Gearing and Tire Selection

[SparkyIBEW]

I have a Extreme Recon Rubicon due next month with the V6 E torque engine and Auto transmission, with 4:56 axle's. It will be a daily driver, around town, highway and a lot of off-road driving. I will drive from the dealership to the tire store to replace the the 35" BF Goodrich KO2 tires the day I pick it up. I've been beating myself up deciding between 35" or 37" tires. Will I regret installing 37's when it comes to highway driving particularly uphill grades (without towing anything)?

Here in Southwest Idaho, when the first sign of dark clouds are approaching in the Owhyee's, It's time to get the" hell out of dodge" to escape the soon to be muddy dirt roads and 2 tracks. The KO2's fail miserably in the slightest mud. I'm looking really hard at the Maxxis Razr M/T and the Mickey Thompsons BB M/T, the Cooper STT along with the Nitto Trail Grapplers. We get all kinds of road conditions here in Treasure Valley, wondering if I will regret having "mudder tires" when the pavement is wet, snowed on, or frosty? Or just simply slow down and take it easy, which is always a good plan......

Maybe a happy medium would be Mickey Thompson's Baja Boss A/T tires? Reading the forums, they are better than the KO2's?

Thanks in advance, Gary

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[Carolina Jeeper]

I'm at the exact point you are and I've been looking since I too have the KO2 all terrains and I'm not in love with them. My two finalists are the Baja Boss A/T or the Cooper Discoverer STT Pro. Appears to be hard to locate the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T tires. I could be persuaded towards a Mickey Thompson Baja Boss M/T easily though since many people really like them even on pavement.

Going by what some have told me here, the 35's can be used without a gear change on a Rubicon with the 4.10 ratio. Still debating on that 33" to 35" decision.

 

[blnewt]

Baja Boss AT would be a good choice, they are 3peak snow rated, more aggressive than a typical AT based tread, have very deep side-biters, and being their newest tire should have the latest tread/rubber compound technology. Cooper STT Pros are a top tier tire, only negative I've heard from them is cold/snow performance, and even then it's not typically rated as bad, just not as good as a 3peak AT-based tread. Might also consider Goodyear Duratracs, and unlike most of the other tires listed they are typically lighter than most. Quiet a few around here really like the Yokohama Geolander MT FWIW. The Yokohamas are the only ones I listed that aren't made in the USA, so something else to keep in mind.

I would think you'd be just fine w/ those 4.56 gears running 37s with your current stock setup, especially w/ the 8AT.

 

[txj2go]

I have a Extreme Recon Rubicon due next month with the V6 E torque engine and Auto transmission, with 4:56 axle's. It will be a daily driver, around town, highway and a lot of off-road driving. I will drive from the dealership to the tire store to replace the the 35" BF Goodrich KO2 tires the day I pick it up. I've been beating myself up deciding between 35" or 37" tires. Will I regret installing 37's when it comes to highway driving particularly uphill grades (without towing anything)?

I would expect it to be ok.
I run 33s (Rubicon takeoffs) on my Sport with 3.45 gears!
If I had 37s and 3.86 gears I would have the same effective gearing that I have now.

 

[SparkyIBEW]

The Extreme Recon wheels are 8 inch. Most every 37" tire is calling for 8.5 to 11 inch wheels.

What width wheel should i have and will I need an offset?

What's a good brand of wheels?

And I forgot to mention, the rig will have a 3-1/2" EVO lift.

 

[blnewt]

The Extreme Recon wheels are 8 inch. Most every 37" tire is calling for 8.5 to 11 inch wheels.

What width wheel should i have and will I need an offset?

What's a good brand of wheels?

And I forgot to mention, the rig will have a 3-1/2" EVO lift.

8.5 width is the most common w/ 17s, as far as what wheels are of decent quality, probably easier to find a general type/color of wheel you're wanting and post that, then the best choices could be posted.

Evo should provide their recommended offset/backspacing for their lift on their website or a call to their tech line.
Since you have the wider Rubicon axles I would think something in the zero to -12 range would work.

 

[SparkyIBEW]

How about "Method Wheels" 17X9" with a negative 12

 

[blnewt]

How about "Method Wheels" 17X9" with a negative 12

Methods are a great choice, very strong and have many nice looking sets for sure. Not sure on the weight but I'd imagine most would be in the 30 lb range give or take. That offset should be fine, although I would check w/ that lift manufacturer just to see what offset they recommend since you will have quite a bit of travel w/ that new lift.

 

[jhackathorne]

Slightly off topic... why are you going with the EVO lift? They do not get that great of reviews around here and there are plenty of lift options that performa amazingly.

Most every 37 will be fine on a 8" width as well. Just curious why you chose the XR package when you are planning on replacing a good amount of what it comes with. The 35's and the rims are at least 50% of the total cost of the XR package. Can still sell them for 2k+ at least. And I'd go with the MT Baja. They get great reviews.

 

[Headbarcode]

How about "Method Wheels" 17X9" with a negative 12

Here's what a 17x9 with -12mm offset and 38x13.5's looks like, as far as how far they stick out...

 

[conFUcius]

Baja Boss AT would be a good choice, they are 3peak snow rated, more aggressive than a typical AT based tread, have very deep side-biters, and being their newest tire should have the latest tread/rubber compound technology. Cooper STT Pros are a top tier tire, only negative I've heard from them is cold/snow performance, and even then it's not typically rated as bad, just not as good as a 3peak AT-based tread. Might also consider Goodyear Duratracs, and unlike most of the other tires listed they are typically lighter than most. Quiet a few around here really like the Yokohama Geolander MT FWIW. The Yokohamas are the only ones I listed that aren't made in the USA, so something else to keep in mind.

I would think you'd be just fine w/ those 4.56 gears running 37s with your current stock setup, especially w/ the 8AT.

@SparkyIBEW - STT Pros will have a hum since they’re an MT. Worth it to me but just full disclosure.

 

[sardogtella]

I put 37" Nitto Ridge Grapplers on my XR with 3.5 EVO lift. Was rubbing the lower control arms with the stock XR wheels and had to use 1.75 wheel spacers. I have 456 gearing and run in eighth until I hit the slightest grade then run in 7th.

 

[TheBirdie72]

Here's what a 17x9 with -12mm offset and 38x13.5's looks like, as far as how far they stick out...

I love seeing pics of the SQUIRR3L on here! Reminds me of what my sting gray wants to be when it grows up…someday!

 

[Headbarcode]

I love seeing pics of the SQUIRR3L on here! Reminds me of what my sting gray wants to be when it grows up…someday!

 

[TheBirdie72]

Not with 3.45 gears and open diffs, but we can dream! ?

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