First post and new '12 JKU owner (Sahara) . Happy to be here!

Those members with significant off highway experience with 35's and 37's, how much of a performance capability do you gain out of a 37's over 35's . Considering all of the addition mods/cost associated with 37+ tires I would expect a significant return in capability.

 

I guess it would depend on how much money you have, I don't have much, so I'm really trying to justify the 37's, but it will be hard to swing it.

I plan on joining my local Jeep club and seeing how everyone else does with their respective sizes. And of course, while wheeling my Jeep I can better figure out how much I will need.

 

And welcome!

 

if you consider doing serious offroading i wouldnt recommend 37s on the dana 30 front axle. its a big back and forth argument but i have had personal experience of breaking a front locker, Ring and pinion, shafts, and u joints. 37s really require your jeep to be greatly changed which get expensive.
it will drive fine on the highway if you gear it and thats all you plan to do but offroad you will be pushing the limits of the front end

 

Aside from the obvious bitchin looks, 37's will give you an additional inch of ground clearance, improve your break over angles, and increase your ground patch contact area.
Is it worth it? Sure, if it's important to you. It's not like you can't wheel just fine on 35's... If you think you might want 37's then do it now. Otherwise, you'll waste money on 35's and respend for 37's. It's what most of us do

 

Alot of your question can be answered by the terrain where you live. Being in South Florida, we dont have Rock Crawling and Mountains to roam in. We have swamp, small hills, Palmetto roots and did I mention muddy swamp? The terrain gets a little tougher as you head North, but with C Gussets and not pounding into things 37's are doable.

The more severe the terrain is, the more you have to beef up on your rig.