So I'm getting pretty close to making my next big purchase for my JK. However I am torn as to what I should do first.. Rims/tires or gears.. At first I decided rims/tires, but after hearing how terrible the power will be with 3.21's, I am now edging towards gears.. I plan on going with 4.88's and my current tires measure only 31" in diameter, so I will have no 1st gear, and my highway rpms will be sky high!! Whichever I do first, it will take me a good 3 to 4 months until I can do the other!! Please help me decide so I can sleep at night haha

 

I'm running 35" trail grapplers with 3.21's, its not as bad as I thought it would be. Although, I definitely plan on upgrading to 4.88's also. Go with the tires first!

 

Forgot to mention I will be doing sleeves/gussets with my gear install.. Not sure about running 35's without gussets as I don't want bent C's!

 

Tires. gear later. Unless you beat the crap out of it, you won't bend any quicker than you would with your stock set up.

 

I ran 33's with 3.21's for a year, it was not horrible, but 4.88's make it a lot nicer (actually 4.88's are too much for 33's, but I am going to 35's next month.)

 

Do the gussets with the tires, or you will likely be sorry.

 

I'd do gussets and rims and tires first and then re gear.

 

Maybe I will just keep saving until I have enough to do everything at once.. But that would be $3 to $4k easy..

 

I did the wheels/tires first and have the stock gears, not as bad as I thought. I would recommend to do that route first, it wont be too bad.

 

Tire/wheels

Gears/lockers/sleeves

Gussets can be done with either, but if you have the funds, do them with the tires.