[liketherabbit]

I searched high and low for a definitive answer on this, and I found a lot of back and forth. So, this is more for those either abusing the google machine trying to find a straight forward answer. I was able to squeeze 245/65/17 BFG KO2's under my fiance's 2017 Compass Limited 4x4. The Method Standard wheels are 17x7.5" with a +30mm offset (This is important to get these to fit). They scrub ever so slightly in the middle of the fender liner at full lock (with full tread). No noise, literally just brushes it. There is about 5/8" clearance in the back at max diameter with no scrub.

All that said, I love how this thing turned out and so does she. I can't stand the lack of power in these things so...watch out for a diff change or possible turbo (god help me) in the future!

Old vs. New

 

[liketherabbit]

UPDATE: Just a note, with this offset the very top edge of your tread will barely contact the strut tower at the coil spring landing. On the BFG's, it literally just cuts a small groove in the top of the tread that ironically almost exactly matches the one already present on alternating tread "knobs" (BFG's alternate grooved and square outer edges on the treads). When you install and first rotate the tires, you will notice a little rubber shaving and slight drag as well as a rubbing noise for the first 50 miles or so until the grooves are cut. Didn't bother me or affect handling otherwise.

If you want to avoid that, you can purchase wheels with a slightly more negative offset or install spacers.

 

[arudlang]

Sounds sketchy. I thought you had probably gone too far on tire size back when you first posted it, and with all my willpower I held my tongue to let people be happy with whatever they were happy with... can't do it today.

Its not just the size of the tire at rest you are dealing with either, once you get those babies whipped up to highway speed the (centrifugal?) force should cause the tire to grow taller yet, and rub even more. I realize you are getting away with it for the moment but... I'd have gone out for spacers a long time ago. Or just got one size shorter tire. Performance has got to be dogsh!t with those giant heavy things being cranked on by that tiny motor, actually I know it is because you complained about it in the original post, probably added 3+ seconds to the 0-60 time and 30 yards (or more) to the emergency braking distance... and no, you aren't doing a diff/ring & pinion change or turbo. You just aren't. Nobody has and nobody ever will on one of these things.

I have a 2017 billet silver Limited trim as well and you've answered the burning question I've had since I got it... "can I make mine look more brawny like the Trailhawks with big tires and a roof rack and stuff?" After examining your pictures, subjectively, I'd have to say the answer is no. It doesn't look brawny off-road good like the Trailhawks. It looks like a crossover car thats been taken too far, just like so many people do with their Subarus too. Ruined the drivability and did not gain the believability that its some kind of genuine off-road machine. Just another mall crawler for instagram

Sorry to be harsh, but its pure honesty. I just have to call it like I see it. I'm not emotionally and financially attached like you are to your mods (because I haven't done them on mine). Once you spend those dollars the brain releases dopamine and does other weird stuff to help you convince yourself what you've gone is good. From over here, its not looking/sounding too good. Tires that big are not convincing to the eye, and with the report of the rubbing/cutting a GROOVE into the tire... yeah, just no good.

Thank you for sharing the honest experience with us though, so we can all learn.

 

[Baja-D]

Looks great to me. In a few thousand miles will be putting a more aggressive set of tires on my truck also (only going to get about 20K out of the factory tires). Don't think BFG'$ but perhaps the Falken Wildpeak A/T or possibly Toyo Open Country A/T. Not going to go as far up for the tire size however as I would be concerned about the rubbing when off roading. Unfortunately one time I sliced up some very expensive BFG M/T's on another vehicle.

 

[Jasmine]

I like the raised white letters, but not the oversized look -- not just on Compasses but on anything that isn't really a truck or a Wrangler.

You could have gotten the same look without the rub if you'd gone a size smaller. The hair difference in size wouldn't have a significant impact on performance.

 

[liketherabbit]

Sounds sketchy. I thought you had probably gone too far on tire size back when you first posted it, and with all my willpower I held my tongue to let people be happy with whatever they were happy with... can't do it today.

Its not just the size of the tire at rest you are dealing with either, once you get those babies whipped up to highway speed the (centrifugal?) force should cause the tire to grow taller yet, and rub even more. I realize you are getting away with it for the moment but... I'd have gone out for spacers a long time ago. Or just got one size shorter tire. Performance has got to be dogsh!t with those giant heavy things being cranked on by that tiny motor, actually I know it is because you complained about it in the original post, probably added 3+ seconds to the 0-60 time and 30 yards (or more) to the emergency braking distance... and no, you aren't doing a diff/ring & pinion change or turbo. You just aren't. Nobody has and nobody ever will on one of these things.

I have a 2017 billet silver Limited trim as well and you've answered the burning question I've had since I got it... "can I make mine look more brawny like the Trailhawks with big tires and a roof rack and stuff?" After examining your pictures, subjectively, I'd have to say the answer is no. It doesn't look brawny off-road good like the Trailhawks. It looks like a crossover car thats been taken too far, just like so many people do with their Subarus too. Ruined the drivability and did not gain the believability that its some kind of genuine off-road machine. Just another mall crawler for instagram

Sorry to be harsh, but its pure honesty. I just have to call it like I see it. I'm not emotionally and financially attached like you are to your mods (because I haven't done them on mine). Once you spend those dollars the brain releases dopamine and does other weird stuff to help you convince yourself what you've gone is good. From over here, its not looking/sounding too good. Tires that big are not convincing to the eye, and with the report of the rubbing/cutting a GROOVE into the tire... yeah, just no good.

Thank you for sharing the honest experience with us though, so we can all learn.

Well, it's my fiance's so....yes. lol. It is a 'mall crawler' but that was the point of it. We live in the country so it sees dirt roads occasionally, but we're not taking the Compass to hill climbs or anything lol. No offense taken at all, everyone has different taste. I actually like the "safari" look that a lot of people are doing and I emulated some of that here, minus the wild wheel spacing. Is it functional? Usually, no. But personally, I would never choose a compass specifically for off-roading. It's way underpowered and the wheel base vs. clearance is going to get you stuck on something.

That said, we just received the latest PCM/TCM update from Jeep and it made a WORLD of difference to the powerband and shift points. I never understood how it accelerated so poorly (even with stock tires) with the ratios in the ZF. There's a good transmission attached to these things, but the factory tuning was awful.

Very happy with how it drives after the update, even with the larger tires. The material loss that happened was only on the very outer tread only (not the sidewall) and matched depth to the notches already in place from the factory on every other outer tread knob, the rub only lasted about 30 miles. If it wasn't safe I definitely wouldn't put my fiance in it. To that note, the new set up only weighs 7lbs. more than the oem setup with 19" wheels, there hasn't been a noticeable difference in stopping capability (though I'm sure something would show in a skid test).

To those wanting to avoid the rub though, throw in some .25" or .5" spacers, or get a slightly bigger offset on the wheels. You could also opt for a 235 rather than the 245 and they should clear. You CANNOT use these tires with stock wheels on a stock offset.

Anyways, go get your PCM/TCM update!

 

[RadRacer]

Looks good 👍. I do know KO2s are heavy as heck though, so going with a lighter tire in the future will help ya with longevity and MPGs.

 

[2018JeepJeep]

Hi all, just wanted to chime in because your set up/fiance's set up is my dream. Love the BFG's, my old truck had those and they got me through many trails.

I will probably using this as my inspo for my Jeeps build.. Sadly I didn't build my truck up before I traded it for a suv but with it's profits the Jeep will be spoiled.

@arudlang - your responses on this site has given me many laughs and sad realizations that my new toy is in fact not a toy. I guess I'll be looking elsewhere or riding shotgun on adventures..

M