Do you like the big tire look on a Wrangler but aren’t really in need of a lift? If you’re anything like me, you prefer the stock Jeep Wrangler. There must be a million questions in your mind regarding the 33” tires. Will they even fit? How do they affect the handling? Do they affect the mileage?
It’s okay; we’ll help you consider all the pros and cons of 33” tires on a Jeep Wrangler. So before you run out and get those big tires, read below to learn more about them!
Can You Fit 33” Tires on a Jeep Wrangler Without Lifting It?
The Jeep Wrangler is a fantastic piece of machinery with power and off-roading capabilities. Even the stock Jeep Wrangler is designed with a lot of ground clearance in the front. The fenders are big enough to fit 33” tires easily.
They’ll give you no problems when you drive around town or go out for a leisure drive. The rear tires won’t give you any issues, even in harsh terrains.
Rear tires aren’t required to turn directionally (unlike a Hummer H1); therefore, the 33” tires won’t scrub at the rear fenders.
The stock rims, however, need to be wider to fit the 33” tires. If you try to fit them, it will reduce the clearance of the Jeep. You’ll get a lot more scrubbing while you’re off-roading and when you fully lock the vehicle. Thus, it’s recommended that you fit the 33” tires on wider aftermarket rims.
Do you need any other modifications for 33” tires?
Are you fitting bigger tires to appease your hunger for the offroad? Unfortunately, you’ll need to make more modifications for them to work. If you don’t care about off-roading and want to drive around the city or on the highway, then the 33” tires will work with the stock suspension.
This is because the 33” tires are too big for maximum flex, and they’ll scrub your fenders.
If you’re anything like the average Jeep owner, you want to take your Jeep Wrangler out on heavy off-road mountain trails. Such terrains require that your Jeep Wrangler have enough clearance inside the fender area which holds the tire.
They also need your Jeep to have maximum suspension articulation. In this case, the stock suspension will fail you. If you don’t want your wheels to scrub the inner fender, it would be best to upgrade the suspension to hold the bigger wheels.
A minimum of a 2-3” suspension lift would allow you to go on your offroad adventures without any scrubbing and with maximum flexibility. The Jeep Wrangler is a Solid Front Axle vehicle, and you won’t have to worry about the upper control arms or the CV angles.
The amount of scrub depends on other factors too. If you disconnect the front sway bars, you’ll face more body scrub with the stock suspension. With the stock suspension, you can fit a bigger tire on your Jeep Wrangler, and if you cut down on the width, you’ll achieve full flex and no scrub.
You’ll be limited to the 255/80/17 tires, which are the same width as the stock tires. They’ll still help your off-road capabilities as your vehicle will be higher.
The bottom line to this discussion about fitting 33” tires on a Jeep Wrangler with no lift is that you can. There are a few catches; if you want wider tires, you’ll have to get the Jeep lifted. If you’re okay with the stock width, you can fit 33” tires with an 11” width to keep your Jeep Wrangler stock suspension.
Do 33” Tires Affect the Wrangler’s Performance?
Handling
Although it’s not too noticeable, bigger tires will affect the Jeep’s handling. You’ll feel your Jeep is much more stable and can corner with more control.
Your steering wheel might feel heavier, and this may cause you to understeer, so be careful about that.
Braking
Many people don’t consider this a big factor before they fit 33” tires on their Wranglers. You’ll feel like the brake doesn’t respond as well as it used to.
You might not notice this if you don’t drive it a lot, but it’s evident for someone with more experience.
Another issue with oversized tires is that they’ll affect the brake pads and wear them out quickly as they’re heavier.
Fuel consumption
Bigger tires mean heavier tires, and heavier tires mean the engine needs to pull more weight.
In addition, if you install wider tires, they’ll get more traction from the road. You can expect the tires to affect your mileage adversely by at least one mpg.
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Advantages of 33” Tires on a Jeep Wrangler
When they said, “the bigger, the better,” they weren’t joking! Bigger tires aren’t only for the show; they provide many benefits.
If you modify your Wrangler with bigger tires, you’ll get a performance boost off-road and on the road!
Some of the benefits of bigger tires include:
- Better control in off-road conditions.
- More traction means you can move with less effort on the highway.
- Better grip, which means less wheel spin on slippery surfaces.
- With better handling, you’ll be able to swerve around obstacles smoothly.
- You’ll be able to handle speed bumps better.
Conclusion
The Wrangler is a beast with its legendary off-roading capabilities. It can easily fit 33” tires even with the stock suspension.
The bigger question is whether you can do it without any lift. It all depends on your needs. If you love off-roading, then go for the lift.
If you want to drive on the clear roads and around town, you can do so with no lift.
After reading this article, we hope you clearly understand what you need to do for the best results.
FAQs
Which tire size can a Jeep Wrangler fit without any lift?
The maximum size that a Jeep Wrangler can fit with no lift is 33”. You’ll have to make modifications if it’s bigger.
It can fit the following
- 285/75/16 (Thinner)
- 285/75/17 (Same width as stock tires)
- 285/75/18 (Thicker)
Can you fit a 33” tire on the back of a Jeep Wrangler?
A 33” tire is pretty wide, but it’ll fit if you ensure that the snubbers are tight against the tire.
Will bigger tires affect other components?
33” tires are not too big and won’t affect other components considerably. It’s a different story if you go for even bigger tires.
They’ll affect the following components:
- The suspension
- Brakes
- Steering column, and other components
- Odometer
- Gearing ratios
- Wheel torque
So, if you opt for bigger tires, upgrade other parts too. These upgrades will ensure your vehicle lives up to the mark.
Are 33” tires better for off-roading?
Yes, they’re good as they provide more road clearance from the ground, but they’re not your best bet for off-roading.
Other factors, such as the air pressure and the treads, are also crucial.