I have a 4.5 inch lift and I'm getting ready to replace my tires. I had 32x11.50 I was told that 33s will rub really bad with the amount of lift I have. I do not want to trim anything on the jeep. So my question is will wheels spacers keep the jeep from rubbing or is trimming or a bigger lift absolutely necissary to clear 33s?

 

First off what rims do you have? If you have after market ones with good back spacing you won't rub on your control arms, however with bigger tire you may run on your fenders a bit you can just trim if you want and if your state allows it.

 

Where are you rubbing? Control arms or when the axle is articulating?

 

They rub the fender when it is cut hard in either direction and a little on the control arm. I guess I'm not opposed to trimming if it wouldn't make the jeep look bad because its my daily driver and still in pretty good shape.

 

What control arms do you have?

 

33s won't rub if you have proper backspacing (3.75 is what you want) and if your fenders are properly trimmed. I have a 4" lift with 33x12.5s and I don't rub anywhere

 

Yeah I have 3" lift with 33x12.5's on 15x10" with 3.75 backspacing. No rub at all. My old 31's on stock rims rubbed the lca until I got some 1.5" spacers.

 

You basically have two potential problems.

One if you are close to stock back spacing you may rub your front lower control arms. In this case wheel spacers will take care of your problem. And they are fine to use.

The other problem is your stock fender wells only will accept 30" tires without rubbing. Any larger and you probably will have to trim the fenders.

IF you have a one ton riding 4.5" lift that doesn't flex. Then you may get away without messing with the fender wells.

The other potential issue is that with spacers or a wider off set you are more likely to rub your fender wells.

 

Yeah, I learned that 31" ATs are like a belt sander on the vinyl/plastic wheel well flares with a 2" lift. I want to do spacers, also, because I rub on my LCAs.

 

Thanks for all the input guys I guess I'll shave the fenders a bit and see what I'm working with after that.

 

You could get fender flares bushwacker has two styles.Or metal tube style like https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f10/h-...s-here-139959/ or http://shop.jeeptubes.com/category.sc?categoryId=8

 

Damn, those are a bit over-engineered. Look great, but way too expensive for what I need. I'll pull some stock flares from the JY, trim them a bit, and DIY my own flares for the road legal crap lol

 

There is these https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f10/to...res-xj-121035/ they are a bushwacker knock off but built just as strong tho.

 

I have a 4.5 in lift with 32x11.5 as well, I have Konig rims (blame the PO)with close to stock back spacing. I rubbed ALL OVER THE PLACE, lca, fender, even the springs?¿?... It was the strangest thing. So I got 1.5 in. Spidertrax wheel spacers am I don't rub until I flex... But I sorta dont want to cut the fenders quite yet.... Idk... But if your going to get spacers, spidertrax are the way to go

 

I suppose some extended bumpstops would prevent some rubbing. Whenever you put a lift and bigger tires on, your tires will go to the same place during flexing.