My Cherokee is stock (so far) My stock rims have some surface rust and I need new tires anyway so I'm probably going to get new rims too. Can I bump up to a 16" x 8" rim and still have tire clearance or am I stuck with the 15's until I lift it 3" or 4"??

 

you can go to 16 inch as long as the tires are about the same size. stock tires are around 28s or 29s and if you get 16 inch rims you will still wana stay with around 29-30 otherwise the tires can rub.

 

And keep in mind backspacing too, if you get an aftermarket wheel, chances are the backspacing will be more aggressive, causing a rub issue in the front when turning, with the same height tire, because the tire is sitting farther out from the truck's centerline & the Cherokee's tight wheel wells...