I feel like a newb: lift for 255/85 required XJ

[Nathant78]

I hate for even having to ask this, but what would be the minimum required to install 255's under the XJ
If i have to bang the fenders up a little to fit thats fine, but i do not want to do massive trimming.
saw a XJ saturday running 35s and as tempting and sexy as that looks its just too big for me.
if 255's are too much are 235/85 still a common size. i remember back during camel trophy that is what they would run and always thought it was nice looking size for the vehicle.

[spencersausser]

Not sure what the conversion into inches measures out to be, but take a measurement and, based on that, I would go with the following most common recommendations:

30 inch - 2 inch lift
31 inch - 3-4 inch lift
32 inch - 4 1/2-5 1/2 inch lift
33 inch - 6 inch lift

I have a 96 XJ and I was running 32 inch tires with about 4 1/2 inches of lift. Hope that helps.

[Nathant78]

32 is about what i want to run. im getting my hands on a 4.5 inch lift pretty soon

[Metcalf]

Maybe none?

http://icelandoffroad.com/CherokeeXJ/XJFenderFlares/tabid/1951/language/en-US/Default.aspx

Not cheap though....

I do like the no-lift big tire look however. The stock XJ does pretty dang well, the tires will buy you some ground clearance under the axles and belly, but without having to change the suspension dynamics much at all.

Just a thought....

[Black Dog]

255/85 is about a 32 inch tire if you are running a 15 inch wheel, so 4.5 inches of lift should do it with only minor trimming. A 235/85 tire on a 15 inch wheel will be about an inch smaller diameter so you could just go with the Iceland flares and not even need a lift.

[BlueGerbil]

255/85 usually come in 16" sizes, that equals to about 33.5x10". It´s a very common size for LandRover vehicles and it looks pretty fugly on an Cherokee IMHO.

You´ll need somewhere between 4.5" and 6.5" inches of lift, depending on how much fender you´re willing to cut.

[cocco78]

I would do a 4.5" lift and trim to fit. I'm not a fan of big lifts, 6.5" for a 33" tire is way to much lift. Plus anything over 4.5" and you start running into alot of issues. Unless you plan to go with a set of long arms the ride is going to suck with the steep lower control arm angles, even at a 4.5" lift without drop down brackets... I did run a 4.5" lift and 33x12.5 tires and they fit pretty good with only minor trimming and using proper bumpstops, although mine is an 88...

[njjeepthing]

It´s a very common size for LandRover vehicles and it looks pretty fugly on an Cherokee IMHO.


I think it would look pretty good on an XJ, why would you think it would look fugly?

[gm4x4lover]

On a cherokee anything over 3.5" of lift it is recomended to get a sye kit. I would figure out what it would take to run them with 3.5" of lift. I run 255's as my winter tire on my 94 cherokee. We run 35x12.50x15's in the summer but the lack of weight and the wide tire doesnt seem to do real well on the ice.

Mathematically they calculate out to be 33.07 inches tall. Will very from manufacture to manufacture and mine measure a hair over 33" tall. a normal 33 is 32.5 - 32.7

[XJxplorer]

On a cherokee anything over 3.5" of lift it is recomended to get a sye kit. I would figure out what it would take to run them with 3.5" of lift. I run 255's as my winter tire on my 94 cherokee. We run 35x12.50x15's in the summer but the lack of weight and the wide tire doesnt seem to do real well on the ice.

Mathematically they calculate out to be 33.07 inches tall. Will very from manufacture to manufacture and mine measure a hair over 33" tall. a normal 33 is 32.5 - 32.7

Even with 3.5" of lift, an SYE is STRONGLY recommended.

[gm4x4lover]

They are vibration whores for some reason. Its not like the rear shaft is even that short. :confused:

[bat]

SYE depends on year of Xj which I think 97 up might need it.

[JCMatthews]

4 1/2 inch lift 33X10.50 BFG's with plenty of bumpstop. You will like them lots. They work because they are skinny enough to tuck into the fender wells. You will more than likely need to do a fender trim and some kind of fender flare. Bushwacker makes a new flat flare that looks great.
http://www.quadratec.com/products/image_zoom.php?img=%2FAssets%2FImages%2F137339%2F1 37339-lg.jpg

[gasman]

i ran a 4.5'' RE lift with 31's minor rubbing at the rear and no sye was needed, the kit worked great, i went everywhere the big boys could go almost,
for some reason, i decided that a 6.5'' long arms and 33's were required, , then i needed trimming and a sye and drive shaft and, and, and,, then i went to 35's,, it never ends,

the 4.5 and 31's is all you will need, ...... for now ha ha ha ha ha

oh ya mine was a 95 xj.

