Are 35" tires to much

[MuleShoer]

My JK unlimited has an OME 2 1/2 inch lift I am ready for new tires, Currently running 265 75X16. Duratracs. I have a set of 17 inch AEV wheels 8 1/2" wide I am going to use. I was looking to move up to 315 70X17 duratracs they are 34.7 inches tall. I have the clearance. and my gearing will work for now. I donot want to change suspension so the question: is this size to much without change other components?
My alternative would be 295 75 x17 cooper STT but I really like the Duratracs
please share your tire stories
thanks

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

Let me be the first... "too much" for WHAT?:costumed-smiley-007

 

[MuleShoer]

OK you win!!
really though this rig is driven 90 miles daily then tows a Conqueror compact trailer down what ever non pavement road or trail I can find to get to a camp spot on weelends It is not a rock crawler, mud bogger,
so lets hear some serious input
Thanks

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

OK you win!!
really though this rig is driven 90 miles daily then tows a Conqueror compact trailer down what ever non pavement road or trail I can find to get to a camp spot on weelends It is not a rock crawler, mud bogger,
so lets hear some serious input
Thanks

Serious input. Got it.

From what you quickly described, I would say yes, thirty four point seven inch tires are too much.

Why? Larger tires are to give more ground clearance, increase approach and departure angles, etc. If you don't need it, then yes its too much. Plan to conquer new, rougher trails? Sure 35s would be nice.
Australia 4WD Monthly recently published an article, suggesting you can go most anywhere in a properly equipped vehicle with only 33s. (looking for article now- check back momentarily.)

I run 265 75 16s on my 4runner and have not been limited by lack of clearance, but a lack of traction (no lockers).

 

[JKDetonator]

35's aren't too much if you budget for new gears. You will have to go to 5:13's for an auto or 4:88's for a stick. Without gearing forget about pulling the trailer! You'll never see overdrive without new gears.

Ps: your mileage will also suffer with the bigger tread; that said, I've gone to 37's with 5:13's on my stick and I love it! Plenty of power for pulling and the trails!:victory:

 

[alosix]

JKU's handle 35s fairly well, remember the Rubi's come with a 33ish tire on them and this isn't that much bigger.

FWIW, the 'standard' AEV build on those is currently 35s.

I've DD'd my TJ 45 miles round trip for quite a while. I also drove it across the country towing my M101 on 35s. It does well, but it does take some tolerance. It does make 'overlanding' type trails pretty effortless which is nice in its own way.

For you're uses, 33ish should be enough, but 35 wouldn't be too much. 37-39 would be too much.

 

[leman]

i love 35"s on my JKU. since we have the longer wheelbase the 35s really help with breakover angles

 

[MuleShoer]

Australian 4wd article

La outbacktrail

Thanks for the "serious" input:ylsmoke:

If you do find the article I would like to see some of it if possible
Thanks

Serious input. Got it.

From what you quickly described, I would say yes, thirty four point seven inch tires are too much.

Why? Larger tires are to give more ground clearance, increase approach and departure angles, etc. If you don't need it, then yes its too much. Plan to conquer new, rougher trails? Sure 35s would be nice.
Australia 4WD Monthly recently published an article, suggesting you can go most anywhere in a properly equipped vehicle with only 33s. (looking for article now- check back momentarily.)

I run 265 75 16s on my 4runner and have not been limited by lack of clearance, but a lack of traction (no lockers).

 

[alexrex20]

Australia 4WD Monthly recently published an article, suggesting you can go most anywhere in a properly equipped vehicle with only 33s.

i would tend to agree with that statement. :sombrero::victory:


if your JK can clear 35s without rubbing, i would say go for it. like someone else mentioned, those 35s aren't much larger than the 33s on a Rubicon, so i don't think you'll suffer too much on the highway and/or pulling the trailer. the sooner we realize our vehicles won't win us any drag races, the more content you can be with foot soreness from holding the pedal to the floor trying to maintain 60mph up the side of that mountain highway.

 

[nwoods]

When it comes to the JK, 35's are the new 33's. They just look right. Having said that, I did just about every trail in the Charles Wells Guide in Moab in a rental JK on 33's. It was fine. 33's are much cheaper, get better mpg, and can be more readily fitted to a trailer to match the jeep.

 

[xcmountain80]

Most of the 35" tires are 1.5" larger in diameter than a 33" tire making a whopping gain in ground clearance of about 0.75" or 3/4". Width is negotiable some are narrow some are not. I say either is a good size, and if you want to keep the numbers up get a larger 33 like a 295 instead of a 285. And while I assume everyone knows this shop for tires by the manufactures spec sheet and not just stated size, as this makes a huge difference.

A

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[Serg5000]

35's on a JKU look sick. Once I trimmed my stock fenders they really looked awesome. Well, I think so.

 

[Jeep or Tacoma]

axles

it really depends on what axles you are running and your driving style if you jump on the skinny pedal in rocks then yeah you could break something especially if you are in an x with dana 30's, if it is a rubicon ( dana 44's) then much less likely and there are after market kits for beefing up the axles. Try going to JK forum and looking under the modified section this is agreat source for info on the JK

 

[MuleShoer]

Decision Made

Thanks to all for the opinions, They pretty much sum up what I have been thinking about. Today I had to make the decision as I had an offer for my wheel and tires that will pay for half of my new tires. So I went with 33's in the DuraTrac tread. My reason was based the domino affect of going with 35's. Suspnsion, gearing or more power ie SuperCharger. Plus my planned use of the JKU for the next two years (tire life), We are headed to custer SD in June for 2 weeks plus the east cost expo's. The cost of dominos is more the the 2011 budget has in it. I really do like the "look" of 35's on the JK and I do have a dana 44 front housing in the barn for future use...but not $2k to finish it.

I will post a few pictures next week

Thanks all

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: Outstanding decision, I can't see any reason to go to 35"s

Thanks to all for the opinions, They pretty much sum up what I have been thinking about. Today I had to make the decision as I had an offer for my wheel and tires that will pay for half of my new tires. So I went with 33's in the DuraTrac tread. My reason was based the domino affect of going with 35's. Suspnsion, gearing or more power ie SuperCharger. Plus my planned use of the JKU for the next two years (tire life), We are headed to custer SD in June for 2 weeks plus the east cost expo's. The cost of dominos is more the the 2011 budget has in it. I really do like the "look" of 35's on the JK and I do have a dana 44 front housing in the barn for future use...but not $2k to finish it.

I will post a few pictures next week

Thanks all

Duratracs are good, not mine but 33" is all you'll need !!

:costumed-smiley-007:wings: JIMBO