check out the stickied post at the top of the page by jaybur, has all the info on lifting a sportage.
check the vendor forum for daves rocksport gear thread and he has winch bumpers for sale in there.

umm if you put larger tires on you will be sacrificing power and gas mileage. there is no real way around it for the sportage.

if you go to a 16 instead of a 15 all you will be doing is losing a little bit of sidewall on the tire for the same diameter tire. not a big deal if you are not doing any crazy trails.

2000 SPORTY, DEF BOY customs, mmm....lockers, mmm... gears, mmm... double transfer case, mmm... stroker
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2377991