I have been doing a little research and I know a lot of people say, "You will have to regear if you go with 35s" but people also say, "You won't like 33s go with 35s". So, how about 34s? I don't want to regear a new Jeep and also the weight on the tailgate is a concern (probably going to a 16 steel rim). Any thoughts? I tried to find a post on this but couldn't.

 

A lot of the "regearing" question depends on how you use your Jeep, where you live, which transmission you have, and what your gears currently are.

34's are not as common of a tire size - your selection may be a little limited.

Also, understand that 34's are splitting the difference between 33's and 35's. You'll get half of the extra performance off-road and half of the extra problems on-road.

Decide what's important to you and how you use your Jeep. Then pick a tire size and run with it.

 

When I bought my Jeep it had 34s on it. 4:10 gears were not low enough for me. It shifted down with any headwind or hill. With a manual it would probably be fine though.

 

if performance off road is a concern 33's perform great off road if you get the right tire. i dont think youll be very limited off road with 33's if thats what you think IMO. but i am apart of a very small group of people who are happy with their 33's

 

You don't 'have' to regear. It's a preference. Plenty of people running 35's on stock gears with no intention of swapping. And plenty of people (like me) that think our JK's are undergeared/underpowered from the factory, and couldn't wait to slap in some new gears.

Check the RPM chart in the FAQ's, browse some more, and decide for yourself.

But looking at the chart, with stock gears, there is only a 50rpm (appx) difference between 34's and 35's. Then add in a few pounds of extra weight for 35's, slightly higher rolling resistance, any other differences there may be, and come to some kind of conclusion.

(splitting the difference and going with a 34 was my thought process as well. I should have just gone to 35's in the first place...)

 

Just wondering how much that added weight effects things?

 

The added weight from tires and wheels (if heavier) will affect your braking, the load on the axles and your handling/ride, since you are increasing the unsprung weight.

The effect may not be dramatic or noticeable in the short term, depending on the tires diameter and size. Increase in weight from 32s to 35s is typically in the 20-40 lbs. The challenge is that a lot of that weigh is on the tread which is increases the rotational moment signficantly, which directly affects braking and axles loads.

All 35s are not created equal, some are taller, mine ride at 33.75" at 30 psi and are 25 lbs heavier than the stock tires, which is in the low range of effective tire height.

Going to 34s, with a heavy tire is not going to help much. When you research tires pay attention to their weight.

 

Curious what tires are you looking at?

 

I dont know much on jeep...like nothing really....but even when u buy a so called 35" tire, u are getting a 34". check u overall diameter when u purchase.

 

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Some tires match their "nominal" diameter exactly, some are a little smaller. It depends on the manufacturer and model of the tire. It has nothing to do with the vehicle.