I've heard a lot of owners say that going to 35s means replacing and upgrading other components but something has continued to puzzle me. I'm currently running 33x12.5R15 GY Duratracs which are 49 lbs per tire and about 20 lbs per wheel. Now lets look at another running 305/70R16 GY Duratracs which are 63 lbs per tire and about 25 lbs per wheel. Both are not 35s and no body seems to question moving to this tire size but say that you need to re-gear, replace brakes or upgrade them, and address a whole host of other parts if they were actually 35s.

Now lets look at 35x12.5R15 BFG ATs at 53 lbs per tire and about 20 lbs per wheel. Why would any of the above parts need to be upgraded or changed with this set up when it weighs considerably less than the smaller heavier 33s on 16 wheels? Confused yet?

I used to run Nitto Trail Grapplers in 255/75/17 when my jeep was stock. Those tires weighed 60 lbs each and the wheels were about 25 lbs each. They were 32" tires. Even this set up weighed more than the 35x12.5R15s and no one recommended me change anything on my jeep to do so. Is this just simply an oversight by the community here on these details or is there really a need to upgrade all those things everyone says when moving to a 35 on a 15" wheel? Thoughts?

 

i went through these same questions on another forum, and the consensus was that its more about the diameter and width of the tire than the actual weight.

 

But upgrading to address that is only one component in a host of recommended ones.

 

Here's some perspective for you: I thought my 3.21 gears were awful with 32" tires. My Jeep is much more enjoyable to drive with 5.13's and 35" tires. I've heard some people run 37" tires with 3.21's. IMO, they're really not getting all the enjoyment out of their Jeep that they can.

 

well from what ive gathered, jk's come from the factory under geared, so anything you add will only magnify the problem.

 

your confusion lies within the fact that you're just looking at tire weight when you really need to be focused on the diameter of the tire.

 

Ok then lets look at it this way.

255/75/17 Nitto Trail Grapplers 32" tires have 615 revs per mile
33x12.5R15 Goodyear Duratracs 33" tires have 643 revs per mile

The goodyears are larger, wider, and have a greater contact patch but have more revs per mile. They should in theory have a greater length or rotation but they do not. This is also the case with some 35s on the same size wheel. There are a few with more revs per mile and less rolling resistance than 33" tires even though the 35s are the largest.

 

I just replaced the stock 18" wheels and Bridgestone tires with some BFG A/Ts. They weight close to the same but trust me the added height makes a big difference. I am running 4.10s and there is no way I am staying with those gears. The added height dropped me a little over 300RPM and took me right out of the JK power band. Now she wants to shift down in a strong head wing. Had nothing to do with the weight and everything to do with the change in diameter and width of the tire. IMO

 

first off, you need to stop theorizing about things and instead, just take a take a tape measure to them. you need to know that NO tire measures up to what is writen on the sidewall, most are significantly shorter than is stated and, no two tire makes measure up the same.

 

I've owned both sets of tires and wheel sizes mentioned above and have experience with them. I don't need to measure them because not only is the info provided correct on paper, it is too on the road. The goodyears are larger and substantially wider than the nittos both off and on mounted to the jeep.




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