Sorry if this has been done before, I've been searching these forums for an answer but I haven't found one yet. I just ordered a rubi unlimited and i would like to keep the stock wheels but replace the tires with BFG T/A KO 285/70R17's
Does anyone have this setup or know if it will rub with no wheel spacers? Also, does anyone have pics with the same tires in size 265/70R17? I'm sure they'll fit but I'm wondering if they'll look really small as they are about .4 inch smaller in diameter than stock wheels. Thanks a lot.

 

With the stock wheels, the 285/70/17 will rub on full turn with no back spacing. That tire is an 1 wider than the stock ones that came on your Rubicon. You won't have a problem with the 265/70/17's but that's pretty close to what you get on the Rubicon and probably wouldn't be worth the investment.

 

Thanks for the info. the reason i want to change isn't simply due to size, it's because I live in Canada where we get a lot of ice in the winters and I am going to be doing a lot of highway driving as well so i want some all-terrains instead of mud tires. However I don't really want to get a set of tires that are smaller than the stock ones.

 

If it helps, here are the dimentions quoted by BFG for the Rubicon tires:

Size: LT255/75R17/C
Sidewall style RWL (Raised White Letter)
Approved Rim width :6.5 - 8.5 inches
Section width 10.04 inches on 7 inch rim
Overall Diameter: 32.05
Tread depth: 19/32
Revolutions per mile at 54mph: 649
Load: 2405 lbs @ 50 psi

The problem is that tires of this diameter are rarely found in this narrow a width.

However, if you look at getting a set of simple steel wheels (call them your 'winter wheels') with a little less backspace (say 4.5") you could easily fit a set of BFG ATs in:

Size: LT285/70R17/D
Sidewall style: BSW (black sidewall)
Approve Rim width 7.5 - 9 inches
Section width: 11 inches on 8 in rim (would be slightly smaller on a 7.5"
Overall diameter: 32.7 inches (less than a 1/2" more ground clearance
Tread Depth: 16/32"
Revolutions per mile: 636 at 45 mph
Load limit: 3195 lbs @ 65 psi

 

Thanks, that does help. Does anyone know much about wheel spacers? I was looking through the forum and there seems to be a lot of confusion about whether they're safe or not.

 

I just put those same tires on my 2 door X. I put the 3/4 in. spacers up front ($29.00) and 2 washers (free) behind the turn stops and I don't have any rubbing issues at all. I have flexed it pretty well and no issues so far. The size is so close to stock that just a little lift makes it work and it levels it out almost perfect. I haven't noticed any issues with the ESP either. Haven't checked the speedometer yet but there are recalibrators (AEV) comeing out this summer to fix that.