In a Jeep Wrangler, you can fit the tire according to your preferred size using lift modifications. But, difficulty occurs when you intend to fit a bigger size tire with no lift.
So, what are the issues with Jeep Wrangler 33-inch tires no lift? You can fit a 33-inch tire in your jeep wrangler even without any lift. But, you may face some issues with driving on the trail and maximum articulation. Some modifications for making clearance and spacing can eliminate these issues.
We are going to provide an in-depth discussion about fitting a 33″ tire in your jeep wrangler with no lift. Besides, you will also find some pros and cons of not using lifts and also some ways to resolve those issues. Without further ado, let’s go through the article.
Table of Contents
Will Jeep Wrangler 33-Inch Tires No Lift Fit?
Yes, you can fit a 33-inch tire in your jeep Wrangler even without a lift, but make sure you are not using too many wide tires. That is because the factor that creates the most trouble in articulation is the width of the tire rather than the height.
Moreover, there is enough space in the upfront and outback of the Wrangler for fitting a 33-inch tire without any lift. Besides, the back tire hardly causes trouble because there is more than enough room there. Also, when you turn your car, it doesn’t turn the rear ones directionally.
On the other hand, there are both advantages and disadvantages to fitting a 33″ tire on the Jeep Wrangler. Precisely, there are relatively more issues as it can’t serve proper functionality and performance without any lifts. So, you must modify some arrangements for getting the maximum possible drivability.
How Much Lifting Is Needed For A 33-Inch Tire On A Jeep Wrangler?
There are 3 models of jeep wrangler. Hence, the size of the lift varies with the model. Mainly, these three models have three different types of tire capabilities. As a result, if you want to fit a tire greater than that size, you will have to modify your vehicle in some way.
Let’s see the difference in tire sizes of the three different models of jeep wrangler in this table.
| Model | Tire size | Largest Tire |
| Rubicon | 32 inch×10 inch | 35-inch, 37 inches |
| Sahara(JK) | 29 inch× 9 inches | 33 inch |
| Sports(TJ) | 32-inch × 10 inches | 31 inch×10.5 inch |
So, in a Rubicon, you can fit a 35-inch tire without any modifications and a 37-inch tire with a slight modification. In the case of the Wrangler JK, you have to use a 33-inch tire casually with a less wide tire if you don’t intend to drive off-road. But if you use a tire wider than 11″, you need to modify your car.
On the other hand, generally, you can fit up to 31-inch tires in your Wrangler TJ. However, you have to use a lift and other modifications for using a 33-inch tire.
And again, you must use a 3-4 inch lift for fitting a 33″ tire on your Wrangler TJ and JK model. Thus, you may use a 2.5 lift if you are using a Rubicon model.
What Are The Advantages Of Jeep Wrangler 33 Inch Tires No Lift?
In this section, we are mentioning some advantages that you will find while using a 33-inch tire without a lift.
Elegant look
It will look better if you don’t use any lift in your wrangler. The bigger tire provides relatively greater performance, that’s why people intend to fit a bigger tire on their car.
However, using a lift with a bigger tire may harm the proper elegant look of your vehicle. Therefore, you may prefer not to use a lift.
Less cost
You might know that lifting kits are quite expensive. So, if you want to use a lift, you will have to spend a lot of money on that.
Lower center of gravity
Using a lift on the tire will increase the center of gravity of your Wrangler. The centre of gravity force attracts everything downward. If you want to travel on an uneven road in your wrangler, a lift could be risky for you.
That is because a high center of gravity may cause you to turn and topple over your car. Hence, without a lift, your vehicle will be less susceptible to toppling and turning over.
Upgraded driving quality on even the road
If you use a 33-inch tire without a lift, it will provide you with an upgraded driving experience in the snow. Lifting may cause bumpiness even while driving on a straight flat road.
What Are The Possible Issues Of Using 33-Inch Tires with No Lift?
Indeed using 33″ tires with no lift have several advantages, but it also gives some troubles. Those troubles are
Not suitable for off-road driving
If you are doing the arrangements and intend to just drive regularly on-road, you won’t encounter any troubles. Nevertheless, it’s inappropriate for you if you intend to hit the off-road and trail with this arrangement.
Rubbing sound
You may not face this issue if you are using the Rubicon model since it has enough space for fitting a 33-inch tire without any lift. But in the case of other models, the tire is going to rub against the front fender. Thus, it will result in unpleasant rubbing noise.
