Help me choose a tire size (TJ MOAB Rims)

[KJManiacz]

Just purchased a set of 04 TJ MOAB wheels to put on my 07 Liberty. I'm getting an OME/Bilstein lift installed next week which from research should give me about 2.5 inches of lift. Just trying to decide what tires I will have the tire shop put on as soon as the lift is done.

I'm set on getting TOYO Open Country AT-III's but in a dilemma of choosing a size. I'm really not wanting to regear so I'd rather not go super large. Im mostly looking between 245-70-16's and 245-75-16's. My fear with the 245-70's is they will look too small when the lift is done but 245-75's will call for a regear. What would you guys go with? Thank you all!

 

[tommudd]

You can get by with a 30.5 inch tall tire like 245-75-16, you will lose some power and gas mileage but not like a 32 inch tall tire
although since you are going to an 8 inch wide wheel, I like the way 265-70-16s sit, same height as the 245-75-16 but looks way better since its over an 8 inch wide tread whereas 245-75-16s are more narrow than the wheel is
I run 265-70-16s on Moabs on the 03 with 2.5 inches of lift
just pound over the pinch weld behind the front tires

 

[KJManiacz]

You can get by with a 30.5 inch tall tire like 245-75-16, you will lose some power and gas mileage but not like a 32 inch tall tire
although since you are going to an 8 inch wide wheel, I like the way 265-70-16s sit, same height as the 245-75-16 but looks way better since its over an 8 inch wide tread whereas 245-75-16s are more narrow than the wheel is
I run 265-70-16s on Moabs on the 03 with 2.5 inches of lift
just pound over the pinch weld behind the front tires

Thanks for the quick reply! That makes perfect sense. On the other hand I just found out that this tire also comes in a 255-70-16. Would this be the best of both worlds? Smaller height at 30.1 inches but a width that's right between the width of 245-75's and 265-70's.

 

[tommudd]

255-70-16s would work as well

 

[duderz7]

I'm currently running 245/75 on my moabs and they're fine, but I will definitely be putting 265/70's as they will fit much better. A regear would be ideal, but realistically will not likely happen for some time.

 

[mertz019]

Would you be re-gearing due to performance issues? How bad is it with the 245's?

 

[duderz7]

It's really not bad with the 245/75 gets around just fine although with reduced gas mileage and frequent shifts from the auto trans at highway speeds on hilly or high wind terrain. I just turn off the overdrive in these situations. I am in the process of regearing. I certainly wouldn't want to put anything smaller height or width on it.

 

[JeepinSteve]

I have Cooper Discoverer STT Pro 30x9.5 15 mud tires on 8" Pro Comp wheels with an OME 2.5 lift, and in my opinion they do look just a little to small, but like you, I didn't want to do a re-gear. Based on the specs from Tire Rack, my tires are a tad larger than the Toyo Open Country 245/70/16's you want to buy. Below are the specs directly from Tire Rack for both tires. I will also post a pic of my KJ so you can see what it looks like with Cooper's and OME lift. As far as gas mileage, on the street I get 12.7 and on the highway I get 18.9. I noticed very little if any power loss from the stock wheels. Also, I have a 5 speed manual transmission.

Cooper Discoverer STT Pro 30x9.5x15

SIZE​

UTQG​

MAX. LOAD​

MAX. INFLATION PRESSURE​

TREAD DEPTH​

TIRE WEIGHT​

RIM WIDTH RANGE​

MEAS. RIM WIDTH​

SECT. WIDTH​

TREAD WIDTH​

OVERALL DIAM.​

REVS. PER MILE​

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN*​

30X9.5R15LT 104Q C​

None​

1,985 lbs​

50 psi​

19/32"​

43 lbs​

6.5-8.5"​

7.5"​

9.6"​

8.2"​

29.6"​

701​

US​

Toyo Open Country 245x70x16

SIZE​

UTQG​

MAX. LOAD​

MAX. INFLATION PRESSURE​

TREAD DEPTH​

TIRE WEIGHT​

RIM WIDTH RANGE​

MEAS. RIM WIDTH​

SECT. WIDTH​

TREAD WIDTH​

OVERALL DIAM.​

REVS. PER MILE​

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN*​

P245/70R16 106S SL​

600 A B​

2,094 lbs​

44 psi​

13.1/32"​

33 lbs​

6.5-8"​

7"​

9.8"​

7.7"​

29.5"​

704​

JP​

 

