31" tires with 2-3" lifts?

You can easily run 265/75-16 tires with either a 1.75-2" budget boost, or a 2" spring lift. I run those now with my 2" OME suspension. I really like the Moab wheels, so if I get more aggressive tires, they will be 16". Considering Duratracs.

I think most who say they wish they'd stayed with 31" tires realize 1) those will get you through 90% of off-road situations they encounter, 2) mods to fit those are not only simpler, but easier on the bank account, and 3) bigger tires start you down a rabbit hole of mods that you don't even realize you're in until you look back one day and wonder how you got there.
Welcome to the forum! Good to have you here. Good questions too.

YOu can stay with your 16” wheels and just keep doing the conversions from metric to know your SAE tire size. There’s no reason to change your wheels unless A) you don’t like them, B) you don’t like the limited tire selection with 16” wheels. Other than that, you can keep them, if you get a tire wider than 10.5 just buy some wheel spacers.

For your uses, light trails and beach, 31x10.5’s will be fine. You can run these on a stock setup. YOu can run them with a 1-1.25” body lift. YOu can run them on a 2” suspension lift. Lots of options if you never want to go over 31’s. I prefer a 2.5” OME with 31’s. It just looks right because it is right!

If you are going to 33’s, you can still do the 2.5” OME, and just add a small body lift, 1-1.25”. Or you can do it in the reverse order, Body lift first, then the 2.5” OME.

I think some folks prefer staying with 31’s for several reasons; it fits their wheelin style, it’s cheaper, it’s simpler
Good advice.
 
bigger tires start you down a rabbit hole of mods that you don't even realize you're in until you look back one day and wonder how you got there.

So, so true. I was intent on putting 31" tires and a 2" lift on my Rubicon, but I decided to go with 33" tires instead. It really and truly leads you down a rabbit hole of mods that just add up more than you ever think it will. Add a tummy tuck into the equation and before you know it you've probably dumped almost 10k into your Jeep.
 
So, so true. I was intent on putting 31" tires and a 2" lift on my Rubicon, but I decided to go with 33" tires instead. It really and truly leads you down a rabbit hole of mods that just add up more than you ever think it will. Add a tummy tuck into the equation and before you know it you've probably dumped almost 10k into your Jeep.
You really had us going, thinking you were going to skirt the rabbit hole this time around!! :D
 
You really had us going, thinking you were going to skirt the rabbit hole this time around!! :D

I succumbed to the temptation that is Jeep! I also had it in my head that I wasn't going to get a tummy tuck, adjustable control arms, yada, yada... but I guess too many nights alone on the internet (and this forum) will do that to you!
 
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Any more, all it takes to fend off the 33" tire temptation is rotating in the spare 265 off of the tailgate. A 33" tire would do me in.
 
Any more, all it takes to fend off the 33" tire temptation is rotating in the spare 265 off of the tailgate. A 33" tire would do me in.

Good point. I was removing the 285 from my tailgate, and even with as fit as I am, that thing is so friggin' heavy it kills me.

I don't know how those guys with 35" or 37" M/T tires do it!
 
@glwood

Thank you for the reply! I was curious what you meant by budget boost? Some brand other then OME for suspension lift? Also, I noticed from your profile you run OME light springs. How do you like the ride? How do you like the 265/75-16 tires? I assume you’re not running into many mods or costly hardware failures? I also noticed you don’t have much of an aggressive tire. Is most of your driving conditions well maintained dirt roads & tar, but not much light trail? Thank you for all the help!
Budget boost consists of urethane (usually, but can be steel or aluminum) spring spacers, and usually longer shocks. It uses the stock springs. I ran the Zone 1.75" spacers with Rancho RS5000X shocks for 6 months on my Rubicon, and it rode fine and fit 265/75-16 tires with no issues. Having run OME suspension on at least two previous Jeeps and liked it very much, I knew I would end up with it on my TJR, and did. After a lot of research, I decided to try the light OME, since I run the soft top most of the year, don't have body armor, heavy skids, or a winch. It's usually just me and/or my wife, and our two small dogs, so we run light. When I installed Dirtworx f/r bumpers, it didn't change my ride height any, so the light duty OME springs work for me. The hard top does not cause too much drop when I run that...

