Tire & Rim Thoughts?
 

I currently have a 2000 Cherokee, 3" lift, 31" Duratracs and 15" steel rims.

Long story short i'm tired of the road noise, horrendous mpg, highway instability on the hwy because of the large tires, etc. I really want something more road worthy that feels more stable and is good for a daily driver.

I'm considering the following which would leave me with 29" tires. With the 3" lift I just want to make sure my jeep doesn't drive odd and look silly with the smaller tires. I can't find any 3" jeeps with 29" tires for comparison. Some BFG all terrain 235s?


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...3ef88f67fb.jpg

Here is the current set up that I want to get rid of... looks bad *** but that's the only good thing. May keep this on the side for winters.


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...582a4bef6e.jpg

other suggestions welcome.

235/85r16 ???


tall and relatively narrow; works good on pickups

no 235/75R15. 16s could be an option.

Tall and Narrow is a big concerning, but then again my OEM wheels were 15" on 225s I think. So may be 245 would be appropriate? ... if they sell them.

these are 31.5" tires, the size you said. OP is complaining of gas mileage and noise.

Think you should put the Jeep back on stock suspension and run some small 225s if you are worried about mileage and noise. Duratracs are quiet and 31s don't hurt mileage too much for many to complain about. But here is how 235s looked when I first put on my used 3.5" lift, it wasn't bad.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...e435c87523.jpg

Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think diameter alone is what kills mileage, but rather big and wide tires. A tall highway or all season tire would not be that noisy.


Diameter should actually increase gas mileage up to a point, until you are under-geared.


He's already lifted and wanted something that didn't look too small. Just my suggestion ... :)

Tire diameter does affect mpgs, but also does alot of factors. Width and aggressiveness carries alot. The diameter causes jeep to work harder if it has 3.55s. Although 31s arent too bad from stock. But like stated earlier by dude, OP should sell his jeep and get a stocker. He's worried about noise, instability and mpgs. I have a 3.5" bastard lift and drive swayless and feel handling is great still. Soon ill be moving to 235/85/16. Im looking to do pizza cutters for the sake of winter stability and pressing through snow not floating on it, but thats neither here or there

You sure its the tires causing this and not a sloppy steering linkage? When I replaced some tie rods, my steering felt wayyy better.

So you can still run 15inch rims for 29-33s? I need new rims BAD, and wanted to upgrade tire sizes as well, thought I had to do both at the same time.

Off topic a bit, sorry.

But agreed the ride is a lot different. My friend has a three inch lift, and it's louder and rougher.

or 44"s

Here's 3 inch on 235/75/15s which are 28.75" I believe

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Not an option, Not putting more money into the jeep, i paid to lift it 3" and i'm happy with the height. I just want more hwy worthy tires. If I keep 30-30" tires i'm fine with that but I don't think I need them so big or wide. Wider they are they track on the road when going straight. You have to turn the wheel more to turn the truck and they hydroplane easier on water being wider. So I want something that is better in rain/hwy/normal driving.

235s don't look too bad.

Agreed, the tire diameter does affect mpg, also the knobby tires make the truck work harder so I want to make the truck work less and ride better. I know it's tough asking these questions here, most people are riding more aggressive offroad tires.

Yes, I had the bushings replaced recently and the sloppy steering has been extremely evident since I put the bigger tires on over the stock wheels. It's a light truck with wide tires so that doesn't help.

Thanks for the replies. Anyone have any recommendations on more road/hwy worthy tires that are all terrain?

Cooper Discoverer AT3 Fits your criteria based on research and comparisons I have previously done.
Also Firestone Destination AT

Funny i had the AT3s from when i originally bought the truck from the previous owner. They were OEM size I think. I really liked the way they rode.

Idk man... Ive ran a ton of different tires over the years and the Durratracs are one of the quietest/smoothest out there. I am going to go with the other guys on this. Go back to stock and use some decent dedicated street tires if you are worried about mpg. Gearing also makes a big difference as does having your motor running in tip top shape.

I have a stock XJ with regular old street tires and my big one doesn't ride anyworse... the stock XJ gets better milage but its not rocking 1000lbs of extra armor, axles etc.