johnnyswell

So I'm a little confused on tire sizing with certain lifts. Right now I have skyjacker 7000 hydros with 2 inch spacers. I want to add some nice tires and wheels, thinking about doing 265/75/16 (about 31.6" tires) on my XJ. I'm just worried that they will brush against my fenders. Will I have to trim my fenders, If I do I might just get the bushwacker flat style fender flares. Will that work?

My other idea floating around in my head is getting a rough country 3" series 2 suspension lift kit with the n2.0 shocks and rear add-a-leaf springs and adding a steering stabilizer to it. If I get this lift would I still need to trim my fenders for those tires?

Lastly, If I get the flat fender flares would you recommend wheel spacers (or even bigger/wider tires) so it doesn't look awkward? If so what size?

MoparNJeep

You would have to trim fenders. The flat flares I would go with the Napier Flat flare instead of bushwakers. They cost less and are a lil smaller so would look much better with that tire size.

Now the other thing is wheel offset, if you will be running the stock 16 inch wheels it will help from rubbing the fenders but at full lock will RUB the lower control arms. You can add a spacer to the turn stops on the spindles though to solve that issue.

johnnyswell

So would you suggest the Rough Country lift kit then? or will I be fine with my current 2" spacer lift?

What wheel spacers would you recommend sizing wise? They won't be stock 16s

MoparNJeep

You can get rims with 3.75-4.5 back spacing and you won't need wheel spacers. If you have stock rims then 1 inch wheel spacers. I would stick with the spacer lift and get the flares. How is the back lifted?

johnnyswell

The aftermarket wheels I'm getting have a backspacing of 5.00" so I'm guessing I won't be rubbing the control arms with that.
The back is just lifted with rear lift shackles. I got the Skyjacker 2" budget lift over a year ago. I'm just finding out that most people on here have only negative things to say about the kit. That's why I was considering the Rough Country 3" kit.

MoparNJeep

Nothing wrong with a spacer and shackle kit. With 5 inch of backspace that's only about half inch less than stock so you may RUB at full lock. Best to get rims and see from there if spacers are needed.

andrewmp6

Go full leaf packs don't use add a leaf,And no way id ever run a wheel spacer its ugly when they fail.You can buy steel d window rims for the price of the good spacers and you have one less thing that could go wrong.

MoparNJeep

Wheel spacers are widely used and if properly installed and checked regularly they are safe to use. D Windows suck and I would never run them because 90% of jeeps run them and there cheap, just a matter of opinion like running spacers.

Another option is run the wheels you ALREADY have picked out and run rustys off road lower control arms that are made to run stock offset wheels and you won't have any rub. They are about the price of wheel spacers so that gives you another option if your one of those people that believe the internet and thinks wheel spacers will fail and are unsafe lol

johnnyswell

Okay, If I do go with the wheel spacers what size should I go for? Especially with the Napier flat fender flares. I don't want the fender flares to jut out too much over the tires.

Also, I did some research on control arms and some people are saying that rusty's aren't that great. I was looking at these
http://www.rokmen.com/jeep/suspensio...ehicle_type=40
I'm assuming I would need front and rear ones?

When would wheel spacers fail?? I'm not going to be doing any crazy off-roading. Mainly just romping around on the beach and some back trails.

MoparNJeep

1 inch or 1.25 spacers would be about right. Spacers fail from being installed wrong or ignorance. I only suggested rusty because they clear with a stock offset wheel. Those Rokmen ones look good but are not a commonly ran one so I can not speak to there quality personally. Most people run IRO ARMS, RUBICON EXPRESS, etc! you would only need front lowers by the way. Rear suspension is leaf spring.

I'm currently looking at the iron fab 4x4 arms myself as they are a bent arm and beefy.

Really though with a 2inch lift they are not needed especially if you don't wheel a whole lot. From what your looking to do I would just get flares and run a 1-1.25 wheel spacers and run it.

johnnyswell

Yeah that sounds about right, I'm probably going to grab 2 pairs of these spacers
http://www.jeep4x4center.com/rugged-...ers-black.html

It seems hard to find 1.00 spacers, 1.25 are more common. I'll have a professional mechanic install them so I don't run into any trouble. I need to take it to them anyway to do some welding and adjust my front grille guard that doesn't seem to be sitting right.

Anything else I need or should know before I start ordering?

So far I'm looking at getting these:
-16"x8" wheels with 13mm offset and 5.00" backspace
-Mount them on LT265/75R16 Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires (Overall Diameter of 31.7")
-Napier flat fender flares
-4 Rugged Ridge 1.25" spacers

Any problems I might run into? What else would you suggest?

andrewmp6

Running a wheel that fits is safer then running a spacer.Google wheel spacer failure its never pretty because you lose the wheel.A lot of shops will not put spacers back on because of legal liabilities.

Chris01XJ

Nothing wrong with running spacers as long as they are installed correctly I run the spacer/adapter to run jk rubi wheels and have never had a problem with them on the street or wheeling. Running 1.5" spacers are pretty much the norm here at our shop (CFS Off-Road) Rough Country has them for a great price.

Chris01XJ

Why run 16's when you can run 15's and save yourself money on the wheels and tires......also if you dont want to run spacers, please find a wheel with the right offset/backspace 5" of BS Isn't going to cut it, you will still rub on your lower control arms 4.5" or 4" would work much better.

johnnyswell

So then you would recommend lower control arms? Would I need them for all 4 wheels? Are they adjustable?