2012 JKU max tow manual trans. If I increase tire size to 33 will it have an effect on my towing experience? I tow a heavy toyhauler over 4000 pounds with weight dist hitch.

 

It will definitely affect towing.......... In a negative way.

Braking will be affected due to the larger mass of the 33's
Acceleration will be affected due to a change in final drive ratio
Sway will be affected due to increased ride height and also sidewall flex of the taller tires.

I would say a 33 is not that much bigger than the stockers but you are already exceeding the factory rating of 3500lbs.

 

rob "engineer" ?

 

^^^. that's a good one. LOL!!!


Technically speaking, and for round figures, assuming a 30" tire to a 33", you are increasing you diameter by 10% . Roll radius isn't that high % wise! but you will feel the difference. When I had my Landy, with a 5k lbs. tow capacity, I still needed trailer brakes even for my trailer that varied between 3-5k loaded. Considering the brakes on that vehicle were larger than even the big brake kit for a jk.

As for the JK, it may be able to pull the load, but you will want brakes. As for myself? I wouldn't pull more than listed by the manufacturer. Why? Because working in healthcare for 17 years, I treated many people who won lawsuits due to being injured by another vehicle that was either hauling or towing a weight that exceeded the manufacturer recs. I don't agree with this type of lawsuit in general (ignoring individual cases), but it's a reality we have today in our sue happy country.

 

That is funny, even I chuckled at my own expense. However, I was looking for real world experiences. I've never experienced going with larger tire in a jeep. I always look to experts when I have questions I don't know the answers to. You guys on here are the experts for subjects like this.