Can You Put Bigger Tires On Jeep Grand Cherokee Without A Lift?

What we absolutely love about Jeep is that it is highly customizable, and thinking about customization, the very first question that arises in our mind is that “Can I put bigger tires on my Jeep Grand Cherokee?”

The answer is yes, as it says; the bigger, the better. But with lift or without a lift?

Bigger tires up to 33” can be installed without a lift kit but rubbing becomes unpreventable therefore, it is always preferred to use a lift kit instead.

Moreover, the lift kit gives a better ground clearance to your Jeep that means it encourages more off-roading experiences. Also, Jeep looks great with bigger tires, beefier bumpers, and boasting suspensions. 

But we need to cater to a few things before upgrading our beloved Jeep Grand Cherokee.

So, let’s dive into the blog to find out what are the things you have to deal with while putting bigger tires on your Grand Cherokee.

Original Equipment Manufacture tires and wheels of Jeep Grand Cherokee

Latest variants of the Jeep Grand Cherokee come with different tires and wheel sizes depending upon the model. But you have an option to replace them according to your needs.

• Laredo comes with three different options of wheel size 17, 18, and 19 inches bearing tire sizes of 245/70R17, 265/60R18, and 265/50R20 respectively.
• Trailhawk comes in 18 inch wheel size with a tire size of 26/50R20 along with a 107T rating.
• The overland and summit model come 20 inch wheel size bearing tire size of 265/50R20.
• The Trackhawk and SRT comes with 20 inch wheels with tire size of 295/45ZR20.

Which bigger tires can you put on a Jeep Grand Cherokee without a lift?

There are quite many tire options available for Jeep Grand Cherokee that you can deploy without a lift, just you need to perform little modifications in the lower control arms and realign the steering.

Jeep Cherokee Classic

In the models from 1984 to 2001 the most suitable tires are the 325 but you can put up to 235/75 or 30 x 9.5 tires without lifting the frame. However, you will face a slight LCA rubbing but that can be altered by adjusting the steering.

Jeep Trailhawk 

The Trailhawk can easily accommodate 275/65/R18 tires without experiencing any scrubbing issue. However, with minute modifications the tire size can be upgraded up to 33 inches.

Jeep Laredo (4th generation)

For Laredo, bigger tire sizes can range from 31.8 inches to 32.1 inches diameter i.e the bigger tire size is 275/65/18.

Jeep SRT, Trailhawk, Trackhawk, Limited, and Overland (5th generation)

The 5th generation models have improved ground clearance than the previous models therefore, these latest models can accommodate 33 to 35 inches tire sizes without a lift.

How to read the tire size?

Choosing a bigger or smaller tire size, you will first need to understand what it states:

For instance, let’s take the example of P215/65R15 95H

P indicates the P-Metric in the United States intended for Passenger vehicles. Suppose the tire has no alphabet at the beginning. In that case, it is a Euro metric tire which might have different load capacities. However, if the tire size starts with LT, it denotes Light Truck.

215 indicates the width of the tire in millimeters.

65 indicates the aspect ratio, i.e., the tire’s cross-sectional height ratio to its width.

R indicates radial. This constructional design can also be denoted with D when in diagonal layers.

15 indicates the wheel’s diameter.

95 indicates the load index of the tire in pounds.

H indicates the speed index. You may also see other letters like Y, Z, or V.

Advantages of bigger tires on Jeep Grand Cherokee 

The significant advantages of having bigger tires are:

• Bigger tires offer more ground clearance, therefore enabling smooth traversing abilities.
• They increase the overall vehicle height, allowing you a better road view.
• Road contact increases, thus offering you better towing stability.
• It provides better contact with the ground, therefore enabling improved braking abilities.
• Improved traction and obstacle coverage.
• Bigger tires have less wear and tear than stock tires.

Cons of bigger tires on Jeep Grand Cherokee

• Bigger tires increase the height of the Jeep that may lower braking power at high speeds.
• They can adversely affect the speedometer accuracy and fuel economy.
• Wear and tear of powertrain and brakes increases.

Considerations before installing bigger tires on Jeep Grand Cherokee without a lift

There are a few factors you need to think about before tire-sizing up your Cherokee. Otherwise, you can risk the stability of your vehicle too.

