In the tire fitment guide in the magazine and JP's website they say you can fit 30" or 31" tires on the stock rims as long as they are not more than 9.5 or 10.5 inches wide.  However I am stuck wondering if they only figure on the 15x8 rims being stock.  Mine came with the smaller 15x7s and they look pretty far back spaced so I worry about fat tires rubbing up front.   Can I really put 30x9.5" tires on my stock 15x7" rims and not worry about rubbing on the inside of the tire?

John O

yep.  30's shouldn't rub.

or, go with the 31x10.5.  if you don't like the rubbing ... just adjust your steering stops.  i never bothered  ... and i've run 4 set's of 31's.  they only rub on tight turns.

if you want to disconnect your swaybars offroad ... that's different.  i think a 1.5" coil spacer will help keep the tires out of your fenders.

Pete

OK, I think I will move up to 31" tires and use a aftermarket 15x8 rim.  I have a stock 2006 TJ "X" with just Dana 35 axles what back spacing should I go with?  Would 4" backspacing be what I want?

John

i don't think you need to buy rims.  even with the 15x7 ... 31x10.5 should be fine.  my '97 did come with the 15x8, but i still think you're ok.  

if it were me, i'd just stick a set of decent tires on ... try it out and only buy rims if you find a problem.

i can probably dig up the info on adjusting the steering stops if you like.

Pete

just unscrew the stops and put washer behind them until the tires no longer rub  

Thanks guys! 

Pete, my excuse to buy new rims is that I don't even have 1000 miles on this Jeep and original tires so I figured have one fat summer off road set of wheels with tires and keep the skinny tires for snow in the winter.   If I get the 8" wide rims now and years from now I want to go with even bigger tires I would be set.  Also the Cragars I am looking at are only $33.99 ea mail order.  Another difference would be that with the wider rims and less back spacing the tires would be farther out giving it a wider footing by about 2.5" on each side.  This is just going on 7" rims backspaced 5.5" compared to 8" rims backspaced 4".  I think this should work by what everyone has been telling me.  Thanks everyone!  Also I sent in my 2 year subscription to JP Magazine so I can make an attempt to do this right.

Thanks for the help!

John O

sound's like you have a good plan!!

Pete