33" BFG's on OEM 20's

[Sarge]

View attachment 2772

I definitely would not feel good running that close to the suspension component where I live. All the chunks of granite the A/T tires would throw into that suspension component would take a serious toll on both the tire lugs and the suspension. I guess if you live where rocks aren't a thing, and/or you never drive off road, it sort of works, but even hitting big potholes would push the tire dangerously close to the metal as it deforms. If you got a flat, the tire might deform enough to get sent into the arm and make the vehicle uncontrollable.

I think the real answer to meaningfully larger tires on this vehicle is wider fender flares and smaller offset wheels to push the tire out past that component, which also probably creates some wear and handing compromises, but would still more or less be 'safe'. Who knows how the stability control system might cope with those changes. In some cars I've had, even minor offset and tire size changes trip up the ESC systems.

It will be interesting to watch people making these modifications report back on these issues over hundreds of thousands of aggregate 'group' miles.

I do like the appearance of the Ko2's in OP's photo, but I'd like to see what the sidewall actually reads re the size. I'd still go a size smaller to be safe, where I live.

 

[Jake22]

 

[Sarge]

That's the Easter Safari rig. They had to trim fenders and make custom fender flares to stick out further, because the custom offset wheels had to be pushed out further to fit the 33's.

There's a good video of it driving around Moab here.

The below comes from the Forbes article, which oddly gives more details than any other article I've found.

Also showcased on the Grand Cherokee 4xe concept are 20-inch Vossen neutral gray metallic matte-painted wheels with 33-inch BFGoodrich mud-terrain tires. Trimmed wheel wells and custom widened flares successfully give way to its current setup. In addition, Mopar-supplied rock sliders enhance the vehicle’s protection against trail hazards and random off-road obstacles.

 

[Sarge]

I would think wider flares will become available in the aftermarket eventually, allowing wider offset wheels with larger 32-33 inch tires to be run legally and protect the sides from rocks (tires that stick out past the fenders are illegal in many states).