Help needed on going to smaller tires

[Bcsnave]

I just picked up a 2025 Rubicon X with the 35" tire package and 456 rear end.

Background to my question: We are going on a 2 week vacation with our camper and staying on paved roads and camp sites.

If I put on 255/70-18 wheels vs. the 315/70-17 what impact will this have on transmission and differentials? Excessive heat? Wear?

Thanks

Bill

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[grimmjeeper]

You'll run higher than normal RPMs going down the road. Towing a camper, this is a good thing. You may not see the best fuel mileage but if you're towing, that's a given.

You won't really have any wear over normal. Just follow the maintenance schedule for the Jeep and you'll be fine.

 

[kah.mun.rah]

I would be more worried about your ego driving a lifted Jeep with 32x10 tires.

 

[Bcsnave]

You'll run higher than normal RPMs going down the road. Towing a camper, this is a good thing. You may not see the best fuel mileage but if you're towing, that's a given.

You won't really have any wear over normal. Just follow the maintenance schedule for the Jeep and you'll be fine.

Will the weight offset of Sahara wheels and tires vs the Recon and 35's be better for towing with lower rolling resistance?

 

[jadmt]

I just picked up a 2025 Rubicon X with the 35" tire package and 456 rear end.

Background to my question: We are going on a 2 week vacation with our camper and staying on paved roads and camp sites.

If I put on 255/70-18 wheels vs. the 315/70-17 what impact will this have on transmission and differentials? Excessive heat? Wear?

Thanks

Bill

my buddy bought rubicon with the 4.88 optional gears and it came with 285/70-17 so pretty close to 255/70-18 in overall height and he said it was a rocket ship.....

 

[Bcsnave]

I would be more worried about your ego driving a lifted Jeep with 32x10 tires.

Lol...at 65 yrs old that's the last thing I am worried about

 

[grimmjeeper]

Will the weight offset of Sahara wheels and tires vs the Recon and 35's be better for towing with lower rolling resistance?

The weight difference doesn't really make a huge difference either way. Diameter has 10x the impact over weight and rolling resistance both.

 

[grimmjeeper]

I would be more worried about your ego driving a lifted Jeep with 32x10 tires.

Nah. He'll just look like his Jeep skipped leg day.

 

[Reinen]

Be sure to recalibrate for smaller tires. If you don't, your speedo will be off to the high side and you will put more mileage on the odometer than you actually drove.

 

[kah.mun.rah]

It might be cheaper to just drop the hitch an inch or two

 

[Ratbert]

What are you trying to accomplish? Just spending money for some unknown reason?

 

[Bcsnave]

It might be cheaper to just drop the hitch an inch or two

That's not an issue. I am looking for ride quality, less road noise, towing and mpgs

 

[kah.mun.rah]

That's not an issue. I am looking for ride quality, less road noise, towing and mpgs

You will still have a solid front axle vehicle that leaks wind at every seam and is as aerodynamic as a brick so don’t get your hopes too high.

 

[Camaroboi13]

I am looking for ride quality, less road noise, towing and mpgs

Hate to disappoint, you bought the wrong vehicle. It’s not going to get any quieter with different tires. Towing and mpg will be nearly the same.

 

[jadmt]

That's not an issue. I am looking for ride quality, less road noise, towing and mpgs

depending on the tires you might get a nicer ride altho the KO2 C rated oem tires are probably as smooth and quiet as most..I am guessing you probably have a set of 255/70-18's already depending on what tires they maybe a nicer ride. How big of camper are you pulling? You will definitely have more giddy up with the smaller tires. I always run two sets of tires one more street usually a smaller set with less aggressive tread that I use when road tripping, super easy to change them over and saves wear on the more aggressive ones. If you have them already swap them on and see how it feels..

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