I have a 2010 Unlimited Rubicon. I just put smittybilts xrc armor on the front and the rear will be done soon (backordered). I've had several people tell me I "should" be able to fit 35's with the additional clearance that the armor gives me without lifting. I plan on lifting eventually, should I try to stuff 35's under it? Or should I lift it first, and drive around with a goofy looking jeep until I can afford tires as well?

 

Should fit, but you might need wheel spacers (depending on backspacing); else, you could potentially rub against your control arms.

You should do both at the same time, but if you're facing a budget ... then go wheels/tires first. Consider a Budget Boost if you can spring the extra cash - it will hold you over until you can afford a nicer suspension. Lots of people around here run a 2" budget boost with 35s.

Personally, I would have ugpraded my suspension and chopped fenders before adding the XRC body armor, but to each their own!

Good luck.

-Dawn

 

I say save the $$$ until you can do both lift and tires at same time.
jus thinking outloud..........

 

I lifted mine with a Teraflex Budget Boost first. It didn't look wierd with the stock tires while I waited for my 35's. Once I got the tires on, I rolled with the BB for about a year while I saved up for my full suspension kit ( Teraflex 4" Full Flex). It worked perfect for my budget, and kept my Jeep customization bug at bay for a while. Here are a few old picts.
Stock

with BB and stock tires

Bith BB and 35's

4" lift and 35's


I hope this helps make your decision.

 

I say jack it first! Get it in the air and then worry about the rubber later. You can get some use out of the stock tires before you decide on new ones. It'll save you some money to start if you can't do both at the same time.

 

I say spend the money now to get a quality lift with all the bells and whistles now, or you'll end up spending more money down the road to lift it again.

Once you get it up, you can keep running stock rubber till you save your pennies, or find used shoes at a good price.

 

+1.

Also youre not just throwing out your current tires too, use em, then get new tires when you have $$$ or need them

 

don't be afraid to spend a little now, while you're saving for a biger lift. I did get some of the cost of my Budget Boost back when I sold it on ebay for about half of what I paid for it. Not bad for for me since I did get a lot of use out of it, and a good deal for the buyer, since there isn't any moving parts on a BB to get worn out.
Also I kept my stock wheels and tires for driving around in the winter. I didn't want to destroy my polished rims with the salt and sand they use on the roads over here. I didn't sell them until about a year ago, so I bet I put 10000 miles on my stock tires. The only thing that sucked was putting them on and taking them off. I also used them if I was going on a long trip, to cut down on the wear and tear on the mud terrains, as well as save me a little gas. I ended up selling them for a few hundred for the set of five (I wish I still had the rims, but I was moving and needed the space)
But once I went up t 4" of lift, it looked rediculous with the huge wheel well openings and little tires. I only put the stock tires back on once, after the TF 4" lift, and it was when I got deployed the first time, so my big tires didn't get flat spots while I was gone for 15 months.

 

That's good advice guys. The question has been on my mind as well. Looks like I will do the TF Coil first, keep my stock saharas and then look at tires and wheels. This is an expensive hobby!

 

Get the lift so you aren’t rubbing on every little thing you go over. You know what I mean if you have a four door. Then get the tires and gears if needed.