Is anyone running 33" tall tires with stock gearing?

[007]

The change isn't just about power, it also effects engine braking and your shift points and power band.

I went from a 265 to a 255 with stock 4.30 gearing. The gears, engine, and even brakes don't get along with the rpm's and power band like they once did. On steep slopes it wants to run away, and it seems like I always want to be between the gears now.

I will certainly be changing gears asap.

 

[jh504]

The truck performs fine off road. On the highway my truck is a pig, and I drive like a grandma. Still love my truck, and I agree the world would be more pleasant to live in if everything slowed down just a bit.

I think it is going to come down to a personal preference as to whether the changes seem minor or something the OP can't live with. :victory:

The change isn't just about power, it also effects engine braking and your shift points and power band.

I went from a 265 to a 255 with stock 4.30 gearing. The gears, engine, and even brakes don't get along with the rpm's and power band like they once did. On steep slopes it wants to run away, and it seems like I always want to be between the gears now.

I will certainly be changing gears asap.

Mine was the same way. I thought about reprogramming the shift points.

 

[dms1]

Thanks for all the replies, my vehicle is a 99 4Runner with BudBuilt skid plates, ARB front bumper with winch and a full cargo load most of the time, and I will soon have rock sliders installed.

I think I am going to wait until I can afford re gearing before going to the 33's because when I went from stock to the 265s (31.2") I noticed a loss of power , and don't want to put anymore stress on the drivetrain at this time.

 

[TangoBlue]

you will find this a highly contested issue...

Re-gearing is the solution. It brought me back to stock levels of performance and gas mileage. It hangs with traffic on the interstate and my transmission is no longer downshifting looking for a better gear for the slightest hill on the road.

...this reply is caveated with "this is my experience," although I am 'more righter.'

Well, if you're running a 4 cyl/auto combination with all that gear then you're already marginal, performance-wise. Of course you're going to get worse effects from even the smallest change.

OP is running a 3.4. I doubt he'll see the difference, especially if he's got a 5 speed. My previous rig was a Tacoma with a 3.4/5 speed combo and I didn't notice any difference when I went from 265/70/16 (30.6") to 235/85/16 (31.7") except for a slight speedometer error.

I love you Martinjmpr! Thanks for reinforcing my point... OP went with 255s (33.4) with stock gearing -- his butt dynomometer can tell the difference. 007's regear will put him back in the powerband, although he'll still slow things down a bit... like me; even a re-gear won't work miracles!

007 - you won't regret re-gearing - felt like it was brand new again!

 

[4307]

I went from 265's to 255's, 4.10's with a 3.4L Taco, auto.
I notice the difference merging onto expressways, long hi-way hills, pulling out of parking lots and side streets into fast traffic, steeper street hills.
Flat hi-way is ok, but Knowing my gears are by no means optimum, I drive according to, what the gears will do in a given situation.
I wait to pull into fast traffic (the sports car behind me can go @#$% themselves, and let them honk their horn, i'm not risking life because of them)
Hi-way... I stick to the right lane, take my time.
Hills... I take the monotony.
Off road... It would be nice if 4low felt like 4low instead of 2low, but it gets me over rocks and out of water holes... it is, what it is.

Would I like to regear... absolutely!
I'm not sure if I'll regear the IFS setup or save and sink the cash into a D44 thats in the process of rebuild for a future SAS.
Time will tell and money dictates.

As it stands right now, the daily commute is 5 minutes, the trails we run are tolerable with stock gears, but painful when a tricky obstacle is calling my name, while I take a bypass..

If I had a long commute or lived in the hills, I'd go insane.

my 2 cents.

 

[007]

007 - you won't regret re-gearing - felt like it was brand new again!

I'm leaning towards 5.29 as opposed to 4.88 even though I'm pretty light and have a 5spd.

I imagine 5th gear will wonder why its getting so much attention all the sudden.

The only reason 4.88's are still being considered is the fact that my gas mileage is pretty good with the 4.30's and 255's right now.

If I stay 50-55mph with the tire psi at 50, I average 24 mpg. It was hard to get that with the 265's and they were lighter!

The only thing that can possibly explain the better mileage is that the taller tire put my engine closer to its peak torque at this cruising speed. If I go with the 5.29's I will spend more time in 5th gear, but I might be revved up a bit too much for optimum mpg.

 

[jh504]

I'm leaning towards 5.29 as opposed to 4.88 even though I'm pretty light and have a 5spd.

I imagine 5th gear will wonder why its getting so much attention all the sudden.

The only reason 4.88's are still being considered is the fact that my gas mileage is pretty good with the 4.30's and 255's right now.

If I stay 50-55mph with the tire psi at 50, I average 24 mpg. It was hard to get that with the 265's and they were lighter!

