What size tires to fit on your Jeep Wrangler YJ from 1987 to 1995?

After looking over the internet at countless photos of Wrangler modified with 32, 33 or 35 inch tires, you tell yourself it's time to replace the tires on your YJ! And there you are faced with a dilemma: What size of tires to fit?

It should be understood that the possible tire size to adapt on a Wrangler YJ, will depend on 3 things:

  1. The available space
  2. The mechanics of your Wrangler
  3. Security

1 - The space available:
It is the one located between the bridge , the wings, the fender flares , the suspension and the steering
2 - Mechanics:
Does your Wrangler have enough horsepower to pull tires 30% larger than the original ones? and is the transmission strong enough to withstand the stresses that this will generate?
3 - Security:
Will your Wrangler still hold up well when these tires are mounted on these rims ? Will it brake enough to be able to drive safely?

Most of the websites that sell extension kits only deal with the first point, that is, the space available; basically a Wrangler YJ has 50 cm between the axle of the front axle and the underside of the wheel arch - enough to fit a 40 cm radius wheel. We offer a kit that transforms these 50cm into 60cm by telling you that you can put a wheel with a radius of 60cm. This causes more problems than the aesthetic gain withdrawn!

In this article we will try to summarize simply the different options that exist in terms of the best tires for jeep wrangler YJ, and to confront each time the modifications that it implies as well as the average cost of these modifications.

Let's start with the simplest: The origin.

The Wrangler YJs were originally fitted with 15 inch x 7 inch wide rims and were fitted with either 215/75 R15 or 225/75 R15 tires which corresponds to approximately 29 inches.

As for the available space , the first option is to replace the original tire with 30 x 9.5 x 15 or 235/75 R15 tires. This size mounts without problem on the original rims which are 7 inches wide , and regardless of the tire manufacturer. The only possible problem would be due to a very tired suspension (i.e. slumped or overturned blades).

Fitting this size of tire is not a problem, either at the bridge crossing or at the end stop. The 30-inch tires pass easily through the wings of the Wrangler; it is also a size that had been proposed on export markets such as Egypt or North Africa.

Now concerning the mechanical aspect of the modification of a Wrangler YJ in addition to 30 inches. The dynamics will be little changed. As an example on a Wrangler YJ single point before 90 , the feeling comes back to roll with a trailer of 500Kg. This requires, when climbing a few back gradings in 4th gear, and to make the clutch slip a little more at start-up. With a Post-1990 Wrangler Multipoint , the difference is barely noticeable. With a Jeep Wrangler YJ 4.0L The difference is imperceptible.

Regarding safety , the 30 x 9.5 x 15 tire was originally fitted; in fact, the car suspension, steering, braking and transmission are strong enough to support it without causing a drop in reliability. This modification would tend to improve handling, although it will never be transcendent on a Wrangler with rigid chassis and blades.

To conclude, it is an inexpensive modification that brings real aesthetic gain.

It should be noted that if your suspensions are slightly sagged, which is normal after 25 or 30 years, the use of an extended binocular kit like our kit + 20mm or the Body-Lift + 25mm could allow to keep a set harmonious, and not have the impression that the tires are too close to the fenders.
You can also adapt track wideners (+ 30mm on each side) , which, for a minimum cost, will allow you to transform the original look of the Wrangler YJ, which suffers from tires that seem too small in our time.

© Copyright Blog