A tad confused

I've read many of the posts here and there's a ton of great information, however, on the subject of amount of lift and tire size, the answers tend to vary. I have a 1976 cj5 and looking to add a 3" suspension lift and place 33x12.50 tires on 15x10 M/T Classic (or similar) rims. I'm sure many have a similar setup here. Here are my concerns: Are there issues with rubbing when turning? Would 33x10.5 tires help if they do rub? Will 3"of lift give enough room for 33" tires? I don't do an heavy 4-wheeling and bouncing over boulders is probably not going to be a daily adventure for me. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

^^^^^ i'd listen to him

 

Tires are such a personal preference/wheeling conditions/geographical location question that everyone has their own answer. I have ran 33X12.5 tires on my 77 with 2.5" lift for quite a while. They rub here they rub there. They rub the springs they rub the backs of the fender wells. I just don't care that they rub. I went to a wide track front axle and scout rear axle to help. They still rub...

I have run P78 buckshot mudders on my 48 CJ2a and on my 78 CJ7 both with 3" of lift. They rubbed... The P78 is like a 33X9.50. Also not all tires are created equal. Just because a tire is stamped 33X12.5 doesn't mean it is 33" tall and 12.5" wide.

We have a lot of sand here, a tall skinny tire doesn't do ya a lot of favors in sand. We also have a lot of uneven rock. The wider tires seem to work well for that. We also have some bottomless mud holes where a tall skinny tire probably wouldn't be my first choice. We also get 200"+ snow a year, some years as much as 300" You want to try and float on top of that, not break through to the bottom.

I would go with the tires that suit your wheeling conditions. I like the extra footprint of the 12.5 some don't. I put up with more rubbing because of it.

 

Even the stock L78-15 Suburbanite tires rub on the inside of the rear wheelwell.

Can't cure that without widening the axle or enlarging the wheelwell.

 

I appreciate all the input. As this is Jeep that is not driven a regular bases, I will probably go with wider tires and deal with the rubbing and tougher steering. Heck, it may motivate me to install power steering. Thanks again, Barry

 

You may want to try a BFG AT 33 9.5 15 if you are concerned about the tire rubbing! May help with rubbing!