I replace it with? An entirely new kit? Just new springs? Total n00b with this stuff. I’ve had 3 Wranglers and a CJ but never really messed with suspension.
 
wborisenok said:
Love the white on black! I definitely don’t want the 3” lift, so that’s out. But I have no clue how lifts work; it’s a 3” suspension lift right now so what do I replace it with? An entirely new kit? Just new springs? Total n00b with this stuff. I’ve had 3 Wranglers and a CJ but never really messed with suspension.
Click to expand...

Depending on what was used for your lift, you would need new stock springs or H&R 1" springs, shorter shocks, shorter sway bar links, etc.
 
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