Can 35-Inch Tires Ruin Your Wrangler Unlimited?
35-inch tires on your Jeep add traction off-road, and make it easier to clear obstacles. What’s the downside?
The Jeep Sahara Unlimited is a stout off-road vehicle right from the factory. The stock 18-inch wheels offer a handsome appearance, and its standard tires can handle mild off-road situations. But what if you want better off-road grip and a more aggressive appearance?
The most common upgrade is a set of 32 or 33-inch tires with a more aggressive off-road tread pattern. It’s possible to run this rubber without any suspension lift, but it’s recommended to add at least two inches for full suspension travel off-road. The results look impressive and instantly transform your Jeep’s style. While that’s great, what if you want to go even further and add more tire to your Wrangler?
In this video, YouTuber TheStradman is adding a set of wheels and 35-inch tires to his Wrangler Sahara Unlimited. The Jeep already has an AEV two-and-a-half inch lift kit. Stradman is downsizing from 18-inch to 17-inch wheels and installing a set of Relations Race Wheels RR2-V in 17×8.5 all around. For the tires, he’s chosen the tried-and-true BF Goodrich K02 All Terran in the 35-inch size. The combination of the satin black wheels and beastly tires makes his white Jeep look awesome. Good looks aside, he quickly finds out the drawbacks of 35-inch tires on an otherwise stock Jeep.
ALSO SEE: Want 35s, But Don’t Have a Lift Kit? No Problem!
Adding significant weight and rolling resistance had a big effect on the Jeep’s acceleration. The standard 285 horsepower Pentastar V6 is pushing more tire, and its gearing is not set up for the larger meats. This effects overall fuel mileage on- and off-road.
In addition to the acceleration, Stradman notices the rugged tread pattern and added weight makes the Jeep a lot harder to slow down. You may want to consider these effects before you decide to add a larger set of tires to your JK Jeep. Let us know what you think in the comments.