Speedometer shows less
When you are using the arrangement of a 33-inch tire and no lift, you may find an inaccuracy in your speedometer reading. Generally, it occurs when you shift from a smaller tire to a larger tire.
For example, assume that you were using 32″ without lift, then shifted into a 33″ tire. Now, your speedometer will show a 60mph reading when the accurate reading is 6mph. That means the speedometer will be faster than before.
Damages front fender
When you use this arrangement, there is hardly any space between the front fender and the tire. So, when you will turn your car, it will rub against the front fender.
As a result, the front fender will be damaged to an extent that it may fall apart from your vehicle.
Scraps tire
If you use a 33-inch tire without any lift, the tire will rub a lot. This mainly becomes critical when you drive a lot on the off-road and trail.
The excessive amount of friction on the tire surface causes the scrapping in the tire surface in this case. Therefore, you may need to repair and replace your tire pretty frequently.
Fuel economy
Likewise, the 33-inch tire with no lift will have a lower center of gravity. This may cause higher rolling and drag fractions. Thus, these will result in greater fuel consumption as well. Moreover, this arrangement will increase fuel consumption by almost 1mph.
Vague handling of steer
Higher tires like 33″ will create a greater moment of inertia. These will result in reduced control over the brake and steering. So, the more the unsprung weight, the heavier the steer will feel. This will cause difficulty in handling the steering of your Jeep Wrangler.
How To Fix Problems With Jeep Wrangler 33 Inch Tires No Lift?
Here are some alternative modifications if you don’t want to use lift while fitting 33″ tires in your jeep Wrangler.
Splash guard removal
You should remove the splash guard for providing some clearance to your tire. Otherwise, you may encounter a rubbing issue. So, take a trim tool and cut it off from your wrangler.
Spacing
If you use any quality wheel spacers, you may not have to trim any other parts of your jeep. We recommend using a minimum of 1.5″ of wheel spacers.
However, we won’t encourage you to buy 1.25 spacers as you have to trim off the end of your Jeep’s lug nut.
Bump stop extension
Lack of proper bump stops results in damaging the front fender. So, if you are fitting a 33″ tire on your jeep without a lift, you have to keep the tire out of the car’s body. That’s why we suggest using a minimum 1.5″ bump stop extension.
Additional clearance
A 4″ additional clearance is required if you are driving on trails. But if you are just driving your jeep on the normal street, you don’t need this additional clearance over the tire. Nonetheless, we will recommend you use at least a 3-inch clearance if you are not using a lift.
Highline fender lift
The 33-inch tire will hit the rear side of the fender if you are not using any lift. In this case, an aluminum fender flare can be a great alternative. This Highline fender lift prevents the rubbing of tires with the fender.
Cut the fender
As there is an issue with rubbing the tire with the fender., you can cut off the fender to reduce the friction on the tire surface.
Buy a smaller wheel
Using a smaller wheel than that is required will provide enough room for the tires. Thus, you won’t face any issues when you use a 33″ tire without any lift.
Torsion key adjust
You should adjust the torsion key properly. Then you will get an excellent driving experience with your 33″ tire without any lift.
FAQs
In this FAQ section, we will answer several most-asked questions about Jeep Wrangler 33-inch tires with no lift.
What could be the alternative to spacers?
If you want to fit a 33″ tire in your Wrangler with no loft, you can add a wheel adapter. This will clear the suspension components. Also, adjusting your steering stop will give the same result because it will cut the radius while turning. These are cheap and effective alternatives to spacers.
What is the cost of lifting kits?
Generally, a suspension lifting kit’s price range is approximately $450 to $2000. However, it will cost up to $8000 if you seek a professional fitting. On the other hand, leveling lift kits cost almost $60 to $300. Besides, a body lift kit will cost up to $80.
Conclusion
In this article, we discussed a few factors about the Jeep Wrangler 33 Inch Tires No Lift. As not using any lift kit will reduce your cost for your car’s tire fitting, people are more willing to use 33″ tires without a lift. Moreover, we tried to hold up several issues that you may face in this case.
So, if you are here from the start, you already know how to minimize those issues with some slight modifications. In this regard, we will suggest you understand the clearance and backspacing of your jeep Wrangler for proper implementation of those modifications.