Tire Size Question

Morning all,

This has probably been asked before....

Does anyone know the "Largest" tire I can stuff on stock 15 x 5 steel rims on a stock '73 CJ5?

I like the OEM look, but the 205's are too small.

Brand recommendation? I love the look of the old Tracker A-T's, or old bias ply patterns.

Thanks

 

If you go to the various tire manufacturers web sites and look up the type of tire you are interested in and go to "specifications, It will give you min/max rim size, section width, overall diameter etc.
Assuming you want to stay with a radial I am thinking a P235/75/R may be the biggest thing you can get on without rubbing a front spring under lock to lock turns or the inside of the rear fender well when articulated.They could possibly rub the outside lip of the fender as well, This due to section width and rim backset more than overall height
Its hard to tell what will just clear sometimes, You may try asking some of the local tire shops if they have any recent takeoffs with some tread still left that you can get cheap and try them out, Get out and articulate the rig through some ditches and see if that size will clear before you spend big buck for a full set of new ones.
I can tell you that the rolling radius ( center of axle to road )at street inflation pressure of a P235/75/R is around 13.5 to 13.75 inches,Could be a shade more if they are gnarly mud versions, I measured some BFG KO's in P215/75/R the other day and they were right at 13 inches.
Good hunting.

 

I just got done looking at some of the tire manufacturers web sites, You may need to get wider rims to run radials larger than 215/75/R depending on manufacture.

 

Im guessing 235-75-R15 on the stock wheels. I'm running 31-10.5-15 on 8" wheels with no rubbing issues.