Well to start this baby off right an introduction:

I am 6'9" 250lbs and I don't fit in most standard sized applications, ducking in most doorways and never fitting comfortably in vehicles. So I had this truck:



2003 Dodge with Cummins and it was running around 400HP and 900FT LBS of torque. 4.5" Fabtech lift and 35/12.5-17 Toyo MT tires. Truck was great I was comfortable and it was a real workhorse. I drove it on a NW portion of I5 freeway near Mt Vernon, WA and I almost lost control at 75MPH the thing was so stiff. So on that trip home I started watching which rigs hit the "woops" with ease. I liked the new 4Runner but that was too much $, I settled on the 2005-2006 CRD Jeep Liberty. Then found one locally for $20k, my credit went south and I ended up not getting financing for the Liberty. Ended up wiith this gem.



For $2800 I got out from under my $500 per month payment of the Dodge and the market being what it was the value of the Dodge had dropped massivly and I was upside down about $3500 on the Dodge. So it was a win/win...I could have lit the Jeep on fire and been money ahead!!

So now I had an 1991 XJ 2dr with 190,000 miles, AX15 and the 4.0L. All stock and had some dents on it from prior owner that were not off-road related. The perfect starter for a big guy like me!

Those that do not know about the 2dr XJ's they are the exact same as the 4dr versions but the doors are much longer and there is considerably more room in front. The wheelbase is the same from 2dr to 4dr.

So with the stock 235/75-15 tires on it the Jeep did ok. I was given a set of RE front springs that would lift it 3.5" and I pieced together lift blocks for the rear. I was waiting on shocks to install the lift.











All in all the XJ wheeled pretty well and had decent stock articulation considering the rear springs were very worn out and sagging.

Then I was given a set of Liberty stock 16" steel wheels and I bought a set of 235/85-16 E rated tires. I went with the 10ply because I would never have an issue with overloading the tire and it was a stronger tire than the required 4ply stockers. I removed the factory fender flares and hammered the fenders back and up (no cutting at all) I did not want to cut and bend the body.

The tires rubbed on the lower control arms at full lock steering, so I swapped in a set of RE tube lower control arms and the rubbing was eleminated. The tires were great because after the Dodge MT tires I wanted a very quiet and smooth ride on the highway while still getting good hookup in mud and snow. With a set of 3/16" chains for the 235/85-16 tires I would not have any problems what so ever with traction. The tires I bought did great in the snow with out the chains anyways and were very good on the road.





















The 235/85-16 was a great fit for a no-lift XJ in my opinion and has me holding off on lifting it for now. I have since been laid off and started my own business and become stay at home Dad...so the money is just not there for play time. But I have plans for replacing the tires with 255/85-16 or maybe the Swamper Special Service 34/9.5-16 TSL but I do not want to install the lift. The only reason to install the lift would to make the XJ easier to get in and out of since I am a bit on the Too Tall side. Plus the "stuffed" look of the black tires on black rims on a black rig just looks good to me and everybody that sees the XJ.

I had to use the tires off the Jeep and mount them on my 1997 Yukon which is another great thing about that tire size...my 1986 F250 Shop Truck runs that size, the tires were a direct replacement for the Yukon's factory 265/75-16 tires just narrower and the Jeep will run these as well.

Truthfully the spedometer was more accurate with the 235/85-16 tires than it was with the stock 235/75-15 tires.

More to come...

 

Lookin good, love the stance

 

Looks good brother, I can relate I'm 6'6" and 250. Hang in there with the business and good luck!