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How Important Is The Ramp Travel Index (RTI)?

Humvee4us

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Which setup would be preferred for rocks and deep ruts, 35" tires with a ramp travel index (RTI) of 700 or an RTI of 832 but only 33" tires?
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BDinTX

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Good question, curious to what the consensus is myself. I’ll wager a virtual 12 pack on the larger tires.
 

Stormin’ Moorman

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Bigger tires climb better, fact.
 

bbq4133

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Bigger tires = bigger (longer) contact patch = more grip = better performance.
 

BDinTX

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I was coming from the - larger tires gives more clearance under the diff - angle
 

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Lapis

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So RTI is a weirdly calculated number, it's distance traveled up the ramp (anywhere between 15-30° incline) before another tire lifts, divided by wheelbase, times 1000.

So a 2door JL Rubi on 33" tires has a wheelbase of 96.8"
832/1000x96.8 = 80.53" up a ramp before another tire lifts.
2 door of what I assume the other vehicle is, is 100.4"
700/1000x100.4= 70.28" up a ramp

If both are true to size 33vs35 is only 1” of additional ground clearance.

So which is better, well that depends on the rocks your going over, if there's large enough ledges the 33s can't get enough purchase to climb them, that extra travel doesn't matter. If they can however, I like the odds of being able to lift a wheel 10 more inches better than 1" more clearance.

Of course there's dozens of other factors to consider, so take my advice with a grain of salt.
 

cosine

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so the question is "how important is the rti?" well its very important for this guy. :CWL::facepalm:


 

cosine

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as far as the rti / 33 vs 35 / clearance. ideally you would want a little bit of everything. also it really depends on what and where you are wheeling. the average setup would be 33 to 35 a/t tires. a flexable spring rate that will flex the axles over the rocks, yet stable in running thru the mud and road worthy. the dual flex rate spring will do just fine. the suspension lift will base on the size tires you are running. imho, i'd do a at least a , 2" spacers and a spring lift. this will be more than enough to clear the fenders with 33s (even 35s . jks sway bar disconnect will help providing more flex that you would need.
 
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Humvee4us

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So RTI is a weirdly calculated number, it's distance traveled up the ramp (anywhere between 15-30° incline) before another tire lifts, divided by wheelbase, times 1000.

So a 2door JL Rubi on 33" tires has a wheelbase of 96.8"
832/1000x96.8 = 80.53" up a ramp before another tire lifts.
2 door of what I assume the other vehicle is, is 100.4"
700/1000x100.4= 70.28" up a ramp

If both are true to size 33vs35 is only 1” of additional ground clearance.

So which is better, well that depends on the rocks your going over, if there's large enough ledges the 33s can't get enough purchase to climb them, that extra travel doesn't matter. If they can however, I like the odds of being able to lift a wheel 10 more inches better than 1" more clearance.

Of course there's dozens of other factors to consider, so take my advice with a grain of salt.
LOL, judging by the dimensions that you stated I think you know what that other vehicle is. And this is assuming that the other manufacturer tested the RTI on a 20° incline like Jeep did, because if they tested using a 15° incline there will be an even more notable difference between the two.
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