[Nathant78]

i ran a 4.5'' RE lift with 31's minor rubbing at the rear and no sye was needed, the kit worked great, i went everywhere the big boys could go almost,
for some reason, i decided that a 6.5'' long arms and 33's were required, , then i needed trimming and a sye and drive shaft and, and, and,, then i went to 35's,, it never ends,

the 4.5 and 31's is all you will need, ...... for now ha ha ha ha ha

oh ya mine was a 95 xj.

yep, had a ranger for 5 years, never spent a dime for suspension. had it 2 weeks and got 18 friends offering to help lift mine.

[Mr. POE]

I run 255/85/16 Cooper ST’s on my 92’ on 16 x 8 wheels with 4.5 back spacing. New they measure a good 33.5. My setup is,

Front:
RE 4.5 with a
.75 spacer
TNT Long arm
3” bump stop pucks with extended bump stops

Rear:
Currie Sportsman’s / Deaver Spring 4” (sold as 4” more like 3”)
JKS Boomerang shackle
Extended bump stops and Dirk’s (DPG Off-Road) spring plate (the springs are really thick)

It rides a little nose high so the .75 spacer could go and will. I’ve had no rubbing issues. Hope this helps.

[njjeepthing]

I run 255/85/16 Cooper ST’s on my 92’ on 16 x 8 wheels with 4.5 back spacing. New they measure a good 33.5. My setup is,

Front:
RE 4.5 with a
.75 spacer
TNT Long arm
3” bump stop pucks with extended bump stops

Rear:
Currie Sportsman’s / Deaver Spring 4” (sold as 4” more like 3”)
JKS Boomerang shackle
Extended bump stops and Dirk’s (DPG Off-Road) spring plate (the springs are really thick)

It rides a little nose high so the .75 spacer could go and will. I’ve had no rubbing issues. Hope this helps.
Any pics of that setup?

[codybutz]

I have an 01 xj with a rubicon express 4.5" lift with the adjustable arms and an A/A SYE. The ride is fine one and off the road. I'm running 32x 11.50 bfg km2's on steel 15x8 rims. As of yet i have only taken off the stock flares. no trimming yet.

on any xj the sye will get rid of the vibes. id say it was probably my best mod. If i had to do it all over I dont think id lift it that much probably stay around 3".

[Mr. POE]

Sorry no pictures and right now it’s waiting for a new motor so it won’t be moving anytime soon. I also ran 235/85/16’s before these and still would if I hadn’t over geared with 4.56’s. Gears would have been cheaper but new wheels and tires looked better.

[gm4x4lover]

I have an 01 xj with a rubicon express 4.5" lift with the adjustable arms and an A/A SYE. The ride is fine one and off the road. I'm running 32x 11.50 bfg km2's on steel 15x8 rims. As of yet i have only taken off the stock flares. no trimming yet.

on any xj the sye will get rid of the vibes. id say it was probably my best mod. If i had to do it all over I dont think id lift it that much probably stay around 3".

Mine is at 6" and 35's and i agree if i was going to do it all over it would be 3.5" and 265/75/16's

[Brandon Libby]

255/85/15= 32" tire
255/85/16= 33" tire
255/85/17= 34" tire

Here is how this is calculated:

First, multiply the tire width times the aspect ratio.
(Tire width)*(Aspect Ratio)

255*0.85= 216.75 mm

This gives us the height of the sidewall on one side of the wheel in mm.

Next, we have to multiply this number by 2 to include the area on the opposite side of the wheel.

216.75*2= 433.5 mm

Now we need to convert this measurement from mm to inches.

433.5 mm/25.4 inches= 17.0669291 inches

This number is the total amount of tire diameter.

Finally, we add the total amount of tire diameter to the wheel diameter which gives us our final calculation.

17.0669291+15 (wheel size)= 32.0669291 inches

I hope this helps.

BTW, you may want to use an RTI or other obstacle to observe how much room you have for larger tires while at full flex.


Cheers