I think so. I had SunTek Ultra Defense - 10mil- installed on both sides and the hood. In Arizona lots of the trails/roads are overgrown with brush. It has save the paint from a couple of major scratches and lots of pinstriping so far. It is also self healing - in Death Valley we were driving...
I have the 35 10.50 17 Kenda Klevers on my non SAS Badlands. Stock wheels, no spacers needed. Only put a leveling lift on. No rubbing at all. They are great on and off road. Smooth and quiet.
I have the 2.3 10 speed. Ave right at 18mpg with a mix of city/ highway. Goes to about 15.5 on my trips to Calif but that is at 80-85 mph. Milage with these is just a little under what I was getting with the stock 33" KO 2
I like the stock Badlands wheels. I put the Kenda 35 10.50 17 tires on them. Fits perfectly, no rub. No poke. Looks great and these tires are awesome on and off road.
No suspension changes other than leveling. No rubbing at all. I drove with the tires before leveling and with stock crash bars with no rub. Just like the look better with level. I changed the crash bars to high clearance ones although that was not required.
These tires are awesome in snow, mud...