Question: Tire size for 15x8 rims, stock gears, mpg differences
 

I have a 93 TJ 4.0L, 2.5" body lift, 1" shackle lift, and ax15 trans.
Original rims were banged up and looked like crap, got a very good
deal on used 15x8 rims.

---Q1 size: For stock gears (I'm assuming 3.11?)should I go for 31 x
10.5's? I have some reservations because a friend said he can't use
his 5th gear most of the time on the highway because of the extra
intertia from the larger diameter tire with stock gears.

I could go 30 x 9.5 or would 235/75/15's work. My conversion shows it
as a 9.25" wide tire so it seems it would work.

---Q2 Appearance: I'm not sure that the lift and smaller tires would
look like a freak show or be cosmetically appealing?

---Q3 MPG: Also, what about gas mileage. I recieved feedback that you
loose about 1.5mpg per extra inch height over stock? That seems pretty
steep, if 225/70/15's are stock for 15x7's at about 28" height, then
31's would be making you loose 4.5mpg if that were true.


I'm not very experienced in the tire issue, only what I've read over
the last couple of days. Any help on my 3 questions would be greatly
appreciated before I dump some more cash out.

cheers