I am very happy with the 265/75-16 tire size. Yeah, my tires look and are wimpy, they came new from a local used Jeep dealer who swapped them for some takeoff parts. I've been eyeing some Duratracs in a load range C, one of few choices for 16" wheels. The current tires have yet to see much trail action. They came from Pep Boys, and I was hoping to trade them back to them on a set of Duratracs.

The only other suspension mod I have besides my OME suspension is a Rough Country adjustable rear track bar, to center my rear axle. Not necessary, just desired. I opted for the adjustable track bar instead of the rear track bar bracket OME provides. I have tried, intentionally this time, to keep modifications to the minimum, and enjoy my Rubicon as is, as much as possible. My bank account is much happier with fewer Jeep expenditures...
 
I appreciate all the feedback! Thank You! Summarizing what I have seen so far with a few small questions/thoughts. So LT245/75 R16(30.7” on duratrac/Rubicon stock tire size) would probably work well for me for my light trial riding and could just keep using the stock suspension. Though a 2” suspension lift is recommended and could add more to my ride and look. I called a jeep specialist garage today and they mentioned all kinds of factors like bumpers, winch’s, and other things which I have also seen mentioned here in this forum. I said at this time I was thinking about only adding a winch on the stock bumper and I have a hard top. They recommended OME light kit with a possible spring lift if it was drooping and track bars ($950 for parts). LT265/75 R16(31.7” duratrac), from what I’m gathering here, I could not due this without a suspension lift if I plan on trial riding. Can I just do a 1.0” to 1.25” body lift. Or do I need the 2” suspension lift and body lift if I go to 33”? How is LT265/75 R16 as far as mod’s and stuff go? Sounds like very similar to stock tire LT245/75 R16. LT286/75 R16 (33.1" Duractrac), sounds like 2” suspension lift, 1.0” to 1.25” body lift, and many more mods ($$$). I don’t think I would do a tummy tuck on a budget, though I definitely see why people would do it. Mostly due to $$$’s for me and not rock crawling. I like the stock 16-inch Wheels/Rims, but it’s hard for me to justify going to buy new or used wheels/rim to go down to 15” when all you get on a 31x10.5 R15 Duratrac is 0.1”. Plus, from what I can tell, there is no 32xW R15 in duratrac. It jumps up to 33x12.5 R15. There is however a 32x11.5 R15(31.8”) in MT/R’s. I assume the MT/R is very road noisy and not so great in the snow vs the duratracs. Throwing in 1 more odd ball tire. Super Swamper SS-M16 31x10.5 R16(31.2”). I assume some sort of lift would be needed or maybe might work with stock lift? Sorry for so many question, but I believe I’m close to the decision of what I’m looking to do with my unmodded Rubicon. Thank you everyone for the advice and guidance!!!
The OME light kit is a spring lift. It replaces your stock springs and shocks.
 
I appreciate all the feedback! Thank You! Summarizing what I have seen so far with a few small questions/thoughts. So LT245/75 R16(30.7” on duratrac/Rubicon stock tire size) would probably work well for me for my light trial riding and could just keep using the stock suspension. Though a 2” suspension lift is recommended and could add more to my ride and look. I called a jeep specialist garage today and they mentioned all kinds of factors like bumpers, winch’s, and other things which I have also seen mentioned here in this forum. I said at this time I was thinking about only adding a winch on the stock bumper and I have a hard top. They recommended OME light kit with a possible spring lift if it was drooping and track bars ($950 for parts). LT265/75 R16(31.7” duratrac), from what I’m gathering here, I could not due this without a suspension lift if I plan on trial riding. Can I just do a 1.0” to 1.25” body lift. Or do I need the 2” suspension lift and body lift if I go to 33”? How is LT265/75 R16 as far as mod’s and stuff go? Sounds like very similar to stock tire LT245/75 R16. LT286/75 R16 (33.1" Duractrac), sounds like 2” suspension lift, 1.0” to 1.25” body lift, and many more mods ($$$). I don’t think I would do a tummy tuck on a budget, though I definitely see why people would do it. Mostly due to $$$’s for me and not rock crawling. I like the stock 16-inch Wheels/Rims, but it’s hard for me to justify going to buy new or used wheels/rim to go down to 15” when all you get on a 31x10.5 R15 Duratrac is 0.1”. Plus, from what I can tell, there is no 32xW R15 in duratrac. It jumps up to 33x12.5 R15. There is however a 32x11.5 R15(31.8”) in MT/R’s. I assume the MT/R is very road noisy and not so great in the snow vs the duratracs. Throwing in 1 more odd ball tire. Super Swamper SS-M16 31x10.5 R16(31.2”). I assume some sort of lift would be needed or maybe might work with stock lift? Sorry for so many question, but I believe I’m close to the decision of what I’m looking to do with my unmodded Rubicon. Thank you everyone for the advice and guidance!!!


