Flatfender fan wants 215 85R16 on stock Liberty

[derekredmond]

I'm a fan of the old flatfender Willys Jeeps, and I like the tall, narrow look of their original tires. I need to replace the 215 75R16 Wranglers that came with my 2004 KJ and would like something a little bigger -- in my CJ-3B and my old ZJ I am used to a little more ground clearance, and I've put a few dings in the undercarriage of the Liberty.

I was thinking of just going to 225 75R16, but would prefer the additional height and less width of a 215 85R16. I think narrower would also mean better highway mileage. But are they too high?

Thanks.

 

[Corwyyn]

Thats pretty much the same height as a 245/75R16 - about 30.5". You would probably get some rubbing on a stock height KJ. Might be able to get away with it if you pound down the pinch weld (under the molded plastic fin in the backside of the front wheel wells) and trimmed the front of the wheel well liner where the fog light access panel is. Anybody else have any thoughts on this?

 

[derekredmond]

Thanks Kevin -- that's a good comparison. The 215 is more than an inch narrower than the 245, but a visual check suggests that you're right.

Do you guys know the chart at http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Jeep_Liberty/Tires_&_Rims? It's a bit confusing because 225/75R16 is in there twice.

Derek

 

[dieseldoesit]

bump,

I know it is pretty old, but I am looking for an update

If you are running these tires, please let me know.

Thanks

 

[Corwyyn]

Thanks Kevin -- that's a good comparison. The 215 is more than an inch narrower than the 245, but a visual check suggests that you're right.

Do you guys know the chart at http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Jeep_Liberty/Tires_&_Rims? It's a bit confusing because 225/75R16 is in there twice.

Derek

Hmm, I see a 225/75-16 and a 225/75-17, so maybe thats what the confusion is. As for the tire height, lets see:
215/85-16 = 30.4" diameter
225/75-16 = 29.2" diameter
So the 215/85 is about the same diameter as a 245/75 which will rub without a lift, although the mods I listed earlier can eliminate that. I know my mothers '05 KJ came stock with the 225/75-16s so they'll fit no problem.

 

[nfmisso]

Do you guys know the chart at http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Jeep_Liberty/Tires_&_Rims? It's a bit confusing because 225/75R16 is in there twice.

Derek

Yes, it has been corrected, on entry was supposed to be 225/75-17.

215/75 R 16 (28.70" outer diameter x 8.46" width x 16)
225/75 R 16 (29.29" outer diameter x 8.86" width x 16)
215/85 R 16 (30.39" outer diameter x 8.46" width x 16)
245/70 R 16 (29.50" outer diameter x 9.65" width x 16)

Above from: http://www.dakota-truck.net/TIRECALC/tirecalc.html

 

[dieseldoesit]

So does the 245/75/R16 rub when it is turned and the suspension flexes, or is the rubbing when the tire is straight and the suspension flexes. I know in my old full size blazer 33/12.5/R15 rub a lot, but 33/10.5/R15 rub a lot less to almost none.

Curious if anyone has actually used the size or not.