Tire & Rim Size Question

[Bstahl875]

2002 Wrangler Sport. 4” lift. 3.07 gear ratio.

Currently running 17” rims off a stock 17 Wrangler. The tires are about 32”. I personally think they look too tall and skinny. I also strongly believe it is causing steering and control problems. They have spacers in them. I would like to change the rims and tires and I am a fan of 31’s. My question is this…….what size rim should I go to for 31x10.5 and will they look ok with a 4” lift? Will the gearing handle that change well?

 

[freedom_in_4low]

Don't see any reason they'd be causing any problems but if you want honest 31x10.5 and not a metric equivalent and don't think you'll ever go to a 12.5 wide tire, you'll look for a 15x8 with 5 to 5.5" of backspacing....which includes all factory 15x8 wheels offered for the TJ. If you might go wider someday you could go for 3.75-4" backspacing with spacers to make up the difference, and then ditch the spacers if/when you go to the wider tire.

Those wheels you have are probably about 6" backspacing so depending on the spacers you may already be in good shape from a track width and scrub radius standpoint (it looks about right in the photo). If you just don't like the looks maybe a wider but lower aspect ratio and more aggressive tread would solve the problem.

 

[Bstahl875]

Don't see any reason they'd be causing any problems but if you want honest 31x10.5 and not a metric equivalent and don't think you'll ever go to a 12.5 wide tire, you'll look for a 15x8 with 5 to 5.5" of backspacing....which includes all factory 15x8 wheels offered for the TJ. If you might go wider someday you could go for 3.75-4" backspacing with spacers to make up the difference, and then ditch the spacers if/when you go to the wider tire.

Those wheels you have are probably about 6" backspacing so depending on the spacers you may already be in good shape from a track width and scrub radius standpoint (it looks about right in the photo). If you just don't like the looks maybe a wider but lower aspect ratio and more aggressive tread would solve the problem.

Could I run 33’s with the current gearing without issue

 

[freedom_in_4low]

Could I run 33’s with the current gearing without issue

The official forum answer is probably that you'll want to regear to 4.56.

My practical and wallet friendly answer is that if you're already driving it with 32s and are satisfied with the acceleration, you'll probably be fine because just going up an inch will barely be noticeable. The issues you might see aren't so much a wear or reliability thing but just whether 5th gear ends up usable at a common cruise speed. In my personal experience, I had no issues driving around in 6th in Oklahoma on 75mph+ highways with 33s and 3.73 gears in my first (6spd) LJ, but when I had 32s and 3.73s in a 5spd TJ in Colorado where the climbs are steeper and there's less power available due to elevation, and the speeds are a little slower, I found 5th gear to be useless under 70-75, which means I was at the top of 4th most of the time and was having to shift a lot. Buuut, even back in OK, having an LJ on 35s and 4.88s, I'm not sure I'd like going back to 33s and 3.73 again.

 

[Rickyd]

Could I run 33’s with the current gearing without issue

33's won't be much taller than metric tires that measure out at 32". 3.07s are aweful with bigger than stock tires. I wouldn't go bigger than a 31 and
that isn't good either.

You know how it feels sluggish and 5th isn't very useful? 4.56 is the solution.4low is also too fast. I couldn't get rid of 3.07s fast enough!

 

[freedom_in_4low]

The official forum answer is probably that you'll want to regear to 4.56.

My practical and wallet friendly answer is that if you're already driving it with 32s and are satisfied with the acceleration, you'll probably be fine because just going up an inch will barely be noticeable. The issues you might see aren't so much a wear or reliability thing but just whether 5th gear ends up usable at a common cruise speed. In my personal experience, I had no issues driving around in 6th in Oklahoma on 75mph+ highways with 33s and 3.73 gears in my first (6spd) LJ, but when I had 32s and 3.73s in a 5spd TJ in Colorado where the climbs are steeper and there's less power available due to elevation, and the speeds are a little slower, I found 5th gear to be useless under 70-75, which means I was at the top of 4th most of the time and was having to shift a lot. Buuut, even back in OK, having an LJ on 35s and 4.88s, I'm not sure I'd like going back to 33s and 3.73 again.

I wrote this having missed your 3.07 ratio and talked a lot about my experience with 3.73. It doesn't change that a 33 isn't much different than a metric that measures 32 but I wouldn't like that ratio on stock size tires, let alone oversized.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Could I run 33’s with the current gearing without issue

33's and 3.07 gears would be like riding on this guy's back......uphill........on a cold day......with salt on the road.

 

[RINC]

4" lyft an 31" tyres. Looks like I skipped leg day at the gym.

 

[TheBoogieman]

4" lyft an 31" tyres.
View attachment 429545

Looks perfect. Mine had a 4" LIFT and 31" TIRES though.

 

[John Cooper]

Looks perfect. Mine had a 4" lift and 31" tires though.

View attachment 429550

But your hood isn't as nice as @RINC Hood is......

 

[TheBoogieman]

But your hood isn't as nice as @RINC Hood is......

@RINC had his hood custom painted. I can't afford those luxuries.

 

[John Cooper]

@RINC had his hood custom painted. I can't afford those luxuries.

He is a truck driver, them folks gots money to burn!!!!!!