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