I currently have a set of Toyo Open Country ATII 285/70/17 and I'm getting close to needing some new rubber. I want to keep the same kind of tire but I'm considering going slightly larger with a 295/70/17 or 285/75/17. I want a little more beefy tire but I don't want to regear. I know you should when going to 35s but I'm not sure where the cut off is. Thoughts?

 

What ratio do you have now?

 

285/70/17

 

Information about your Jeep wild help (filling out your profile). Is it a 3.8 or a 3.6? Standard or auto? Lifted or stock height? What gear ratio? Stock weight or heavily armored? Where are you located, high elevation in the mountains, or flat land down on the coast?

All of these things, and some others, come into play.

 

I guess I'm showing my ignorance.

I'm not sure what gear ratio I have. My Jeep is a 2014 JKU Sport, automatic. It has a Teraflex leveling kit. I live at sea level in Connecticut. Stock weight.

 

No such thing as a cutoff, too much personal opinion and preference involved. But adding the info you did will get you more opinions to go on. (My opinion, the tallest tire you are looking at is a whole inch taller than your current tires. So, I doubt it would be much different than swapping from stock 32's to your current tires. Barely noticeable...)

285/70 = 32.7"
295/70 = 33.3"
285/75 = 33.8"

 

Ok, if you go to Jeep's website, under the owners tab, there is a tab that takes you to VIN identification. (Doesn't work on a cellphone, at least not my iPhone). Enter your VIN number and it will tell you what he Jeep came with stock (everything it came with stock including axel gear ratio). With the 3.6 engine, If you have 3.73s it won't be a problem at all, if you have 3.21s, it might be a bit sluggish with the bigger tires.

I have the factory 4.10s, and am running 315/70x17s and it is ok, but I also have a manual. Gearing is also a matter of opinion: personally I want to re-gear to 4.88s, while my cousin, who lives in the same are, and has a four door with 295/65x20s is ok with his 3.21s.

Hope this helps.

Happy Jeeping.

 

This would be good to know, because I am going up in same size and curious.

Not to hijack...

2011 2 door so older mini van engine
Auto
3.73 gears

The flatter part of Colorado, however I do travel to the mountains
I have Superchips and do not want to re gear

Looking at 295/70/17

Nitto Trail Grapplers which run big and heavy or

Mastercraft Courser MXT

Both are load E and Masters are lighter I believe.

Thanks!

 

depends on what you think is expectable. I run 305 70 17s on my 3.6jk with 373s. Lost a little zip compared to the factory 32s but its sure not a slug. I wonder how many here drove tj's with a 2.5 in them. This thing is a rocket ship wth the 34s compared to the one I had. It will also put my old 4.0 tj to shame an it was running 31s.

 

We just did a '13 Sahara auto with 3.73s and a 2.5" kit that sticks out. We went with 285/75r17 load range C Ridge Grapplers. With the light weight of the tire, the Jeep didn't even seem to feel the additional diameter of the tire vs stock. On 3.21s you'll definitely feel it more.

On a JK I advocate regearing for almost every configuration, I don't like the performance loss with how heavy they are, but this Sahara was really great and is something I will be recommending to customer's in this situation again.