I've currently got 30" tires on my jeep, and am needing to get some new ones. It has stock springs, but when we put on the fiberglass body it got a bit of a body lift (not much). Is there any way I can measure/test to see how much bigger I can go with tires (without buying new ones first)?

I can do some trimming if needed, but don't want to do much. I mainly just don't want to buy too big of a tire that doesn't fit. I'd like to run 32's or 33's, but not sure if they'll clear. Also don't want to go with taller springs at this time.

What is the actual heigth of the 30" tires? Are they a true 30"? Or are they closer to 29"?

My 32x11.50x15 TSL/SX tires measure (loaded) 'about' 30.5" mounted on a 15x8 rim. Depending on the amount of articulation you need (or are accustom to doing) I think that you should be fine with a 32" tire on stock springs.

i'm not sure of the actual height, but can check. regardless, i'm looking more to getting a truely larger tire, not just a tire that is the same size but says its bigger, if that makes sense.

the tires on teh jeep have always just looked a bit small for teh wheel openings, and i'd like to go a bit bigger to look right.

this jeep really doesn't go off-road much, just back in my woods which is pretty tame. still have the front sway bar in, so there isn't a lot of flex. here's a pic of have. not very good, but the best i have with me.

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l292/cj7jeep81/DSC00650.jpg

Okay, I'd probably head off to my local tire discounter and have him mount up a couple different size tires. They'll usually do this if they think they're gonna get a sale out of it. I know my local Firestone guy will. Another thing to consider is swapping out the wheels for a 16" 5 on 5.5 version. There is a world of metric tires out there that you might want to look at. I know it's something that I'll be thinking of when the Swampers wear out. Or if I purchase a set of 'street tires'.

Here's a pic of my 76 CJ5 on the 32x11.50x15 TSL/SX tires. Bear in mind that this is without the motor/trans/tcase/rollcage installed. However, since I've dropped them in, the springs haven't sagged much. Oh, it's a 2.5" BDS lift with 3/4" ConFer shackles. I'm using poly body mounts. And it hasn't seen any road/trail time yet. Probably next year.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r320/HackFabrication/TopandTopless.jpg

I'll just try taking some different measurements with the steering at full lock and see how much room there is.

Don't have any big local tire places. Only a few places in town to get tires, and two are crook's, one's Wal-Mart, and the place I go to is fairly small. But, I'll see if they have any ways to check, or if they'd be willing to try some different sizes.

Take a tape measure and measure from the center of your hub to the closest point on the fender (whether it is to the side or upwards). Use that measurement to see how big of a tire will fit.

If you have 17" between your fender and hub, you know you can go no bigger than a 34" tire.

Want to make it more complicated? Flex out the suspension and make the same measurement.

Just my backwards hillbilly way of doing things...