Largest Tires on a Stock Jeep Wrangler (JL/JK/Rubicon)

The largest tires on a stock Jeep Wrangler with a stock suspension is 33 inches. The common 33-inch tire sizes are any of the following:
1. 285/75/16
2. 285/70/17
3. 275/70/18

One commonly asked question about stock Jeep Wranglers is the largest tire that can be used without any modifications, and many enthusiasts often search for the optimal Jeep Wrangler tire size to enhance their aesthetics and off-roading experience.

There are other factors to take into consideration when deciding on the maximum tire sizes. These include but are not limited to:

• Year model of your Jeep
• Body shape
• Suspension setup
• Backspacing
• Centre of gravity
• Intended application

Let’s take a deeper look into the pros and cons of fitting bigger wheels to your Jeep and a few other considerations.

Experiment with the below tire size calculator to see how the sizes affect your speedometer accuracy

The Jeep Rubicon tire size is a crucial factor to consider when determining the largest tires that can be fitted on a stock Jeep Wrangler (JL/JK/Rubicon). The Rubicon comes out stock with a 33-inch tire.

• This means you should be able to safely upgrade to a bigger tire without any dramas and still be well within the manufacturer’s specs.
• Your speedo should still be reading accurately
• Expect no additional strain on drivetrain components or transmission.

Several Jeep Rubicon owners fitted 315/70R17 tires and went “wheeling” disconnected with no rubbing or body scrub. Some have fitted 35/12.5R17 and rubbed off-road without disconnecting.

For those interested, here is an article that explains 35×12.5r17 vs. 315/70r17 size-weight-height-load-differences.

Biggest Tires on a Stock Jeep Wrangler JK

As mentioned previously, it’s not only the wheel diameter that needs to be considered but also the wheel width, which is also affected by the offset of the rim. The backspacing comes into play again.

The backspacing on stock JK wheels is 6.25″. Which means that the mounting surface of the wheel is 6.25” from the rear lip of the wheel.

So you could, and many have fitted 33-inch tires on a stock JK, again depending on what the intended use was for, but there could be scrubbing against the fenders and inner wheel arch.

Disconnecting the front sway bars most definitely results in some scrub against the body.

If you want to fit a larger but not wider tire on the stock suspension and still have no issues off-road and achieve full flex without scrubbing you are pretty much limited to 255/80/17.

• This is the same width as the stock JK tire but with a higher sidewall.
• This will also give you increased ground clearance
• Your Jeep will be sitting higher off the ground
• Larger tires will increase ground clearance at the diffs and other lower-hanging components.

The bottom line here is if you fit tires much wider than the 11” tire on stock wheels, your chances of making contact with your rear sway bar end link are high. Here fitting wheel spacers will rectify this issue.

Biggest Tires on a Stock Jeep Wrangler TJ

The biggest tire you can fit on a stock Jeep Wrangler TJ is a 31×10.50. That is on a stock suspension and stock wheels and no other modifications. With this size, you can run comfortably off-road without causing any damage even during full articulation.

In the event there is some body scrub at full lock, simply adding a few washers on the steering stops can rectify this.

If aesthetics is what you are after and have no intention of going off-road then you could squeeze up to 33 inches on the stock JK. However, you will not be able to venture off-road and do serious tracks without a lift.

Year Model of Your Jeep

If you’re a weekend warrior who loves hitting the trails, 33-inch tires might seem like the ultimate upgrade. But hold on, partner! In stock form (no fancy suspension mods), those big boys can limit your Jeep’s articulation (think flexibility) and cause unwanted scrubbing against the body.

Suspension Setup

If you intend to do heavy off-road trails and rock crawling which will require maximum suspension articulation, ground clearance, and ride height, then the 33” tire on a stock suspension might not be the best option.

You will be wise to upgrade your suspension first to accommodate the bigger wheels and allow for maximum flex through and over obstacles.

Also bear in mind, when venturing off-road you are advised to be well prepared. This involves carrying all the necessary safety and recovery equipment. You might even go so far as to start fitting protection to your Jeep in the form of steel off-road bumpers, and roof racks to carry accessories and recovery gear.

Communication equipment and other essentials all add weight and before long the stock suspension load-carrying capacity will be maxed out.

Hence, an upgraded suspension will allow you to not only increase your load-carrying capacity but also carry the load better and offer improved off-road stability.

Backspacing

One popular question among Jeep enthusiasts is whether it is possible to fit the biggest tires on stock JK 17” rims on their Jeep Wrangler (JL/JK/Rubicon) without any modifications.

The backspacing measurement is an important consideration in the fitment of a bigger wheel and tire to the vehicle.

Backspacing is described as the distance from the hub mounting surface to the inside lip of the wheel (measured in inches). Increased backspacing puts the tire closer to the center of the truck. Hence a rim with a closer to 0 or negative offset will sit further out and allow you to fit wider tires.

Centre of Gravity

When you add bigger tires you are essentially increasing the center of gravity. What does that mean?

Well, we’ve all heard the saying, “What goes up, must come down” meaning the force of gravity pulls everything downwards. Gravity acts in complex ways and what that means for your 4WD is that a high center of gravity can make things turn and topple over, especially if they are high up and unbalanced.

Remember, adding more height to your 4WD makes it more prone to toppling over if you do not compensate with a wider tire and wheel with a more negative offset to decrease the backspacing to create more stability.

Adding wider rims and taller tires will increase ground clearance while making it handle a lot better off-road plus look sexier too!! it’s a WIN-WIN!

Intended Application

Yes, as mentioned in the introduction, a 33-inch tire will do just fine if it’s purely for aesthetics and you never intend to do hard rocky trails. Yes, the 33-inch will do just fine in that case where maximum articulation is not an issue. You can read more about that here: Fitting 33″ tires on a stock Jeep Wrangler

FINAL THOUGHTS

In Summary:

• This advice applies to stock suspension JK and JL Wranglers. If you’ve got a lifted beast, the game changes!
• Bigger tires can affect your speedometer accuracy and fuel economy. Weigh the pros and cons before committing.

Ultimately, the perfect tire size is a personal choice. Consider your typical driving habits, desired capability, and budget to find the Goldilocks of tires for your Jeep!