1: Model

Jeep Grand Cherokee have come with different trim sizes in different years. Along with that the tire sizes also varied. Therefore, it is important to check the OEM tire size before choosing a bigger tire size as it will give you a fair idea of how bigger tire you can put without any lifting.

2: Axle ratio and engine

Larger engines denote more power and vice versa. Therefore, you need to check your engine power before replacing the tires. Moreover, the axle ratio also impacts the tire size. Higher axle ratio will easily accommodate the shift while lower axle ratio will not allow you to turn bigger tires without modifications.

3: Suspension

The suspension also plays a vital role in tire upgrading. If your Jeep Grand Cherokee has a stock suspension then the biggest tire you can accommodate without lift is 33 inches while if you install a lift kit you can easily touch the mark of 35 inches.

4: Fender flares

Fender flares mainly give an estimate of tire rubbing. Therefore, if you have stock fender flares then you can only go up to 33 inches tire but if you have tweaked the fenders with aftermarket ones then you can pick the tire size up to 35 inches as well.

5: Backspacing

Backspacing refers to the distance between the rear wheel and the mounting surface. So, if you intend to put bigger tires, make sure you have enough backspacing unless you will put your Jeep at risk of rubbing.

Can you put bigger tires on Jeep Grand Cherokee?

Yes, you can, but there is always a risk of rubbing while taking sharp turns.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee comes with the factory size of P245/70R17 tires, while the Limited trim has P265/60R18, and the Summit and Overland ride have P265/50R20s. However, to eliminate the rubbing and scrubbing of tires, you can always modify the wheel spacers, torsion keys, and fenders or use the leveling kits.

How big of tires can you put on a Jeep Grand Cherokee without a lift?

Jeep Grand Cherokee 1984 to 2001 is a classic model and can be upgraded to 235/75 or 30 x 9.5 tires without a lift. However, the Trailhawk model can easily cater to 32” tires without modification, while the Laredo can go from 31.8” to 32.1” in diameter. 

Of all these models, Jeep Grand Cherokee WL (5th Generation) models can easily cater to 33” to 35” without a lift. Therefore, you can go as aggressive as you want with these models.

How to install big tires in a Jeep Grand Cherokee without a lift?

Tools needed:

1. Hydraulic jack
2. Screwdriver
3. Torque wrench
4. Lug nuts

Using a lift kit for installation of bigger tires has its own pros and cons. However, this step can be simply eliminated with the help of wheel spacers. Just follow these steps below;

Step 1: Choose the right tire size

First step is to make sure that you choose the right tire size in terms of height as well as width. It will make the installation process easy and after installation it won’t encourage rubbing with fenders.

Step 2: Choose the right wheel spacers

Wheel spacers are small wheel rings that fit in between the wheel and wheel well, ultimately allowing bigger sized tires to swiftly fit in without any issue. As wheel spacers come in a variety of sizes therefore you must select the right one as per your need.

Step 3: Align the spacers

Fit the wheel spacers by removing the wheel studs and aligning the wheel spacers in the wheel well. After that screw the wheel studs. Ensure that you align the wheel spacer tightly so that no slippage takes place.

Step 4: Fit the tires

Now take the tires and align them in the recently screwed wheel spacers. Make sure that you secure the tire tightly with the help of a torque wrench and lug nuts.

Step 5: Go for a test drive

Once you are done with all the above steps, take your Jeep Grand Cherokee to a test drive. Make sure you vary the speed, try some bumps and spin to check the performance of bigger tires. If you feel there is any issue, it can be modified using a different size wheel spacers.

Why is a lift necessary for putting bigger tires?

A lift kit raises the ground clearance of the Jeep. Lift makes the off-roading better as the undercarriage of the Jeep would catch much less dirt and bumps than the average ground clearance. Moreover, a lift offers better obstacle coverage than the usual height.

Above all, it enhances the overall look of the Jeep. Bigger tires and a lift give an overall rugged look, best for off-roading or traversing the mountains.

Final Words

As the phrase goes, ‘the bigger, the better’ because bigger tires not only bring good looks but also the comfort an off-roader desires while traversing. And why not upgrade your Jeep Grand Cherokee to a better look if all of this can be done without an added expense.

You just need to find out the correct size of the tires your Jeep can accommodate without lift. For that we have provided enough information in this article.

So, go through it and enjoy modifying your Jeep Grand Cherokee.