I'm familiar with the lift/ tire sticky over in cherokee chat. Good stuff but it hasn't answered one question: backspacing. Anyway here's my question: I want to run 32 x 11.5's on a 15 inch rim. I don't mind trimming the fenders, but don't want to have to do anything that looks excessively modified to avoid excessive rubbing. The heep currently sits at the stock ride height, and will be getting a 3" lift to start when the funds allow this summer. I don't plan on wheeling until I get the lift so the most flex it will see is the angle between my street and driveway. The tires I am getting are cheap enough to allow a set of aftermarket steel wheels. The only problem is I want them to sick out a bit, but don't know how much the different backspacing will push them out. If anyone has some pics showing how far their tires stick out it'd be great. Thanks

 

are you planning to put these tires on before you lift it if so they will not fit you wont even be able turn with out the lift and at 3 inches you will need to trim to fit them as for backspacing i run 4" on mine look in my alblums you can see what it looks like i have 31s and a 3" lift

 

Yeah I'm putting them on before the lift. I've already trimmed the fenders. So normal driving shouldn't be a problem. I know I'll need the lift to do any off roading. You have a pic from the front or top showing how far they stick out?

 

if you've already installed those tires and drove around on them and have no tire rub, then damn you shoulda just waited for the lift for the tires....
i've got a 4.5" lift and i run 32's and i only rub when i'm tucked out... the front dont rub at all but the rears do when they tuck up into the wheel-well
i also had these installed on my previous jeep with only a 2" lift and they rubbed all over the place.....
unless your desperate or something the smarter move would be Not running the 32's with the stock setup

look for a after market rim with a 4-4.5" backspacing... basically enough said they may stick out an inch or less out from the stock fender flares....

 

I understand where you're coming from on the stock setup/ large tire concern. However I'm kinda between a rock and a hard place. I want to lift it, but need tires asap. So rather than buy a set of oe size tires and then be stuck with them when I lift it I figured keep it street driven when I get the larger tires until it's lifted (probably a few weeks). I need it to get to work and even doing 5-10 under I'm getting a hefty amount of tire squeal and sliding on the twisty back roads I need to take to get to work. Hence the tires before lift decision. I do not have flares, so I'm guessing that 4- 4.5 backspacing would stick out 2 to 3 inches? Anyone know what the backspacing is on the stock rims?

 

me I'd go 3.75-4.25 of backspacing and you should be fine with some minor fender trimming.

Stock XJ rims are like 5.75 is member servers.

 

Thanks OKC. So the smaller the backspacing the further out the tires will stick?