I wouldnt run 17s if you plan to wheel. if you can pick them up to flip them for cash i'd do it. but if not pass.

 

Why not?

 

9.5 is the widest you can run on a stock grand Cherokee without putting on flares.

 

So I'm gonna be that guy and dig up this thread (to save starting another thread)

I am curious as to if I can run 245/75r16 Yoke Geolander A/T-S without any rub issues, on the GCL in my signature. How wide are the stock wheels? The site I am getting info on the tire from says to mount on 6.5-8" wide wheel. They are 30.7" tall, 9.7" section width, and 7.6" tread width.

 

This is not a recomendation, but a baseline fact. I have a 00 WJ (Grand Cherokee Laredo) basic stock with only one option. I have the OEM optional tire size of 245/70R16. My basic usage for this vehicle is deep snow on pavement. The stock Goodyears were not at all usefull even on wet pavement. I went to General Grabber AT2s. These are 29.5" rolling diameter with a 8" pavement contact patch.

The point is I only have about 1 1/2" to 2" front and rear clearance in the wheelwell and about 1" clearance to the inner fender liner at full lock steering. One of my rear mudflaps was loose and caught the tire when I backed off a curb diagonally. I think you could go to 30X9.5s (16) without rubbing, but anything larger would require a small lift.

My intention is to not modify my vehicle because I need it for my business and reliability is important. I personaly would not lift it more than 2'' to maintain stability at highway speeds with the OEM suspension. This is the most stable vehicle I've ever owned and I wouldn't change a thing.

But that's me.

To answer your question about wheels, My OEM wheels are 7 or 7.5". I'm not sure which.

 

Good stuff in bold, agree with it at the moment. Very much need to keep this thing as reliable as possible until I can either a) get a toy or b) get a new dd and make this a toy. Who knows what I may do to this thing in the future lol...

Appreciate the info you provided and will likely stick to it.

 

I have 30×9.5 tires and no rub issues I would like to go 31. But yes you would need a small lift. Gi with the budget lifts at any auto part store as long as you aren't doing any serious off roading. Ie rock crawling. You will not have any issues.

 

JMHO, For the toy, I think you should go with a Cherokee or Wrangler. There is a lot more parts and support for them. The WJ is too much a road car by design. Yes, it can be modified, but you'd have a lot more fun with a fully modified Wrangler! Keep the WJ stock. It will resell better.

I once met a guy with a Wrangler with a 350 Chevy engine in it. It was only a street toy, because he had no room for the front drive shaft.

 

If I somehow come up on some real love for Jeeps (never know, might happen if I keep hanging around here lol) I may just get another as a toy.

Though my real love (if I can ever afford it) would likely be a 3rd gen (03-09) or Ram 2500 QC SB with full Carli or Thuren suspension. After hanging with those builders in the desert and Baja; and with friends of mine who have their products, it really is what I'd do if I could build a toy today...

And how this has to do with tires... Would likely be running a 37x12.5x17 on that setup.

 

My real love is a Toyota Hilux truck, but I can't import one. These are probably the strongest 4X4s out there in production. People bash them hard and they won't quit. Why can't America build something like that? I don't think even a Humvee is as strong.