Well I know i have commented on this thread way to much, I just wanted to point out a few points that I found while researching. First being the weight of the tires, they are just a little lighter then Toyo MT 1lb. Now compaired to a MTR-Kevlar or KM2s. The nittos weight in at a little more then the other two named tires in a 35inch. So might as well call them a 35 in weight terms.. only advantage is rolling resistance and what not but I'm not in the mood to do math to day. Second point which you can find in lots of performace Mags is unsprung weight compair to sprung, factor in rolling resistance and what not you will come up with a factor of 10. So assuming your orginal pizza cutters (which i just sold mine after tring for 2 years) weight in at around 50lbs thats a difference of 37lbs per tire. 37 x 4 = 148 I realize you have 5 but the 5th is sprung weight and doesn't rotate... So with relation of increasing rotation mass/ unsprung weight to ... if i added those forces in as sprung weight.. how much would i weigh.... anwser is around 1480lbs. So if you were still stock and say put about 1500lbs of cargo in your jeep thats is the same performance level as what you are now. Now looking at it in this context is really showing the weakness for the 3.8 and those epic 3.21 gears (which i still have also). Now like said before .. .tuner, gears they will help.. give more power, get you back in the power range so your not reving and mashing the crap out of the pedal.

Your issue isn't you went to a 32inch tire its more the tire you choose. They are kind of crazy heavy and a e load tire i believe. Deminsion wise they come in at like 32.5 x 11 inch from what I've read. Also the other post about ooo i put larger tires on my pickup are like compair apples and oranges. You have a truck with generic v8 any brand with usually gears for towing since well its a truck. Now you have torquey v8 compaired to a v6 thats not so torque (minivan motor but is a decent chryslar engine research it been around for ever) and low gears made for gas ecomony compair to a 4.1 for towing. Doesn't sound like much but just use 3.21 to 4.1 and that allows 30% more torque. Now say you have 100 ft-lbs thats compaired to 130-ft-lbs just in gears. My 302 in my truck is more around 250ft-lbs and the 347 in my mustang dynoed almost 300ft-lbs at 2500 rpm. Thats your 100ft-lb 3.8 compaired to 325ft-lbs say in my f-150 being put to the ground. (Using the jeep as the standard but it explains the point). Thats like applying 3 times the torque so of coarse you can easily upgrade to larger tires. Most trucks come around a 32-33 inch tire stock so jumping to a 35 isn't like going from 29-33. ( Assume weight and what not.) This post isn't to insualt anyone but rather to give some knowledge and perspective to the jeep. Would the 4.0 be better? Who knows but hell yes I miss my YJ and TJs. But do I love the mpg and smoothness of the 3.8 yes. ( exspecially the not replacing the header every other year... piece of crap cast factory piece). Part of the issue is also choosing the base model. It maybe all you could afford... such as in my case couldn't afford a rubi or many upgrades and no way would the wife or me let us cruise around in my TJ (that had just a safari top and upgraded heater) in the South Dakota winter with a new born. Little of topic sorry. But the base model is / was made either for those that would mall crawl all day or upgrade as money came along.... this maybe giving Jeep to much credit but either way. I know a couple rigs that started off as 2wd (i know i know wtf) but they replaced almost everything and there wasn't a real reason to buy the 4x4 or rubi model to throw all the stuff away. Do i wish they bought the rubi and gave me the axles yes...

Bottom line is don't regret your jeep or any of the upgrade purchases. Relax, take the top off, enjoy the slow cruise and know why the jeep is performing how it is. Then you can either except it or change it. I would assume most forum members consider the pros and cons to any upgrade, and i assume the same of you .. sticking with a 32/33 tire instead of slaping a 35 on with a $200 lift and asking why is my mpg and performance so shitty. Don't hate your jeep should be your friend

Now for upgrade recommendations if you can't live with it... could look for some gears removed from an auto jk those are usually 4.1 gears and will fit axles you have (30 front 44 rear), or maybe 3.73 from a tow package jeep. (personaly i would get the 4.1 incase you decided to get bigger tires down the road) Look for a knowledgeable forum member or local offroad club member that maybe able to help you install the gears over a some beer and pizza. As for wearing the tranny.. I would assume stock clutch still in it and if your not riding the crap out of the clutch shouldn't effect it to much.. auto tho it would over temp the fluid and require a tanny cooler which they should have to begin with. Axles, you said you don't wheel much just some dirt roads perfect shouldn't need much but if you really wanted insurance on it some gussets and sleeves but I wouldn't think you need um unless your ramping over some speed bumps or doing some moderate and up trails... Also personaly I wouldn't trade it in after a few years just for axles and gears from a rubi unless you want the rubi you can easily upgrade your componets to where you say you want them right now for much cheaper. If you truely only want the 32/33s and really don't do much wheeling thats a bit of an investment. Another option would be see if you could sell / trade your tires, will you loss money yes probably in the trade but if you get or find a good deal you may break even with mpg.... maybe? All and all its your jeep do what you want but don't hate it because it came with a v6 instead off a v8 or the epic 3.21 gears, you knew that when you bought it. might not have realized what that meant at the time but thats part of the joy and beauty of owning a jeep you will learn lots about your vehical and others ... its a jeep thing and part of the "life style".

Mine was stock for almost 2 years... mostly because of the airforce.


Not much invest.. certainly not 10k more around 5k


Sorry for the lenght of the post.