yeah, less backspacing actually is better. My 1.5 spacers take my stock rims from 5.25 to 3.75 and they still rub the LCAs a little bit at full lock with my 33s.

 

My vote is on wheel spacers and continue to run your rims and tires.
When changing rims there are ancilliary costs of mounting, valve stems, and balance that are often left out of the cost projections.
Spacers do not place any more stress on suspension components than wheel offset changes. Do the geometry.
$140 tax in, set of 4, delivered next week, from QTech couple years ago, work great, no problems, good price, excellent quality!
1.25" Spydertrax wheel spacers, toque em to 100 ft lb. Torque your rims on at 100 ft lb.Always use antiseize on your threads. Cured my lower control arm rub at full lock 3" on 31 x 10.5-15's. I too have couple set of stock rims and mount second set of tires on them. Spacers or new rims with more backspacing both have an effect of changing the scrub radius so that is a wash. I run em front and back and like the stance. Tires are still acceptable within the stock wheel flairs. Quickest fix.

 

Look at Rough country adapters if you opt for "spacers". About half the price of Spidertrax, aluminum, hub centric, and very nice. Just keep up with them as directed and they are fine.

 

he asked for the easiest way to fix the rubbing. that's it. even with the extra washers, the XJ still has a better turning radius than many cars/trucks. i'm speaking from experience, but that's just my opinion.

 

That 'upkeep' is a bit annoying for some. Plus the fact that your adding more parts to potentially break isn't that great.

Opinions are like...

Seriously, the XJ does quite a bit better than most cars/trucks. But why downgrade? Why take something away when there is a better way to solve the issue?

I guess I look at it this way...what's the easiest way off the top of a 30 story building? Jump. Is that the best way? No. So don't cut corners.

FWIW, there is plenty of experience here...

 

It's not something he has to run forever. some washers from the parts bucket and a few minutes saves his tires and is much safer on the road.

i don't know what his budget is, he may not be able to drop the cash on wheels or spacers asap. i used the method i linked to get me by until i could get a new set of wheels. it's really not that big of a deal.