I'm mostly sure I'm going to with a Goodyear Duratrac for my tire choice, but now I'm confused on sizing. I'm looking to go with with a 33" tire versus a 35" tire.

Is 33x12.50 a popular size for 33" tire builds on the JK? If not, what's the more common size? And what does that translate to-- is it a 285 or 305 on a stock 17" wheel?

What would that translate to in a 35" tire?

 

Here you go. This will convert metric sizes to inches...

Metric To Inches Tire Size Conversion

 

Technically, a 285 Duratrac is a 33" tire, but that's typically measured unmounted. Mounted, your 285/70/17 might measure 32" depending on the vehicle weight. A 315/70/17 Duratrac measures 34.4" unmounted, so maybe in the low 33s. The 315 is usually considered a 35" tire.

Also, with the 33x12.50 your load range is significantly lower. That tire is a C (2,205lbs), while the 285 is a D (3,195lbs)

Wrangler DuraTrac Tires | Goodyear Tires then click on "View Wrangler DuraTrac tire sizes and specifications"

 

Thanks for the info. So, when I go to get all my stuff put on, I. should really be asking for a 285/70/17 if I want to go with a 33" in a Duratrac, versus a standard size of 33x12.5...

My other option is a 35" / 315 tire, and I've seen lots of threads about 33 versus 35" tires. I'm going for a little bit of an old-school look, keeping the stock wheels and I don't want something that takes up all the additional height between the tire and the fenders with the lift installed, but something that is still competent offroad. That's why I'm thinking 33's for a 2.5" suspension lift, and if I really wanted 35's, I'd probably put in a 4" lift. This is a daily driver, so the little angel on my shoulder is shaking her finger and saying go with the smaller tires and midrise lift...

 

You also need to consider what size gears you are running

 

Be aware that 285/70 on stock wheels will rub the swaybar at near full lock. Not a big deal but you will be hearing it when making tight turns into parking spaces and such.

Wheel Spacers will fix it if you want to stay on stock wheels otherwise you have to go to aftermarket wheels with 4.5” backspace. I drove around with 285/70 on stock wheels and no spacers for 6 months or so with no major problems. Now I run the SpiderTrax spacers in the link.

Spidertrax Offroad Part WHS-010 - Wheel Spacers

 

I'm running spidertrax wheel spacers on my factory wheels. I have a 2.5" teraflex lift with 275/70/18 Duratracs.

I run 3.21 gears

I want 35s now.....just like everyone said I would.

 

Both those sizes (33x and 285) are "standard" sizes.

FYI, I'm running 33's with no lift at the moment, just a 4.5" backspaced wheel. I've got 4.10's and my power and mpg are fine.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlFiJnAfEI8