Hi folks...picked up a 2012 Wrangler Sport about a month ago. It's got the 3.73 rear end and the horrible Wrangler GSA's on the factory 17" wheels. (I'm not a big fan of the GSA's...they won't do me much good offroad the few times a year I go, and they've proven to be pretty slick in the rain, and don't look like they'll do much for me in the snow, either. If I'm wrong, I'm willing to give them a shot, but would like to complete the items mentioned below in the next month-2 months).

I want to keep the 17" wheels. I'm thinking of going to an LT 265 70R 17 in a BF Goodrich A/T KO, but based on some reading on here, I can probably go wider. Just how wide have folks gone with tires on stock wheels and stock suspension heights without rubbing or requiring spacers? (No spacers is a preference of mine...I'm sure they work fine, but I don't want to add complexity or additional maintenance items).

I want to do a lift, but I'm thinking a leveling kit will do the trick. Question is..which one, and what are the height options? I think I can install one in my garage in a weekend. I've got plenty of tools, jacks, jackstands, and a buddy to help (and another car to go get parts if we really f* up).

I don't want to do a 2.5" (or higher) lift. The Jeep gets used primarily as a driver, and 2.5" (even though I'm 6'4") still makes me work to get inside the vehicle. I'd imagine after 25k-30k miles, I'd wear through the side bolsters on my seats. I'm about 235lbs, so not exactly the easiest person on interior fabrics. That, and all the places I've wanted to go really haven't required a lift. Before I had my 2012 Wrangler, I had an '09 Wrangler, no lift, but upgraded tires. I think as far as wheeling goes...if the trail requires a lift, the trail also requires body damage. I've been up higher than 10,000' in the Tobacco Root mountains of Montana and got up there on 32" tires and a stock JK X suspension. So...I don't really see a need for a lift...unless one of you wants to point out something obvious or a compelling point that I haven't considered.

So, to recap, looking for 1) How wide can I go on stock wheels/suspension, and 2) In terms of lift, which is the best leveling kit, and how high? Or, should I really look at a 2.5" lift despite the downsides (access, ripping off seat bolsters, etc).

Sorry for the block of text...if you made it this far, congrats! But I have nothing to give you, except for thanks.

 

I also have a minimal lift 1.75 spacer up font and a .75 rear with a 1.25 body lift so It fits 315/70r17's ( I just went to rousch creek with this set up no rubbing ) I also ran 33x12.5's on just the spacers.
other nice thing was my total lift cost is $150 and did great offroad.
Steve

 

You don't need any lift at all to run 32" tires. If you want to move up to 33", a Teraflex leveling kit works well. The 265/70R17 tires should work with the stock wheels without rubbing but anything larger will require spacers or aftermarket wheels with less backspacing.

 

1+ on the levelling kit by teraflex.

 

I have the Goodyear Silent Armor LT275/70R17 on stock Rubi wheels (17x7.5) -- These tires are ~3/4" wider than the stock Rubi KM's, and the diameter is 32.2". The tires are "Mountain Snowflake" labeled and rated for use when the "traction devices required" signs go up in winter (in Oregon, not sure about Washington's rules).

I do have an OME 2" lift, but no changes to the bump stops. The 3/4" extra tire width is 3/8" on the side, about the same as adding chains. It is very close at full articulation, but it clears -- did a bunch of testing. These tires have worked well for me on rocks in the desert too.

 

I like the results I've seen with the Teraflex lift. I choose the Rubi 4 dr spring option 18/59's with shocks, stock 255/75/17 bfg and 17" wheels, and spacers for now. I think I'm going to add the leveling kit later. There is a "show off your leveling kit" thread on here with forum members having installed leveling kits and with additional 4 dr springs as well.

BTW, I have 2 dr auto with 3.73 gears.

 

Thanks for the replies so far. The leveling kit, IMHO, is more to give it that "not quite stock"-look, but also hard to tell. More to get rid of the factory soccer-mom rake that the 2-door Wranglers have going on. I'm guessing it's done for fuel economy, or maybe they're expecting that a load full of groceries is really going to weigh it down in the back? -Not sure.

My first choice of tires... BFGoodrich A/T KO's.
Goodyear Silent Armor's look good as well, although I think I like the seemingly more aggressive look of the BFG sidewall.

For those that run BFG M/T's...is the noise/vibration really noticeable once you get everything broken in?

 

Here's my "take on the rake". It's there so it doesn't go nose up too much when weight is added in the back. Add some passengers to the back seat, or throw in camping gear, and it will likely be very close to level.

I've had the BFG KM's and they were a good, quiet, with no vibes.

Here's a thread with some pics of mine with the GY SA's on the trail. These tires seem to flex unusually well over rocks, even at 20 PSI, and the side walls are doing fine against rocks.

 

Here you go , read this link from beginning to end. Questions will be answered .....

https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/modi...bie-has-18617/

 

Get 4dr rubi suspension. I just put a set on my 2012 sport and am very pleased with the lift that it gave me from stock. Also the ride is 100x better