my jk has the 3.73 gears and i want to go with a 2.5" lift. i am thinking on putting some 33" or 35" and 16" or 17" wheels.... where i live is not a big city (as big as tucson, az.); 50km average speed, lots of traffic lights, and mexican diving style i don´t do that much driving on highways and i will do offroad maybe 2 or 3 times a month, but when it rains, it floods a lot... i´m not considering changing gears... would i be happy with this?? please advice

 

If your not changing gears the stay with 33's

 

As said, stay with 33's.

 

It would matter, maybe, if you have a manual or automatic. I have the same gears as you, and I drive about how you do, and I put on the TF BB 2.5" with 34x12.5's on 17" wheels and I love it, but I have the 6-speed. I can tell that I have to put more rpm's into it than I did before the upgrade (but not too many)...and I don't think I'd be happy if I had the automatic because I wouldn't have that control. If, by chance, you have the 6-speed...go for it, you won't regret it!

 

How do you like the Jeep's performance in stock form? If you already feel it's mediocre to disappointing, then I say stay with the 33's if you're not re-gearing. If you feel the Jeep has plentiful power now then you might be tolerant of 35's with the 3.73's. Personally I think the 4.10s and stock 32" tires is just adequate.

 

does the weight of the wheels and tires affect??

i mean, if i choose heavier wheels or heavier tires or even a steel aftermarket bumper & winch, will that affect my jk´s performance??? do i need to go light to have a better response??

 

Most definately. The more weight your engine has to turn without the correct gear ratio the harder it has to work. I run 33"s with 3.73s and wouldn't go any larger without the regear.

 

It definitly has an effect, especially with the tires since they are rolling weight.

 

I think the rolling weight is less of a concern than the dead weight of the bumpers and such. There have been arguments getting all high-tech about inertia and stuff on this forum about the added weight of wheels and tires.

While, they do have an effect, they're not as big of a deal when you're moving. However, with bigger tires and wheels you typically need to upgrade your brakes as well, although I don't think anybody has on this forum. I guess the stock brakes are good enough.

 

A lot has to do with expectations.

I just got the JK, it has 32 x 10.7's on 17" rims essentially....and I got the 3.73 gearing....and its fine.

I had 3.73 gearing on my old TJ ('98) which was weaker engined, etc....and it was fine for me.

If you are used to a quick car, about any truck will feel disappointing afterwards...if you are used to leisurely performance anyway, ("Truck-like"), its fine.

The stock JK 4dr on 32's feels peppy compared to its stock predecessor on 30's, and peppier than its lifted larger tired predecessor did on 33's as well....

So - I know that I could safely mount 35's on the JK, be about 170 or so rpm lower in 6th at 60 mph, and be happy.

IE: I see I'm cruising at about 2,000 rpm at 60 mph stock....

The 32 to 35" swap increases my final drive ratio about 8.5%, so that's 171 rpm at 60 mph...

So my Tach will read 1,829 rpm, instead of 2,000 rpm at 60 mph...not that big a deal to me.




If you are one of those people who feels a 170 rpm drop at cruising speed would be a nightmare, and find it unbearable, etc...stay stock, or, get an even SMALLER diameter tire, and get even more oomph out of the truck.



Or re-gear the diffs, etc.

Me, its not enough of a difference to get all worked up over...every one else will have their own impression/reaction.