[tommudd]

I have Cooper Discoverer STT Pro 30x9.5 15 mud tires on 8" Pro Comp wheels with an OME 2.5 lift, and in my opinion they do look just a little to small, but like you, I didn't want to do a re-gear. Based on the specs from Tire Rack, my tires are a tad larger than the Toyo Open Country 245/70/16's you want to buy. Below are the specs directly from Tire Rack for both tires. I will also post a pic of my KJ so you can see what it looks like with Cooper's and OME lift. As far as gas mileage, on the street I get 12.7 and on the highway I get 18.9. I noticed very little if any power loss from the stock wheels. Also, I have a 5 speed manual transmission.

Cooper Discoverer STT Pro 30x9.5x15

SIZE​

UTQG​

MAX. LOAD​

MAX. INFLATION PRESSURE​

TREAD DEPTH​

TIRE WEIGHT​

RIM WIDTH RANGE​

MEAS. RIM WIDTH​

SECT. WIDTH​

TREAD WIDTH​

OVERALL DIAM.​

REVS. PER MILE​

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN*​

30X9.5R15LT 104Q C​

None​

1,985 lbs​

50 psi​

19/32"​

43 lbs​

6.5-8.5"​

7.5"​

9.6"​

8.2"​

29.6"​

701​

US​

Toyo Open Country 245x70x16

SIZE​

UTQG​

MAX. LOAD​

MAX. INFLATION PRESSURE​

TREAD DEPTH​

TIRE WEIGHT​

RIM WIDTH RANGE​

MEAS. RIM WIDTH​

SECT. WIDTH​

TREAD WIDTH​

OVERALL DIAM.​

REVS. PER MILE​

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN*​

P245/70R16 106S SL​

600 A B​

2,094 lbs​

44 psi​

13.1/32"​

33 lbs​

6.5-8"​

7"​

9.8"​

7.7"​

29.5"​

704​

JP​

Too narrow of a tire for an eight inch wide wheel

 

[WheelNut]

JeepinSteve- What are your wheel specs? Do you ever have any issues with brake caliper to rim clearance?

 

[tommudd]

JeepinSteve- What are your wheel specs? Do you ever have any issues with brake caliper to rim clearance?

With the bad backspacing he has on those wheels they do not hit more than likely
proper backspaced 15 inch aluminum would rub on the calipers
Those wheels are more than likely 3 inch backspacing or so, ( should be 5 , but also will cause more rubbing, increased wear on the ball joints etc )

 

[JeepinSteve]

JeepinSteve- What are your wheel specs? Do you ever have any issues with brake caliper to rim clearance?

The wheels are 8" Pro Comp (51 Series Rock Crawler) Flat black with 3.75" backspacing. The model # is 51-5865F. There are no problems with clearing the brake calipers. Probably around 2 inches clearance in the rear and 1/2" to 3/4" in the front. As Tom said, the stock backspacing is 5". The main downside with the more aggressive backspacing like I have is that you won't have as much upward travel before the wheel rubs against the top of the fender. It's never been a problem for me, but if you spend a lot of time off-roading I guess that could be an issue. For me, I like the more aggressive look with the wheels sticking out of the wheel well.

 

[tommudd]

Yes I would have the flares torn off first trop out in the pasture field
Mall crawling would be no issue though if you like that look
( which I never have )

 

[HoosierJeeper]

245/75/16 Toyo Open Country ATIIIs on my Moabs, OME/Bilstein lift.

 

[duderz7]

245/75/16 Toyo Open Country ATIIIs on my Moabs, OME/Bilstein lift.

Looks good, are you one of the lucky ones that got detours backbone? Or is that winch mount something else?