Help me with choosing tire size! 2001 XJ

[LazersGoPEWPEW]

So I recently had my Rubicon Express 3.5in Super-Flex kit with full packs installed.

I'm currently running 30x9.50R15 all the way around.

However I have a set of Jeep Icon wheels that I want to put on and need to know the tire size that will suit me best.

I want to go with 31s.

But I'm confused as to which size to go.

245/75/R16 or 265/75/R16

245/75/R16 is a 30.5x9.6 and 265/75/R16 is a 31.6x10.4

It would seem that the 265 is the one to go with but I hear a lot of people calling the 265 a 32 when it seems like it's more of a 31.

The main reason I say that is because a 32s would be a 32x11.5

I would go with an inbetween size if they had one in the Duratracs but I don't believe they do.

I know this is an overdone question but I'm not familiar with metric sizes.

 

[RTicUL8]

go with the 245/75/R16

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The icon wheel is 16"X7"

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Don't go with the 265/75/R16. It would fit, but you really need an 8" wide wheel for that tire.
The 265/75/R16 tire would be too wide for the 7" wheel and would cause the tire to wear thin in the middle.

 

[LazersGoPEWPEW]

THANK YOU!

That's the type of intelligent answer I was looking for.

It will still look good though right and be larger than my current 30x9.50s?


EDIT: How do you get the 16x7 measurement? Also couldn't I air down 265s to get an even print on the tread pattern?

 

[Johnnie Walker]

IT has more to do with the stretch of the sidewall, than the size itself.

 

[RTicUL8]

The 245/75/R16 will be slightly larger than your 30X9.5s, but not much.


Here's a picture of a Cherokee with icon wheels, 1" spacers, and 265/75/R16 tires.
They look great, but like I said, will wear in the middle of the tire becuase the 7" width of the wheels pull the tire in too much.

 

[RTicUL8]

Q: Could you air down the tires to get an even wear?

A: It's possible, but I'm not sure how to calculate the optimal pressure to do that.

.

 

[LazersGoPEWPEW]

So is it the width of the tire that matters more than the height of the tire?

 

[T3hk1w1]

Both are pretty equally important.

 

[LazersGoPEWPEW]

But which is more important to it fitting on the 16x7? I've heard mention of using a 235/85 tire which seems a bit awkward.

 

[igotanxj]

I'd say just go for the 265/75/16, you'll get a little extra ground clearance, and it'll look better.

Technically the correct rim size for this tire is a 7"-8" rim, so your rims that you have will be fine. They will pull in the sidewall a little more than an 8 inch rim, but you could slightly adjust tire pressure to compensate (while still staying on the safe side of course). For example: instead of 30psi, you could go with about 25-27si. It's not enough to cause a problem with your tires or the way your vehicle handles on the street, but its enough to slightly compensate for the rim.

You will need wheel spacers with this size as rticul8 shows. Otherwise, the tires will rub on your lower control arms when you turn, due to the larger amount of backspacing on those rims.

Also, the 265/75/16 DOES, in fact, look bigger than a 31" tire. I've ran both the the 265 was more like a 32" tire and was noticiable.

 

[ubercurtisb]

I'd say if you're going with the Duratracs, go 245/75R16. That size has a load range C option for that tire. If I'm not mistaken, the 265's are a load range D. It will make your rig ride nicer, IMHO.

 

[LazersGoPEWPEW]

Ewww wheel spacers....hmmm. I'm almost starting to think I should've gotten a different wheel. LOL. As for duratracs the 265/75 comes in load range C or E.

This is what my Cherokee looks like with 30x9.50s. The back is a bit higher than the front.

 

[tbburg]

Are those Crager Super Stars? Buddy of mine had them on a RoadRunner. Not a rim to put on a 4wd!

Go ahead and run the Icons with spacers(nothing wrong with the adapter/spacers) or trade them for a set of TJ Rubicon wheels. It'll look sweet!

The tire size thing is a pisser, isn't it? 30"s are 29+, 31"s are 30+, 32"s are a tad over 31". Losers in the marketing dept.

 

[LazersGoPEWPEW]

Are those Crager Super Stars? Buddy of mine had them on a RoadRunner. Not a rim to put on a 4wd!

Go ahead and run the Icons with spacers(nothing wrong with the adapter/spacers) or trade them for a set of TJ Rubicon wheels. It'll look sweet!

The tire size thing is a pisser, isn't it? 30"s are 29+, 31"s are 30+, 32"s are a tad over 31". Losers in the marketing dept.

Yea they are super stars. I don't know what the PO was thinking when he put them on but I want to get rid of them as quick as possible. On a lighter note I had a blowout on the interstate and they didn't fail at all fortunately.

Are TJ rubicon wheels 16x8??? I might just run the 245/75 so I don't have to purchase spacers.

 

[tbburg]

Are TJ rubicon wheels 16x8??? I might just run the 245/75 so I don't have to purchase spacers.

Yep, Rubicon wheels are 16x8. I think they look good on the Cherokees.

Actually, I like the Superstars too, just not on a 4x4. They do look good on a Roadrunner

 

[LazersGoPEWPEW]

Rubicons don't require spacers either do they? Arg... how nerve racking. I might go with the 245/75 so I don't have to do spacers. I looked for rubicons awhile back and never could find a set without the tires on them for a reasonable price.

Bah I wish I had known more about wheels before getting icons.

 

[tbburg]

No spacers needed for the Rubicons. Look at it this way: The mathematical difference between the 245- and the 265- is about 15 mm under the dif. or a little under 5/8 inch. Not a huge difference.

 

[LazersGoPEWPEW]

So I was looking at specs on tirerack of the tires and it looks like the duratracs at 245/75 have a rim width of 7in while the 265/75 is 7.5in.

I think I'm just going to go with 245/75/R16 since it much close to a 31in tire while the 265 is definitely a 32 pretty much. Now my predicament has changed since 245/75 is a cheaper tire.

Should I choose to buy the duratracs or the new mt/r with kevlar. Tough callllllll. The MT/R is also a little bit taller and I've heard good reviews about its on-road performance.

 

[tbburg]

I don't have any experience with the "new" MT-R. My only experience with the "old" MT-R was when that pic was taken of my XJ. We put a set of Rubicon rims/tires(new factory tires, less the 1K miles when they were pulled) on my XJ just to see how the fit/looked/rode/worked. While they (of course) rubbed when articulated, (no lift ) the BIG problem was road noise. At highway speed, conversations were a yelling affair, and the radio was useless.

I'm sure there are a lot of people ready to jump in and say I'm a wimp/they're not bad/etc, but here's my point: If all you're doing is driving to and from the trails, and four-wheeling, the MT-R is a great tire. They love them out here in AZ in rocks, sand, you name it. They're supposed to work great in mud too.
Having said that, I wouldn't put them on a daily driver. (I didn't keep them on my jeep, it's got BFG-ATs now) Like I said, if it's trail only, MT-Rs are fine. If you use it to drive to work, find something else.

This is my take on the "old" MT-R. The new design looks fairly similar to me, but a small change in tread design can make a big difference in road noise.

 

[LazersGoPEWPEW]

Hmm noted. It's definitely my daily driver for now and the forseeable future. I've got to rid myself of my Bronco before I can even consider a cheap car to drive around in and more than likely the funds will go directly to building the jeep.