Fitting Bigger Tires on Your Four Wheel Drive

One of the more common modifications that people make to their four wheel drives is to fit larger tires. The issue with the tires that come stock on a four wheel drive is that they are usually designed for maximum grip on road, and as a result they perform poorly off road. As a result, people fit tires that are more aggressive, like the Maxxis Bighorns. All Terrain Tires are good, and Mud Terrain Tires are even more aggressive. Whilst going more aggressive, a lot of people opt into getting the next size tires (or even several sizes more!)

The reason for this is to improve the clearance that the vehicle has. A body lift will lift the body up, and a suspension lift moves the chassis and body up more, but the only thing that gives the vehicle true clearance (lifts everything up) is the tires. Just an inch or two bigger has a big effect on how far you can go off-road. In order to fit the larger tires though, often a lift needs to take place. Alternatively, many people cut away a bit of the guard, to allow the tire to move freely. If you fit a tire which is too large it will rub on the panel work, which is a real issue.