The only thing that can possibly explain the better mileage is that the taller tire put my engine closer to its peak torque at this cruising speed. If I go with the 5.29's I will spend more time in 5th gear, but I might be revved up a bit too much for optimum mpg.

I think you will probably notice a slight drop in MPG with the 5.29's on the hwy. The little bit that I have run these 35's at highway speeds with the 4.56's I have noticed that the gas mileage is not bad at all. I cruise in 5th at about 2300 rpm's where as if I had 5.29's, like I should, I would be getting up a bit higher in rpm's.

 

[TangoBlue]

I think your RPMs will be too high if you go 5.29s with that engine and MT. I think you nailed it the first time with 4.88. That is unless you are in the mountains all the time on the trails, then maybe you could make a case for 5.29s.

My experience is with the 5.29s, 3RZ and AT, and I'm pushing 2800-3000 RPM in OD at 70 mph. Funny thing is these engines are more efficient at higher RPMs, e.g., when I was running 265s at around 2200-2300 RPM in OD (4.56) I was getting around 18 MPG; with the 285s it was 15 mpg! Now I'm getting 20-22 MPG depending on the terrain and speeds. But don't just take my opinion... that is my only experience and there our far more knowledgeable folk out there.

Most of the more experienced on TTORA I've talked to say the same thing (Hytenor, Showstop), my friends at Iron Pig Off Road with a wealth of experience for all manner Toyota, and several wheeling buddies... many knowledgeable opinions helped shape my conclusion. Like me, I know you only want to pay for a regear once. Ask around so you feel more comfortable with your plan.

 

[Poorboyota26]

I have an '04' DC with 285/75 r16's and it's pretty sluggish. Braking is a little weaker as well. I usually run around with the O/D off unless above 65mph. It's fine other wise. I get around 17mpg 18 when I pay attention.

You will have to do a good bit of trimming if you run the same size. You will also have to run 3" back spacing rims or get the 1.25 hub centric wheel spacers from Slee. The tires rub on the upper control arm otherwise. I beat down the pinch weld and cut the valance for clearance and still they rub before full lock. A 1" body lift is in the works to see if that will help. I also cranked up the front adjustable's but haven't done anything with the rear...yet. 4.88's are in the garage right now.

a pic for your enjoyment.

 

[4Rescue]

Yep: 33/10.50's W 4.10's... It's No race car, but it does just fine. I've got a 1st Gen 4Runner so it's even a bit heavier then a P/U but... Where I find it an issue is climbing long grades at altitude. I will be going to 4.88's, but it's not like when you put the 33's on you can't drive the truck. you'll lose some milage and what little power you had, but IMO the ride is ALOT better with 33's over 31's and it goes off-road like nothing else. Even with open diffs I find the 33's help SO much on the trail. I'd also like to find like a 3.2 or so T-case gearing set-up. Don't want a 4:1, but a little better then 2.? : 1 would be nice. Plus Toyotas are so great for running big tires cause the wheel wells are just plain huge compared to say an XJ or even a Wrangler.

Cheers

Dave

EDIT:

here's my baby on the 33's... Personaly I think some 35/10.50 SSR's will eventualy be on her, but for long expo trips I think that BFG AT's in the 33/10.50 variety are pretty hard to beat. They really work in alot of situations and are great riding tires. I'm loving mine. That reminds me, I need to rotate mine tomorow.

 

[Applejack]

Thanks for all the replies, my vehicle is a 99 4Runner with BudBuilt skid plates, ARB front bumper with winch and a full cargo load most of the time, and I will soon have rock sliders installed.

I think I am going to wait until I can afford re gearing before going to the 33's because when I went from stock to the 265s (31.2") I noticed a loss of power stock, and don't want to put anymore stress on the drivetrain at this time.

Wise move. Your 4Runner is thanking you.

 

[RMP&O]

I got an 04 with auto & stock gears and 285's. No problems at all, not slow or lacking. Then again....

I have heavy engine mods including a S/C.

No trimming on my truck and only rubs on my front mud flaps at full compression. I do have a 2.5" lift. Milage is crap in my truck but with a S/C, 7th, headers, ect that is to be expected.

 

[juicebox]

I only notice on the interstate going up hills. I am a very mild driver though, very. I don't think I have had my truck above 4000 rpm, ever.

I have the 3.4 with a manual trans in my tacoma, stock 4.10 gears. I would like to re-gear soon, but I don't think it's worth it just for 33's. Well, I have 33x1050r15, so they actually measured exactly 32" on the vehicle, asnd that's when they were brand new. If I went to 255/85s I would re gear for sure, until then I am ok with my setup I have now.