I'll need new tires by fall/winter time and i don't plan to lift the sportage. I tried 30x9.50 on some steel wheels, and had bad rubbing problems. I also read that there will be rubbing problems with 235/75's with no lift.

I'd like an upgrade in tire size from the factory, and give a more aggressive look with an allterrain tread. What is a happy medium between 235/75's and factory size (205/70?). Also needs to be a tire size thats common enough that its not too expensive.

215/75r15 and 225/70r15 are both in between those sizes, with the 225 being the wider and the 215 being slightly taller. they are both fairly common and shouldnt be too expensive.

30x9.5's fit with no or minor rubbing on stock rims, chances are the steel ones you had, had a different offset/backspacing. I've also seen pictures of 31's on stock rims and no lift, with only minor rubbing, and heard of 32's fitting with no lift with only a little trimming of the bumper and hammer work to the fender seam to eliminate any rubbing and I have run 30's on American Eagle Rims with and without a lift and NO rubbing in either case.

So don't abandon the 30's just yet!

i just put 30x9.5 on mine with a lift and had to do some minor cutting of the inner guard. 235's should fit with no cutting. 31's will not fit with out a good lift say 4inch and some cutting.

i put 235/75/r15 on mine but i also removed the plastic bumper shroud so i dont know if it'd rubbed or not, i think this is a good size without out a lift, anybigger it'll just look like a fat tired car

I ran 215/75/15 BFG ATs on the stock rims with no lift and loved them. No rubbing at all. I could have gone with 225s or 235's, but I was worried I would get some rubbing during full articulation. You could go with the 225s or even the 235s and get no rubbing if you spend most of the on the pavement.

A lot of people here have ran the 235s with no lift and been happy with just the minor rubbing they've had. You do need to use the stock wheels though, or ones that have the same width and back spacing. If not, you will get rubbing with even 225s.

The 215s do look a little more aggressive than the stock tires, but to give it that aggressive look you are after have the tire shop mount up a pair of each. One pair on each side of the car and have a look. They can even flex the suspension and turn the wheel for you to see if there is going to be any rubbing.

Logansportage <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />