best tire for stock libby ??? clevis + trimming

kevent · **Joined:** Mon Aug 27, 2012 11:47 am **Posts:** 22

Hi guys i got a 2005 jeep liberty and gotta change tires before winter... planning to buy duratrac because i plan to start to do some offroading next summer ... but now i wantto buy biggest tire i can get without lift since i plan to buy once in about a year or when the suspension get really bad...

i recently did a 3/8 clevis lift ( if was free so .... ) so at the moment the libby sits at about 19 " front AND rear ...( was to 18.25 )

im not afraid to do some minor trimming ( that wont affect the look of my libby ) and im also ready tu punch pinch weld ...

now the true question

what tire sixe should i buy ... i know that 245-70-16 will fit but duratrac dont come that size

so ... there are my choice :

225-75-16 (29.3 ") stock size
245-75-16 ( 30.5 ) best recommanded fr lifted libby
235 -85 -16 (31.5 ) consideres because it is *thinner*** (sry searching my words)

any suggestions???

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2012 7:33 pm

With the clevis you are now at stock height :wink:

so 245-70s are about it or stock size 225-75 etc
245-75s and 235-85 would rub, real bad
Theres also a great tire/wheel section that may help as well

kevent · **Joined:** Mon Aug 27, 2012 11:47 am **Posts:** 22

ok second question then ... is a liberty with stock tire size can be descent with ome lift ... then ill oversize them when ill need new ones

asking that because i badly need tire and cant afford both for now

lfhoward · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2012 8:31 pm

I have a stock suspension and am running 225/75/R16 Cooper Discoverer A/T3's. They have a good looking aggressive tread, are excellent on the pavement, inclement weather, and on the trail, and still provide me with 20+ mpg on the highway. I think if I added a ~2.5 inch lift now they would still look good under there. I eventually want to get an OME or JBA lift and upgrade to 245/75/16 Duratracs. But I'm thinking I'll do that once my current tires reach the end of their lifespan (25 K on them now). But as Tom said, that tire size won't fit an unlifted Libby.

FYI, Here's a site with good info on Duratracs: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Wrangler+DuraTrac. There is a customer survey in there and you'll see the Duratracs are some of the highest rated traction tires out there.

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2012 8:41 pm

kevent wrote:

ok second question then ... is a liberty with stock tire size can be descent with ome lift ... then ill oversize them when ill need new ones

asking that because i badly need tire and cant afford both for now

Several that have been lifted here at my place are still running stock size tires or 245-70s.
If you want some pics let me know and i'll post some up so you can see
They don't look bad at all

kevent · **Joined:** Mon Aug 27, 2012 11:47 am **Posts:** 22

well if i can get some picture i would apreciate...

and with what you say i think imma go to 225-75r16 duratracs... so ill have good tire ... no need to buy the spare one and will still have descent tire for offfroadind even when i get lifted ...

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Oct 18, 2012 12:17 pm

For some reference, have some other pics but this gives you an idea
just after lifting this one
right then it was sitting at 22.75 inches , ( 3.75 inches of lift, no settling yet)

with 245-70s on and 3.5 inches of lift over stock height

I think he had 245-70s on this one when we lifted it , silver one

iMTB · **Joined:** Mon Jan 24, 2011 4:27 pm **Posts:** 273

215/85r16! They're as tall as 245/75s but don't rub.

Look like this with no lift:

Lift:

kevent · **Joined:** Mon Aug 27, 2012 11:47 am **Posts:** 22

wow i think 215 85 16 look realy good at all.... even with a lift.... i think ill go this way..... how is the traction on 215 duratracs?

and just because i started a discution wuth you tommudd ill ask you if i got it right about the lift methods...

ome springs and shocks ( long rear )
1/4 top plate
3 ring clevis
Teraflex bump stop
1 or 2 rear iso
215 85 16 on stock rims
( need rear bump stop with this setup )

this is the setup i got in head...
do i realy need uper a arms right now or if it sit under 23 " from fender to hub center i can keep stock UCA and then order JBA UCA when they are gone ???

if my setup is too high for stock A-arms what should i remove

a arms are bout 500$ more...

wanna buy them only when other are gone ...

and what do you think about 215 85 ??? i like them see anything that could make me dont want to go that way???

THX i realy like your experiences on KJ and you are very helpfull to us ( NEWBY) thanx for sharing ...

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Oct 18, 2012 5:33 pm

The setup above you have would put you at 22.5 when settled in,
you can get by with stock arms although alignment will not be as close
I ran for about 70,000 before I upgraded
Try that size above 215-85s on the left front first to make sure it will not hit, depending on miles I have seen them sit over an inch lower than stock. So just double check before installing.
I'm not a fan of the skinnies, but they don't look too bad on a KJ.
Yes still should have 2 inches of bumpstops in the rear

iMTB · **Joined:** Mon Jan 24, 2011 4:27 pm **Posts:** 273

Duratracs are great tires. The traction is very good and the tire life is above average. The 215/85s have done everything I ask without having much effect on mpg or acceleration/highway. I'm considering switching to 235/85s next time I buy tires but haven't decided for sure yet.

kevent · **Joined:** Mon Aug 27, 2012 11:47 am **Posts:** 22

i think i dont really have to try them since my front and rear sits at 19" due to my clevis lift ...
but well you have seen much more kj than me what would you recommand between 225 75 or 215 85 ...

iMTB · **Joined:** Mon Jan 24, 2011 4:27 pm **Posts:** 273

225/75 is a waste if you're going to lift it. Those tires are just too small.

Cherrie 274 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:41 pm

iMTB wrote:

225/75 is a waste if you're going to lift it. Those tires are just too small.

I disagree, I have a lifted KK with 225/75.

WHITE the civilian · **Posted:** Wed Nov 21, 2012 2:53 pm

All this talk has my head spinning, I have a stock 06 liberty limited with 17x7.5 inch rims or 17's if you call them that. The stock tire sitting on there are 235/65/17's. would those look goofy under a 2 and a half inch lift?

245/70/17, 265/65/17, 235/80/17 from what Treadwright.com
Have told me also fit on my stock rim

I'm looking for an agressive A/T tire like the Puma and Axiom A/T
And the Crawler M/T
What's the best tire size for general offroading
And snow? All help would be appreciated!!

:CAMPING:

Ryn7 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 23, 2012 3:01 am

IMO, 235-65-17's look too small with a 2.5" lift.
But if the tires are still good and have lots of life left in 'em then use up or see if you can trade them with $$$.$$ to get a bigger set after lifting.

jinstall · **Posted:** Fri Nov 23, 2012 3:18 am

245/70/16 on 8X16 "MOAB" with H&R 1.5" lift. Taken me everywhere I needed to go, on or off road, mud, water(34") and snow(32").

Deussne · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2012 9:10 pm

How much pressure are you running in those Duratrac's on your libby?

best tire for stock libby ??? clevis + trimming

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