Wheel Well Clearance/ GAP

[Headbarcode]

I still believe in the NO WHEEL WELL + NO TIRE + ALL GAP GROUP! Guess I need to start a new FB page.

The Chicken Littles of America ?

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[Some Random Guy]

Bigger the tires the more gap is needed, correct? I plan to only go to 34", so I'm thinking 6.5' or so is about right for that size.

I default to enough bumpstop gap to avoid hitting them in daily driving. Turning into a raised parking lot at 15+ MPH seems to find the bumpstops pretty quick if the gap is insufficient. Your options to increase this gap are more spring lift (coil bind is an advanced topic here) or trim what is contacting in order to reduce bumpstop (thus increasing bumpstop gap). I went with high clearance front fenders and replaced the inner with a higher clearance aluminum. My rears will be here Saturday and I have to trim the pinch seam as well before the 39’s go on to hopefully run 2” of bumpstop all around with the MC 2.5 springs.

 

[Willys_Wonka]

Full disclosure, my tires measure just below 34” at street pressure. I have my Speedo calibrated to 33.86” and it’s a hair short, but the next jump up was too tall and less accurate.

You running 285/75/17?

 

[Philly_]

You running 285/75/17?

Nope. 315/70/17 KO2’s…. All BFG’s tend to run small.

 

[Willys_Wonka]

Nope. 315/70/17 KO2’s…. All BFG’s tend to run small.

I got my eye on Toyo Open Country A/T 3's in load C. I'm keeping the OEM 17X7.5" Willys wheels, so 285 is about max on that set up. In PA wheel poke beyond the fender flares is out of compliance for annual inspection, so that's another reason 285 is about it without needing fender flare extenders or another set of fender or wheels just to pass inspection. Alot of wheelers in PA hold onto another set of smaller tires just for inspection.

 

[aldo98229]

I haven’t measured mine, but it’s got healthy amounts of space down there with the Mopar lift, 35s and all.

One other thing to consider to avoid that squatty stance is to make sure your wheels and tires are not protruding too far past your fender line.

I wish there were more choices of narrower 35-inch tires.

 

[Philly_]

I got my eye on Toyo Open Country A/T 3's in load C. I'm keeping the OEM 17X7.5" Willys wheels, so 285 is about max on that set up. In PA wheel poke beyond the fender flares is out of compliance for annual inspection, so that's another reason 285 is about it without needing fender flare extenders or another set of fender or wheels just to pass inspection. Alot of wheelers in PA hold onto another set of smaller tires just for inspection.

I’ve seen a lot of people run 315’s on factory wheels, but you get a lot more crowning in the tire and have to air down pretty low to get even tread wear. On the bright side, you will have what many refer to as a poor man’s beadlock!

Another option might be to add some Mopar fender flare extensions, or some stick on EZ flares to pass inspection. I linked the 2” version, but they have a 1” version as well and seem to hold up fairly well according to YouTube.

 

[Willys_Wonka]

I haven’t measured mine, but it’s got healthy amounts of space down there with the Mopar lift, 35s and all.

One other thing to consider to avoid that squatty stance is to make sure your wheels and tires are not protruding too far past your fender line.

I wish there were more choices of narrower 35-inch tires.

Yup, in PA we aren’t allowed wheel poke. 285 is about all I can go with oem flares. 34” or 285/75/17 is my next level up in tires.

 

[Steph1]

I have Rubi flares and these gaps are 7.5’’ front and 7.25’’ rear from top of 315/70 to the XR flare extension.

 

[aldo98229]

Yup, in PA we aren’t allowed wheel poke. 285 is about all I can go with oem flares. 34” or 285/75/17 is my next level up in tires.

If you are willing to go to 18-inch rims you can go to 35s.

Those tires are 285/75R18. But you are limited by a selection of only a handful of tires —Goodyear Duratrac and Falken Wildpeak being the two most notable.

They look kick-ass IMO.

 

[OnyxJL]

Wheel Gap? I LOVE wheel gap!

 

[Headbarcode]

Wheel Gap? I LOVE wheel gap!

Great looking Rubi you've got there! And welcome to the community.

Love me some gap as well...

 

[FLTrailRider]

Will you EVER want to run snow chains?

That effects the answer.

 

[Willys_Wonka]

I finally decided on tires, 35x11.5x17 (Toyo A/T III, load range C). Once I found a 35” tire that didn’t poke outside the fender flares it made it an easy choice. Load C over and an E rated set is a noticeable improvement on ride quality, much smoother and quieter then the previous General Grabber A/Tx, E rated. Staying at 285 or 11.5” width seems to be the trick over a 12.5” in order to avoid extra stress on the suspension. I plan on adding a TF 1” spacer lift for added wheel clearance since I currently only got about 5” all around (6” seems like a good amount). Mopar LCA’s are also in the works along with Speedo recalibration. Side note, spare fit easily with a RC relocation bracket and I didn’t have to move up the rear third brake light(just clears it). Thanks for everyone’s input and I’ll post pictures after the spacer lift is on. I’m still trying to figure out a good tire psi, currently at 36#.

 

[AdamG]

Got the same tires 2 weeks ago, so far good on the road, will find out how they do off next weekend.

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