Does an additional 1" of ground clearance really make a difference?

I'm running stock tires and suspension right now. Never really had an issue with them while wheeling (be it loss of traction or puncturing). However, there's been a time or two when I've heard a scrape on the underneath.

Because of this, I'm thinking about upgrading to a 285/70r17 for an additional 1" of ground clearance. My question is, How much of a difference would this really make offroad?

Trying to weigh the pros and cons of going to a bigger tire. I don't care much about the looks of an all terrain. It'd be purely for function (aka ground clearance), but I do know about the loss of MPG and bogging down the transmission.

Edit tl;dr: Seems the consensus is that the added ground clearance makes little to no difference offroad

 

Not really. The lines you pick are more important.

 

I'm assuming you're also installing a suspension lift to fit those 285s so idk. I have a 1.5 inch lift and 265/75 tires for a total of ~2 inches of lift and its made a small difference.

 

Your asking a bunch of guys if 1 more inch is worth it......

 

I like having the extra security of more clearance and for me it’s worth it. It surely makes a difference for the lines which you scrape now.

If it’s worth the mpg loss, cmc, etc, that is up to you.

 

255 80 17 will get you to a full 33.

On OE wheels they dont require other clearance mods either. And the 285s will.

The object being rubbed and the object rubbing may or may not matter. Only you can decide if that requires another inch.

 

Seriously though, offroad, 1 more inch of tire gives you that much more clearance. But trade of in mpg and other shit you may have to cut up. If you say youre fine wheeling, why bother, get skids.

 

No. One inch is not enough.

 

still only has like 12 inches of ground clearance from the diffs though. Can't imagine what a truck like that would look like when its high centered.

 

I think this sums it up

 

The "Angry Inch" One inch gained, is still a gain of one inch.

 

Nah, while the lift does provide additional clearance for things on the frame... for fitting tires, it actually doesn't make a difference at all if you wheel because it'll compress to the same spot maybe down the road if it makes it look that much better, but otherwise meh

Yeah I forgot about the rubbing. Looked at the 255s and while they do seem so much more practical, i probably cant deal with the look of a skinnier than stock tire haha maybe looks do play a small part in my choice of 33. I dont really mind cutting since there isn't really a downside to doing it, other than spending some time figuring out where to cut

 

The Angry Inch

 

Alright, so what im gathering from these comments, the 1 inch doesnt really make a difference offroad? Think it sits just short of 9" stock just for anyone wondering.

While I got yall's attention btw, does anyone know what that thing is that hangs down right below the driver seat? Looks like it sits just as low as the rear diff. that's the thing I scraped before

 

might have to put that quote in my signature

 

Definitely steeling that one.

 

What about an angry 5 and 7 Eighths?

 

Talking about the transfer case?

 

cross member and exhaust pipe