Like the folks above said... hold what ya got... when it's time for new tires, get something like a KO2 or an Wildpeak AT/3W... they are great all terrain tires... get them in the current size you have and I think you'll be very surprised at how capable your jeep already is.

 

Throw some 35s on and drive it till it aggravates the hell out of you. You'll either get to a point you dump money on a regear, or your new "normal" will just be what it is. Just make sure you program for the new tire size or else your shift points, odometer, speedometer, and fuel economy will not be accurate. Usually what will get you is not the around town driving, but the lack of 6th gear on the highway, and constant downshifting as even the slightest breeze becomes a stiff headwind.

 

Sadly its an auto 🙁 but i got a deal i couldn't pass up so no big deal i suppose!

 

I bought my 2016 JKU Sport on Jan 4th this year. Already had a lift and 35's on it
with an automatic transmission. I swear mine feels like it has pretty good pep to it.
I didn't think the PO had it re-geared but if y'all are saying that 35's and 3.21 gears
is that much of a dog then it has me wondering. I get 15 to 16 mpg driving 80 miles
a day back and forth to work. Before this I had a TJ that had transformed over 15
years into a decent rock crawler with 5.13 gears.

 

You have the max tow package? There's a chance you might have 3.73 gearing, and that is actually a bit more manageable with 35's. That is what I started with on my '13, and it was terrible. Not moving around town like a jackrabbit, but not terrible. After that I swapped to rubi axles with 4.10s (for different reasons than gearing) and could barely tell a difference. That indeed verified the the ole theory of having to move at least 2 gearsets to be worthwhile. Went from 4.10s to 5.13s and THAT was noticeable.

You could pull build options with the VIN, or do the rotate a tired method while counting driveshaft revolutions.

 

Thanks for the response, I sent off and got the build sheet already.
No mention of max tow package. It does state standard 3.21 gears.
Took a coworker out for lunch yesterday and he stated my Jeep
had good pick up to it.....

The rotate a tire while counting driveshaft revolutions method????

 

you might find better videos out there, this is just the first one I grabbed to throw in here. skip to about 1:17 and you'll see what I'm talking bout.

 

In 2012 the Max Tow package on JKU by definition came with 3.73. At some point after 2012 they changed that and it was no longer automatically included with max tow.

 

I just picked up a 2017 Big Bear Package for my wife - It has the Max Tow Package and 3.73's and 17x7.5" wheels and 265/70/17 K02's factory stock. It seems to run pretty well for her. So far, at 3,200 miles, it averages 18 mpg, mostly around town.

 

Currently have 09 JK X manual with 3.21 that I purchsed last fall that needed new tires. Put on AT3W 32s on it. In the hills of VT 6th is unusable on the highway. BUT its not bad as a DD and just need to use 4L off road to be able to creep around. It's doable like that. Had a 07 JKU manual with stock 4.10 and 33s, 6 was barely usable on the highway where I live. WFIW I'm regearing my current JK to 4.56 because it's just not low enough for me w 3.21, and NR4X4 has some crazy good deals on locakes and gear packages!