Wheels, Tires % Ratios

[Old Jeeper]

My JLR rolled in a couple of weeks ago and one of my options made the cut...4:88. Wishing Jeep had thrown in the bigger meats but no, got the little boy shorts aka 33s.

4:88s and 33s is NOT a good combo unless being the Red Light Bandit is your game. Having run just about every ratio there is from 3.07s all the way up the ladder to 5:36s I waxed and waned on what tire to shoe my JLR with 4:88s. When I hit the 4:88s and beyond I have always ran 37s or more. As my JLR is not an off roader rig as I don't like the Mud and Sand of Florida I got to thinking...set of Goodyear Duralrac 35x1250x17. [ https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/goody...rangler-duratrac-312054142/_/R-DVFB-312054142 ]

As much as I love my BFG KMs the GY Duratrac is one helluva great around tire, better than the KOs IMO, not much but better nonetheless. I played with a lot of charts and numbers and decided the 35x 12:50 was the way to go.. My first time running a 35s, but its middle ground 'tween 33s and 37s.

How is it working out? WOW, really impressed. Its a super combo giving me a bit more MPG (about + 1-1.5 mpg), a GREAT ride better than the OEM 33 KOs. the 12:50 makes far a very good handling Jeep, it really takes the curves and rough roads very well. Stopping is improved and over what I had which was noted on my window sticker "Heavy Duty Brakes". (never knew Jeep had them), My JKR Recon I replaced the front brakes with EBC Green Pads and Slotted/Drilled disks. Vast improvement in stopping power. My 2023 JLR has the best brakes I have ever had on a Jeep, stopping is better than my 21 GladR even.

My recommendation: 4:88s and 35s is a GREAT and even better combo on my JLR vs 33s or 37s for a street rig; if you are off roading then the 37s may be a better choice.



OEM Wheels and 33 KO tires

Fuel Wheels, 17 x8.5 35x12:50 GY Duratrac.

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[blnewt]

Nice setup there Don!
Would like to hear updates about those EBC pads when you get more miles on them, especially off road. I want to get Hawk LTS pads as I've ran Hawks on other vehicles and liked them quite a bit. Those Duratracs are a nice upgrade, like the added aggression and depth of the tread. They are still a lighter weight option vs. most 35s, a bit heavier than BFGs but should be lighter than most any other 35.
I bet that gearing choice w/ the 6 spd and those 35s is really the sweet spot, especially in 4Lo!

 

[Some Random Guy]

I actually grew to like the 4.88’s with my M/T and rubi sized KO2’s. I’ve driven 5.13’s with that tire size and that was too reduced for day-to-day, but the 4.88’s were just barely the acceptable side. I can totally see how they’d be fantastic with 35’s. Enjoy!

 

[Old Jeeper]

Thanks for the replies.

I have a friend who is an R%D Engineer in the automotive sector. He owns his own company and REALLY REALLY knows his stuff. He is a Long time Jeeper that is rig of choice to drive. He did a study on stopping power for the industry and the top performer was EBC Green Pads. IIRC the Hawk was in the top 3 for sure.

I had always considered 35s as the stepchild of the tire world. If you are a rock guy then that screams 37s and they demand 4:88s. Parallel to that would be 35s and 4:56s, but then where is that niche?

That was what got me to thinking about the 35s vs 37s, the reality is the engine does not keep up with tire size. On my TJR I added a Supercharger in order to be able to drive at highway speeds from Dallas to Moab and beyond and even then I kept it at about 65.

The key to everything we do is the objective. Since I have no intentions in playing in the mud and sand here in FL my thinking shifted to performance. Well, 33 and 4:88 was overkill. I have NO shortage of experience with 37s and 4:88 and 5:36s. 37/4:88 is a great combo because it allows you to have a daily driver and play on the toughest trails Moab has to offer. Moab would be optimized on 39s and 5:13s if you have the juice under the hood. I have done every 5+ trail in Moab many many times on 37s/4:88s. Most of the 7+ trails I have been able to do in both directions.

