ok i just purchased a 95 cherokee with 6.5 inch lift, on 35 x 12.50 tires.
it has a arb air locker up front and im running stock axles with 4:11 gears. the jeep had 33's on it but the PO bought 35's 2,000 miles ago. they rub on the front and in the back. (not daily driving just when flexing) honestly i have not flexed it out but i can see where it slightly rubbed in the back and where it kinda chewed up the bottom of the fender flare / liner. my license is suspended so the jeep hasnt been offroaded since i got it.i get my license back in 3 weeks so i want to order up some new tires. i can see where it has rubbed on the front right in front of the doors at the bottom of the fender. i am looking to downsize to 33's as this is my DD/WW and i have to drive a good bit for work. my question is if i get 33 x 12.50's do you think it will still rub or will i need to go to 33 x 10.50's? current tires are mud terrains km2, im looking to replace them with the same tire.
i do not want to take my fender flares off (i live in VA, not trying to get pulled) and im not trying to rub while offroading.

any imput is greatly appreciated
pic of the jeep is in the link.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f8/new-here-48201/

 

well i was gonna suggest taking the flares off and cutting some but i didnt know that you can get pulled in VA for no flares. whys that?? i live in NC and want to take my flares off. i gotta see if thats legal haha...
but anyway id go to 33x10.5 so your gm will go up (only slightly tho) and you'll still have your clearance.

 

well your tires technically are not supposed to stick out past your flares in va. im told you can get pulled over for it. the 12.50's stick out past my flares just a little so i doubt i would get pulled but i am trying to downsize tires cause my the PO said it gets about 16mpg on the hwy if you stay out of the gas and about 12 in the city with the tires on it. its geared for 33's, plus the 35's are like brand new so im going to sell them to help offset the costs.

 

oh ok so having the flares off would make the tires look wider and stick out more. increasing your risk of being pulled.... thats stupid haha

 

bumping this up, anymore opinions?

 

you said it doesnt rub when driving, I would say that 33x12.5 would be fine, but it really depends on the backspacing of the wheels as to whether or not its gonna still rub. but that will cause the tires to stick out further. You can extend the bumpstops, which is something most people forget or dont do rather

 

x2 Exactly

 

not sure on the back spacing but with 35 x 1250's they dont stick out much past the stock flares. i will get a shot of the jeep from the front end.

 

back spacing is the distance from the mounting surface of the wheel to inner lip of the wheel. the smaller the number the more your tires will stick out

 

this ^ 33x10.5 would be ridiculously funny looking with your 6.5 lift. sounds like you dont have the proper bs for your wheels with that tire size. if you have the 35 with 2000 miles on the it would be a hole lot more to buy some 33's. spend quarter of the money and buy the correct backspacing.

I run 35's with 3.75 bs beadlocks and the tire sticks about an inch past the fender

 

33's look fine with 6.5" lift.

I am running only a slightly extended bump stop with no rubbing. (the rear is at 6.5" the front is still at 5".....)

these are 33x10.5's on 4" back spacing.

 

I think that going from 35's to 33's is not a bad move.