Advice from the knowledgeable needed
Thread Starter
JK Junkie
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,164
Likes: 0
From: Catonsville, MD
Advice from the knowledgeable needed
I have a 2dr with about 2 5/8" of lift and 33" tires. This thing rides awesome I could not ask for a better quality ride.
I want to go up to 35" tires but do not want to lose the quality of ride. I have read how you get "wander" or "drift" with 35" tires. Is this due to the tire size or the lift? I will put a 1"BL on to make sure I have enough room and that should not effect the ride but I am concerned if it will change for the worse with the larger tire.
I want to go up to 35" tires but do not want to lose the quality of ride. I have read how you get "wander" or "drift" with 35" tires. Is this due to the tire size or the lift? I will put a 1"BL on to make sure I have enough room and that should not effect the ride but I am concerned if it will change for the worse with the larger tire.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque, New Mexico
I have a 2.5 BB with 1 BL with 35 KM2's. My ride is great and with about 28 pounds air in tires a dont get much wonder. With a little less I think it would be better but I'm still testing out different pressures.
JK Jedi
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 7,215
Likes: 10
From: Georgia
Genreally, the wander doesn't come from tires. It comes from alignment change due to the lift. The JK's suspension is such that as it is lifted, the caster angle decreases. THAT can cause wander. Caster gives a vehicle the ability to have good steering "returnability" back to center from a turn. This is why you can "let go" of the wheel half way through a turn and the Jeep will straighten itself up. The actual weight of the vehicle is causing that return to center of the steering. The caster also allows for a good feel of stability going down the road. This same "returnability" is also the same affect that allows for this. Decrease caster, and you are also decreasing this returnability and good on road stability. Chances are, if you are happy with how your Jeep drives now, that will not change from going up to 35s. Installing a larger tire does nothing to change caster. What I would do in your case is find a friend with 35s and see if yall can swap for a bit so you can tell the difference, just to be on the safe side. Wouldn't be hard and it would assure you that your ride quality will not change.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 287
Likes: 0
From: Knoxville, TN
Simply increasing your tire size will not have any effect on your caster or camber. If it rides great now it's going to ride great with your new larger tires. That is as long as you go with a quality tire of course. You are going love setting on 35's 
Thread Starter
JK Junkie
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,164
Likes: 0
From: Catonsville, MD
Genreally, the wander doesn't come from tires. It comes from alignment change due to the lift. The JK's suspension is such that as it is lifted, the caster angle decreases. THAT can cause wander. Caster gives a vehicle the ability to have good steering "returnability" back to center from a turn. This is why you can "let go" of the wheel half way through a turn and the Jeep will straighten itself up. The actual weight of the vehicle is causing that return to center of the steering. The caster also allows for a good feel of stability going down the road. This same "returnability" is also the same affect that allows for this. Decrease caster, and you are also decreasing this returnability and good on road stability. Chances are, if you are happy with how your Jeep drives now, that will not change from going up to 35s. Installing a larger tire does nothing to change caster. What I would do in your case is find a friend with 35s and see if yall can swap for a bit so you can tell the difference, just to be on the safe side. Wouldn't be hard and it would assure you that your ride quality will not change.
