Best tire size for unlifted CJ5

I am in the process of refurbishing a mostly original '76 CJ5 and I need to replace the tires and wheels. My August Issue of "Four Wheeler" magazine has a chart that says a stock '76-'86 CJ5/6/7/8 can handle 31X10.50 tires. I saw a CJ5 with that size tire on it and it looks very tight ... especially the height .... so I'm considereingf 29X10.50 on 15X8 wheels with a 3&3/4" offset.
Any other suggestions?

 

I ran 11 X 15 Deset Dogs ( 31" diameter) on a new 1976 CJ back in my early days.
Those were mounted on WELD (brand) white spoke wheels, 8" X 15"
I don't recall the wheel offset.... that was 33 years ago.
Zero clearance problems ever.
That 76 CJ-5 had factory HD suspension along with all other HD options.
The offset was wide enough that the rubber fender flares were filled out.

That was truely a great Jeep I had back then but I drive much better Jeeps now days.
Just my humble and perhaps slanted opinion..... your results may vary

 

I think something in the 30x9.5" flavor like this...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ONE-NEW,-LIBERATOR-ALL-TERRAIN,-30X9.50%2f15,-TIRE--80513_W0QQitemZ330285945485QQcmdZViewItem


on 15x7" rims would look and work really great on a unlifted 5.

 

I've ran 32x11.50x15 bfg's on my stock sprung 75 for many years. I did lower the bump stops a bit to keep the rubber out of the sheet metal during flex situations but it's been fine. This Jeep sees Moab every year in addition to all our nasty stuff here in AZ.
YMMV...

Mike
sgogpn

 

Ditto on the 10.50 x 31 rubbing on sharp turns without a lift and on factory rims... so now I don't turn so sharp.

 

Got 31 x 10.50 on my '76 CJ5 w/ no mods...no rubbing issues.

 

Same as 0IIII0, running 31s on stock Laredo rims, stock height, no rubbing issues.

 

How much have the stock springs sagged? Comparing one 35 year old Jeep to another really doesn't answer the question. One that has been babied and never seen more then a dirt road can not be compared to one that has had the hubs turned in and run off-road with a couple hundred pounds of winch and tow bar hanging off the front bumper. Just having worn spring bushings, bolts and shackles can alter your ride height by an inch. Then personal preference jumps in. I put a set of BDS 2 1/2" lift springs on a 75 CJ-5 with 31-10.50 15s on 8" wide wheels and it looked really good and had no rub issues.- "stock height" cannot be easily measured on 35 year old springs.

 

I suspect that's my problem, 35 year old springs that are sprung. I still like the tire size and the way it stands, just when I turn sharp I get some lug rub. New springs and shocks are in the future for mine.

 

I too am looking into increasing tire size on my stock, unlifted 66 CJ. Have seen an article of lots of early CJs running the Rubicon, mostly on 31x10.50s. My concern is if original 15x6 wheels can handle these, or if I should go to 15x8s??? Back Spacing is the other issue, know have to stay at 3.75", or maybe go to 2" - Summit has these available in steel at a very reasonable price ($40 ea.). Lots of good info in these forums, and reason for joining. Hope someone running 31x10.50 can (or has) posts wheel info. My other dilema is converting my Dana 27 front to a locker, looking @ Detroit and Lock-rite. Also, someday soon, I'll look for discussions on Terralow conversions.

 

The lift probably won't help the spring-rubbing problem. That's caused by wide tires protruding beyond the wheels more than the original tires. Ride height won't change that. Adjust the stops, different wheels, spacers are all options ... there's a thread on the Early CJ-5 forum right now about this topic.

 

New wheels would be a nice addition. I came close to taking the rims off and having them sandblasted a couple of weeks ago, but I don't like the style. I suppose I need to start educating myself on the amount of backspacing I need on a new set of rims. Having said that, I'm not sure yet on the disc brake conversion. More things to think about.

 

I have 10.5 - 31 tires on my stock 73 on 10 inch rims - they don't rub.