245/75/r16 vs 235/75/r16

[Ruby]

I tried looking for this already, and maybe I'm bad at it, but I haven't found this question quite yet. Looking for experience from people who have used one or both tire sizes offroad.
Looking to see how worth it the 245 is over the 235 in the real world. I'm settled on getting LT tires with a 2.5 OME lift on a 2004 Limited. I've read mixed reviews on the rubbing, mpg, and power loss that comes with 245. How much is it really? Will I have any rubbing or do I need to plan for bolt on wheel spacers? (Plastic inside wheel well is gone, it's just metal if that helps) I run mountain trails in utah and surrounding states. Are the pros of the 245 worth the cons? Or will I be just as happy with offroad performance on 235s?
I know the obvious answer is regear and don't worry but aside from that, what's the thoughts of those who have gone this route before me?

(My wife is also likely to get an offroad camper trailer, weights under 1000 lb, that we would end up bringing around)

 

[Ruby]

I tried looking for this already, and maybe I'm bad at it, but I haven't found this question quite yet. Looking for experience from people who have used one or both tire sizes offroad.
Looking to see how worth it the 245 is over the 235 in the real world. I'm settled on getting LT tires with a 2.5 OME lift on a 2004 Limited. I've read mixed reviews on the rubbing, mpg, and power loss that comes with 245. How much is it really? Will I have any rubbing or do I need to plan for bolt on wheel spacers? (Plastic inside wheel well is gone, it's just metal if that helps) I run mountain trails in utah and surrounding states. Are the pros of the 245 worth the cons? Or will I be just as happy with offroad performance on 235s?
I know the obvious answer is regear and don't worry but aside from that, what's the thoughts of those who have gone this route before me?

(My wife is also likely to get an offroad camper trailer, weights under 1000 lb, that we would end up bringing around)

Oh and the wheels are the ones that came from the factory, as far as I've been told, and current tires are 230 75 r16.

 

[Deb'nKJ]

The difference will be negligible, based on my experience of running an XJ on 265/70's this Winter compared with the 31x10.5's it's been running on for the 5 years I've had it (& even compared with the stock 225/70's, they only lost me 2 mpg + limited top speed to 80mph - maybe 70 on the 31" MT's)

 

[tommudd]

Wheel spacers will make it worse in front
Pound over your pinch weld in front
Plastic liner gone, sad does not help a bit in tire size only has big pockets to collect dirt etc now to rust more
245 75 16 will work, just know you will lose some power and mileage especially when pulling any trailer/camper

 

[tommudd]

The difference will be negligible, based on my experience of running an XJ on 265/70's this Winter compared with the 31x10.5's it's been running on for the 5 years I've had it (& even compared with the stock 225/70's, they only lost me 2 mpg + limited top speed to 80mph - maybe 70 on the 31" MT's)

XJ and a KJ is two completely different animals
no way you can say a XJ does ok so a KJ will as well

 

[Ruby]

Wheel spacers will make it worse in front
Pound over your pinch weld in front
Plastic liner gone, sad does not help a bit in tire size only has big pockets to collect dirt etc now to rust more
245 75 16 will work, just know you will lose some power and mileage especially when pulling any trailer/camper

Ya I know, but they both broke free on the highway while my fenders were missing (also had broken off on the highway previously) and one got shredded and the other was half ruined so I decided to clean it out well and give it a good thick coating of rust protector.
Plus at this point I've changed enough pieces up front that putting new ones in would just create a bigger pocket for dirt to sit on up top.

 

[Ruby]

Wheel spacers will make it worse in front
Pound over your pinch weld in front
Plastic liner gone, sad does not help a bit in tire size only has big pockets to collect dirt etc now to rust more
245 75 16 will work, just know you will lose some power and mileage especially when pulling any trailer/camper

Ya so then my question is, are the losses large enough that I'd want the thinner tire? Or are we talking something small enough I won't notice.

 

[Ruby]

Thanks for the help guys

 

[Ruby]

Wheel spacers will make it worse in front
Pound over your pinch weld in front
Plastic liner gone, sad does not help a bit in tire size only has big pockets to collect dirt etc now to rust more
245 75 16 will work, just know you will lose some power and mileage especially when pulling any trailer/camper

Why will the wheel spacers make the rubbing worse? Do the 245s only rub along the pinch weld then?

 

[nbas]

I use 30mm (1.2") wheel spacers on 245/75R16 tires and I barely rub on reverse when fully turned. If you go on 245/75R16 then my best advice is to regear to 4.10. It is really needed in my opinion. Just did it (the regearing) and there is a huge difference! MPG is also better...