I have the 245/75/16 Duratracs (in load range C) on Moab wheels for my 2002 sport. I like the load c range tires because they are lighter and I don't need to worry about stressing out my axles, my spare is a reasonable size, cost, etc. I don't have any lift and my jeep just does fine for the fire service and logging roads that I occasionally find myself on.

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If the Duratracs in either of the 2 previously mentioned metric sizes are available in a load range "C", it would be a no brainer. get them. If you decide on a 32ish" tire, a 2" lift with 1" bumpstop extensions would be desirable.
 
I have a Rubicon with a 5 inch lift and 33 inch tires, I bought it with this setup. I wish it was a stock Rubicon. I have rock crawled with stock Rubicon’s and they do the job just fine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What brand lift do you have ? 5 inch’s
 
I think I’m still somewhere between no lift and doing LT245/75 R16(size 30.7” x 9.8” for duratrac) or 31x10.5 R15(30.8” x 10.6” for duratrac).
265/75, 245/75, or 31x10.50 will all work on a stock rig. A stock height Rubicon can do a lot of stuff on that size tire. Since you seem to be all over with what you may want, throw on the Duratrac, get some sway bar disconnects, and do some wheelin. Find out what holds you up, if anything, and move on from there.
 
If you get this:
http://zoneoffroad.com/zone-offroad-products-2in-suspension-lift-kit-jeep-wrangler/j1
This product fits the following applications:
  • 97-06 Jeep Wrangler TJ 4WD Gas
Click to view by year
  • 1997 Jeep Wrangler TJ 4WD Gas
  • 1998 Jeep Wrangler TJ 4WD Gas
  • 1999 Jeep Wrangler TJ 4WD Gas
  • 2000 Jeep Wrangler TJ 4WD Gas
  • 2001 Jeep Wrangler TJ 4WD Gas
  • 2002 Jeep Wrangler TJ 4WD Gas
  • 2003 Jeep Wrangler TJ 4WD Gas
  • 2004 Jeep Wrangler TJ 4WD Gas
  • 2005 Jeep Wrangler TJ 4WD Gas
  • 2006 Jeep Wrangler TJ 4WD Gas
Quick Specs
  • Front Lift Height: 1.75″
  • Front Lift Method: Coil Spacers
  • Rear Lift Height: 1.75″
  • Rear Lift Method: Coil Spacers
  • Install Time Hrs: 2-3
  • Max Tire Size: 32 x 11.50

And these:
https://www.discounttire.com/buy-ti...j6hexXrfn1xMwn12VRutCBI4F7QyAx2BoCjNUQAvD_BwE

Everything will fit, and you can do all the stuff you've mentioned wanting to do.
 
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Thank you for the reply! I am a little all over the place and I do apologize. I easily get caught up in the numbers (size and cost $$$). I would like to try the LT265/75R16(actual size 31.7” x 10.5”) on a stock suspension. My guess is it might work OK on pavement road and on flat maintained dirt roads, but I'm concerned about flex on trials. Like you said, I could buy and try it. If it fails badly on the trail, I could always go to the 2" suspension lift.

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I hear ya on the money thing. You should be fine off road connected, maybe a touch of rubbing disconnected. Your idea of trying it and adding a lift later is a good one. I really think you'll be good, however.
 
Will the LT265/75R16 not work with a budget boost?

I know they will, I ran that for 6 months. You might be overthinking this. Just pick an option and go with it. The budget boost is inexpensive, works, and a good introduction to working on a suspension. It's also easy to replace with a spring lift, should you opt to upgrade later.
 
After reading this post, it has me seriously considering a Zone or OME budget lift and 31’s. It’s really not a $$ thing with me, I would just use the TJ on pavement 90 plus percent of the time.

Go for it. 31s with a 2.5" lift on a TJ is a lot more capable than most would assume, that's for sure.
 
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