Need tire help with 03 WJ GC

[05topekaoutlaw]

I have an 03 WJ Grand Cherokee Limited. It is stock everything but I am about to purchase a BDS 4" suspension lift and some 18x9 KMC Rockstar wheels. With the future lift, will I be able to fit 33x12.5x18 Nitto Mud Grappler tires on it? The "newbie" forum says 32" will fit on a 2" lift, so in theory, and inch bigger on tires should fit with 2" more on lift. Please help!
Plus, if trimming is involved, I do not know how or what this includes, I just hope it doesn't mean cutting painted surfaces...

[Scibbyz99WJ]

i havent read the newbie forum as i am not new to wjs. but 32s will not fit a 2" lift!! 31x10.5s are tight. some need trimming.

what is the backspacing on your 9" wide rims?
33x12.5s will rub with only 4 inches of lift. so trimming is required. yes it means cutting into the plastic body cladding. you will damage the bumper if you dont (quite possibly even rip it off)

another thing you may want to consider is regearing from either 3.55 or 3.73 to at least 4.10s, 4.56s would be best with 33s. this will help to keep the engine in its original rpm band

[05topekaoutlaw]

All I know for now is that the wheel I want is an 18x9 black kmc rockstar wheel. I do not know what backspacing or offset I need?! As for trimming, if I were to take a picture of the fender and post it on here, could you like use paint on ur comp to show arrows as for what needs trimmed, I just don't want to cut the wrong stuff....

[Scibbyz99WJ]

http://www.wjjeeps.com/wheels.htm

those are all the factory wj wheels. backspacing will be listed for your stock rims.

i know with a 15x8 at least 4" of backspacing is needed. with 9" wide rims its most likely more. but idk for sure.

as for trimming i have no idea how much you will need. but it will be alot. try searching a few forums. i know there are several threads about trimming on jeepforum.

[swim_run2005]

Check out my jeep. I put a two inch BDS suspension with 265/70/r16 and a 3/4 inch kor spacer in front to level it out. I had to trim the front bumper a little but I also had to to replace my factory driving lights. the bulb in the factories stuck out the back so far that the tire hit it when I did a tight turn. I solved the problem by getting some aftermarket driving lights that are much slimmer but still the same diameter.

[Scibbyz99WJ]

just out of curiosity how aggressive are your tires? ive got the same 2" bds lift and my 265/70s do not rub at all.

[swim_run2005]

They are firestone desination a/t. The reason they were rubbing though is because the wheel offset is different.

[05topekaoutlaw]

After research, with the correct backspacing and offset on an 18x9 wheel (which I have no idea what it is) people are not having problems with 32" with a 2" lift, so I think 33" should fit with a 4" suspension. Right? And, could I also add 2" coil spacers to make it 6" is that a good idea?

[swim_run2005]

6 inches will make it very top heavy, not to mention the lack of gas mileage. but that would be a personal preference. I drive mine everyday so I simply wanted a fully capable Jeep but still be able to drive it everyday with my children in it. At what I have added I really dont even notice a difference in gas mileage.

[01_WJ_Grand_Cherokee]

Well I have a 4in IRO lift on my 01 WJ and I running 265/75/16 on the stock rims with out spacers. I have no rubbing at all. I could run 285/75/16 but then I would have to do some trimming. Me personally the 265/75/16 are big enough and doesn't really kill my mpg that much. I will probably add wheel spacers in the future though. You may end up having to do some triming if you want the bigger tires but like they said before bigger tires mean less mpg. For me right now that is kinda of concern since California is already over 4 bucks a gallon now.