If I was to build for the Moab, Rubicons, Hammers, etc and not drive it there it would be a 39/5:36s. I would couple that with a Caddy Escalade engine, V 8 ALL aluminum. Its lightweight and has tons of torque where you need it most down at lower rpms.

Having said all of that there is no trail I have done in the US that required anything beyond a 3 in lift and 37 BFG KM2s or GY MTRs (I have run both and my go-to is BFG KM2s). Yes 3 in seems a bit low but: 'It's not how high you lift it, it's how you lift it high'

 

[aldo98229]

Speaking from the perspective of a V6 automatic, Mopar lift, 35-inch tires and 4.88 gears:

• The Jeep takes off very nice from a standing still, and the transmission holds its gears nicely on descents
• The Jeep feels slight overgeared on the freeway. This setup’s sweet spot is between 50 and 60 MPH; at those speeds I can get up to 18 MPG on the lifted Jeep on 35s, which isn’t bad. But as soon as I exceed 60 MPH, my MPG quickly plummets to 15 MPG
• In hindsight, going with 4.56 gears might have allowed me to gain a couple MPGs on the freeway in exchange for a small sacrifice in low-end grunt

Overall, I really like how the Jeep drives and feels regeared.

It’s perhaps the single best mod to date.

 

[Old Jeeper]

So today I got and drove a road that makes your teeth chatter. Not sure what they poured but it vibrates. My 33 KOs just did not absorb the chatter. BUT the GY Duratracs, WOW road was silent and as smooth as glass. In fact, the ride is so smooth on the Duratracs that I had look a the Load Range as I was thinking it was a C or at most a D...no, its a Load Range E! Best driving Es I have used yet.

NOTE as much as like these they would not be my choice for regular Rocks on a regular basis. For a trip out to Moab or someplace once, or twice a year, I think they would perform well, but the serious trails 7+ its the KM2s for me.

These are great tires, good look, ride beautifully and are worth the money.

PSI: Still playing with psi and testing the contact patch at 35 right now.

 

[lowmpg]

Speaking from the perspective of a V6 automatic, Mopar lift, 35-inch tires and 4.88 gears:

• The Jeep takes off very nice from a standing still, and the transmission holds its gears nicely on descents
• The Jeep feels slight overgeared on the freeway. This setup’s sweet spot is between 50 and 60 MPH; at those speeds I can get up to 18 MPG on the lifted Jeep on 35s, which isn’t bad. But as soon as I exceed 60 MPH, my MPG quickly plummets to 15 MPG
• In hindsight, going with 4.56 gears might have allowed me to gain a couple MPGs on the freeway in exchange for a small sacrifice in low-end grunt

Overall, I really like how the Jeep drives and feels regeared.

It’s perhaps the single best mod to date.

Interesting, I have the V6 auto, 2.5 AEV lift and stock 4.10s with 35-inch Wildpeak M/Ts, I get nearly identical MPGs. 18-20mpg if I keep it routinely at 55-65 and about 15-16 if I hit 70+ routinely.

 

[Old Jeeper]

Interesting, I have the V6 auto, 2.5 AEV lift and stock 4.10s with 35-inch Wildpeak M/Ts, I get nearly identical MPGs. 18-20mpg if I keep it routinely at 55-65 and about 15-16 if I hit 70+ routinely.

I can say this, adding the 35s over the OEM 33s was a significant lift to my Jeep.

NOT sure if I am going to do a lift, have no intentions of a high tempo of off-roading, and its mud/sand and I avoid it. IF I lift it wil be 2 in max, fact is there no named trail that cannot be done on 37s and 3.5 max lift. I am thinking I would like to get my hands on a JLUR XR suspension package. I just missed a complete take-off package. Its set up for 35s!!!

