35s
JK Super Freak
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,381
Likes: 1
From: East Bridgewater, MA
he has the crappy engine so mpg is affected even more. with 35" Trail Grappplers, which are heavy as hell, he will see his mpg drop to 12-14 range around city most likely.
I think the issue here is he is buidling his jeep for looks, not capability. At 16 years old with limited money, you will be Jeep poor very quickly. You'll hate the power loss with 35's combined with the 3.8. You will hate the mpg you get. It will look good assuming you put the necessary lift to fit the 35's or do a lot of cutting but now you open yourself up to other mods that may be needed to fix alignment issues, reinforcing axles (yes, even non-wheelers running 35's bend stuff on the pavement), programmers, etc...
Just saying....if you are worried about the cost of gas....a JK is not a good vehicle to begin with let alone throw heavy tires on it.
JK Junkie
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,142
Likes: 2
From: Rockwood, TN
he has the crappy engine so mpg is affected even more. with 35" Trail Grappplers, which are heavy as hell, he will see his mpg drop to 12-14 range around city most likely.
I think the issue here is he is buidling his jeep for looks, not capability. At 16 years old with limited money, you will be Jeep poor very quickly. You'll hate the power loss with 35's combined with the 3.8. You will hate the mpg you get. It will look good assuming you put the necessary lift to fit the 35's or do a lot of cutting but now you open yourself up to other mods that may be needed to fix alignment issues, reinforcing axles (yes, even non-wheelers running 35's bend stuff on the pavement), programmers, etc...
Just saying....if you are worried about the cost of gas....a JK is not a good vehicle to begin with let alone throw heavy tires on it.
I think the issue here is he is buidling his jeep for looks, not capability. At 16 years old with limited money, you will be Jeep poor very quickly. You'll hate the power loss with 35's combined with the 3.8. You will hate the mpg you get. It will look good assuming you put the necessary lift to fit the 35's or do a lot of cutting but now you open yourself up to other mods that may be needed to fix alignment issues, reinforcing axles (yes, even non-wheelers running 35's bend stuff on the pavement), programmers, etc...
Just saying....if you are worried about the cost of gas....a JK is not a good vehicle to begin with let alone throw heavy tires on it.
Last edited by kh202; Jul 26, 2013 at 09:49 AM.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
From: Louisiana
JK Junkie
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,142
Likes: 2
From: Rockwood, TN
Last edited by kh202; Jul 26, 2013 at 11:29 AM.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 153
Likes: 1
From: Grovetown GA
+1 to going with a lighter tire and smaller as well! I'm running a 3.25 lift with 33's right now on my '08 JKU with the manual trans and 3.21 gears and its miserable! 6th gear is a fond memory and I am waiting for the day I can regear and get some of the lost power back. Right now I get my best gas mileage in town around 15-17mpg, but if I have extended hwy runs, that drops quickly to 12-15 tops! 
You're 16 and as some others here have stated, lucky to be driving a JK! Stick with smaller tires until you can afford the gas and the repairs/upgrades needed to run the bigger tires and work on building the other stuff up slowly until you are ready for the big meats!
You're 16 and as some others here have stated, lucky to be driving a JK! Stick with smaller tires until you can afford the gas and the repairs/upgrades needed to run the bigger tires and work on building the other stuff up slowly until you are ready for the big meats!
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 76
Likes: 1
From: Jacksonville
he has the crappy engine so mpg is affected even more. with 35" Trail Grappplers, which are heavy as hell, he will see his mpg drop to 12-14 range around city most likely.
I think the issue here is he is buidling his jeep for looks, not capability. At 16 years old with limited money, you will be Jeep poor very quickly. You'll hate the power loss with 35's combined with the 3.8. You will hate the mpg you get. It will look good assuming you put the necessary lift to fit the 35's or do a lot of cutting but now you open yourself up to other mods that may be needed to fix alignment issues, reinforcing axles (yes, even non-wheelers running 35's bend stuff on the pavement), programmers, etc...
Just saying....if you are worried about the cost of gas....a JK is not a good vehicle to begin with let alone throw heavy tires on it.
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 76
Likes: 1
From: Jacksonville
I agree with this! In your situation, keep it stock for now man and feel lucky enough to even be driving a JK at the age of 16! Save up for mods and do them later. If you do insist on the 35's, I wouldn't get heavy ass Trail Grapplers if it's going to be a pavement queen for awhile. KM2's would be a good aggressive tire that weighs significantly less, still has good treadlife, and does awesome offroad.
JK Freak
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 681
Likes: 0
From: Springfield, MO
JK Freak
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 643
Likes: 0
From: Westfield
KM2 35x12.5-$1300
G2 4.88-$700
MCE flat fenders-$600
JK Junkie
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,142
Likes: 2
From: Rockwood, TN
And my whole build is under $3000, and that includes lift, 35's, wheels, axle reinforcement, and rubicon transfercase.
Last edited by kh202; Jul 27, 2013 at 06:57 AM.