 

[tommudd]

ny wheel spacer sits the wheel/tire combo out further which in turn will cut the radious of how much you can turn

 

[tommudd]

Why will the wheel spacers make the rubbing worse? Do the 245s only rub along the pinch weld then?

below

 

[tommudd]

Ya so then my question is, are the losses large enough that I'd want the thinner tire? Or are we talking something small enough I won't notice.

thinner. wider, not enough to really notice
I ran 265 to 16s and 265 75 15s and got the same mileage as one with 235 70 16s

 

[wheeee32]

I use 30mm (1.2") wheel spacers on 245/75R16 tires and I barely rub on reverse when fully turned. If you go on 245/75R16 then my best advice is to regear to 4.10. It is really needed in my opinion. Just did it (the regearing) and there is a huge difference! MPG is also better...

The regear is definitely needed with 245/75/16. You'll notice the difference immediately after the regear. I sure did. Power was back and the mileage went back to where it was stock.

 

[nbas]

If you have the automatic transmission 42RLE as I do, have in mind that when cruising in the highway the auto trans will change to 4th gear very early, meaning that with the slightest incline it will go back to 3rd, then back to 4th... This means more fuel and not a pleasant ride... This also means an incline in the auto trans temp. When you do such a change (going to larger tires) you need regear to go back to stock ride quality, fuel consumption etc...

 

[Shankster]

I have about a 2.5" OME lift and I'm running 245/75-16s with the stock 3.73 gearing. I don't doubt it would be better with the 4.11 gears but that would be a big cost commitment I'm not willing to make right now. I don't notice much difference in drivability when I'm on my 225/75-16 snow tires but my Liberty always struggles a bit at altitude on mountain roads anyway. With the 245s in low range I can still crawl up some really steep stuff. In my opinion my 225/75-16s snows look really silly with the lift - 245/75-16s look much better. 265/75-16 would look even better but might be asking a bit too much from the 3.73 stock gears and I'm sure would rub a lot more. You might consider 265/70-16 - a hair taller than a 245/75-16 but will look a bit burlier. I don't get any rubbing in normal driving - only very mild rubbing in some off road situations and the worst that happens is my front fender liners get polished up in one spot. Bottom line for me - 245/75-16s work well and look good but I think my next tires will be 265/70-16s for a bit more volume for off road and even better looks. I'd recommend either of those to you. Just my opinion but if you care about looks I'd stay away from the 235s.

 

[tommudd]

I have about a 2.5" OME lift and I'm running 245/75-16s with the stock 3.73 gearing. I don't doubt it would be better with the 4.11 gears but that would be a big cost commitment I'm not willing to make right now. I don't notice much difference in drivability when I'm on my 225/75-16 snow tires but my Liberty always struggles a bit at altitude on mountain roads anyway. With the 245s in low range I can still crawl up some really steep stuff. In my opinion my 225/75-16s snows look really silly with the lift - 245/75-16s look much better. 265/75-16 would look even better but might be asking a bit too much from the 3.73 stock gears and I'm sure would rub a lot more. You might consider 265/70-16 - a hair taller than a 245/75-16 but will look a bit burlier. I don't get any rubbing in normal driving - only very mild rubbing in some off road situations and the worst that happens is my front fender liners get polished up in one spot. Bottom line for me - 245/75-16s work well and look good but I think my next tires will be 265/70-16s for a bit more volume for off road and even better looks. I'd recommend either of those to you. Just my opinion but if you care about looks I'd stay away from the 235s.

With 265 75 16s ( on the 04 ) I had to keep the OD off even going down interstate for the week before I installed the 4.10s
Even with 265 70 16s ( which are the same height as 245 75 16s by the way , only wider ) it struggled some on hills without the 4.10s in the 03 until I installed them
We will not even get into the transmission shifting more causing it to run very hot or the other issues that come with it
Ive been building 4x4 since the early 70s and always regeared so as to not tax the engine or any other part of the drivetrain
Now onto lift, 265 75 16s and only 2.5 inches of lift ? No room even going over curbs LOL
245 75 16s or 265 70 16s is OK with the proper amount of bumpstops

 

[Shankster]

Even with 265 70 16s ( which are the same height as 245 75 16s by the way , only wider )

I'm not saying you're wrong but my post didn't actually need correction either. As I said, the 265 70 16s are "a hair taller" - 30.61" vs 30.47"

 

[tommudd]

I'm not saying you're wrong but my post didn't actually need correction either. As I said, the 265 70 16s are "a hair taller" - 30.61" vs 30.47"

Depends on brand as well , Oh well carry on with your life
Years in the tire industry, has taught me to never argue with some