Have not done a highway run, so have no idea of my mpg at 70 mph. Not hitting the highway for at least about a month as I am heading to Tx on business tomorrow AM so its the F 450. I have 488s in my F 450 and I will be rolling semi-heavy at around 24k lbs...

 

[lowmpg]

I can say this, adding the 35s over the OEM 33s was a significant lift to my Jeep.

NOT sure if I am going to do a lift, have no intentions of a high tempo of off-roading, and its mud/sand and I avoid it. IF I lift it wil be 2 in max, fact is there no named trail that cannot be done on 37s and 3.5 max lift. I am thinking I would like to get my hands on a JLUR XR suspension package. I just missed a complete take-off package. Its set up for 35s!!!

Have not done a highway run, so have no idea of my mpg at 70 mph. Not hitting the highway for at least about a month as I am heading to Tx on business tomorrow AM so its the F 450. I have 488s in my F 450 and I will be rolling semi-heavy at around 24k lbs...

Funny you mention the Super Duty, I had a 2013 F350 that was stock aside from a 6" lift and 38x13.5x22 setup, it was netting around 14mpg (which was a huge drop from a stock 6.7). Never regeared anything, sold it at around 100k miles.

 

[Old Jeeper]

Funny you mention the Super Duty, I had a 2013 F350 that was stock aside from a 6" lift and 38x13.5x22 setup, it was netting around 14mpg (which was a huge drop from a stock 6.7). Never regeared anything, sold it at around 100k miles.

Love my SDs for sure, am on my 6th one.

This is my F 450 King Ranch, max tow is 42.000 lbs, not sure of the payload as i load 5990 lbs into the bed and it sets level, no sag. Truly the King of the Road...

 

[blnewt]

I can say this, adding the 35s over the OEM 33s was a significant lift to my Jeep.

NOT sure if I am going to do a lift, have no intentions of a high tempo of off-roading, and its mud/sand and I avoid it. IF I lift it wil be 2 in max, fact is there no named trail that cannot be done on 37s and 3.5 max lift. I am thinking I would like to get my hands on a JLUR XR suspension package. I just missed a complete take-off package. Its set up for 35s!!!

Have not done a highway run, so have no idea of my mpg at 70 mph. Not hitting the highway for at least about a month as I am heading to Tx on business tomorrow AM so its the F 450. I have 488s in my F 450 and I will be rolling semi-heavy at around 24k lbs...

I assume the Duratracs are a true 35, would be interested in their no-load height, I know the stock BFGs are more like a 32.5. A true 35 would be a good lift upgrade just w/ the tires for sure. Probably just get by w/ 3/4" lift pucks if you needed just a bit more room.

 

[AcesandEights]

I have 33" tires and 4.88. Great combination off road.

 

[Old Jeeper]

I assume the Duratracs are a true 35, would be interested in their no-load height, I know the stock BFGs are more like a 32.5. A true 35 would be a good lift upgrade just w/ the tires for sure. Probably just get by w/ 3/4" lift pucks if you needed just a bit more room.

I can certainly tell the diff when I go to get out of the Jeep and I am 6' 2". Big move up from 33s that I know. I have rubbing anywhere, but just town driving, maybe on trail I could possibly see some rubbing ???

I may end up with a puck lift, I want is a take-off suspension from a JLR XR, its set up for 35 tires...

 

[Old Jeeper]

I have 33" tires and 4.88. Great combination off road.

What is you flavor of off roading? Me, Rocks...only!

 

[blnewt]

I can certainly tell the diff when I go to get out of the Jeep and I am 6' 2". Big move up from 33s that I know. I have rubbing anywhere, but just town driving, maybe on trail I could possibly see some rubbing ???

I may end up with a puck lift, I want is a take-off suspension from a JLR XR, its set up for 35 tires...

Since you live in FL you might get lucky and find a XR set, might post a WTB thread in the marketplace here, might find a seller within a reasonable distance. Might even look at a diesel 4dr Rubicon set, they net an additional 1 to 1.5" over a standard Rubicon suspension from all I've read.

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