38's are the Goldilocks of tires (owner review)

[Mbryson]

38” patty’s, MC 3.5 GC, tereflex nomads, no rubbing or steering issues either. I put metal cloaks 1 ton steering on with the lift just cuz. Regeared to 4.56 from 3.73 (diesel). RCV’s up front and Dana chromoly in the rear.

I think you're right on with the 4.56 and the 38" with the deezel. Would you do 4.30 or 4.56 if you had it to do over again? How much freeway driving do you do? (I drive quite a bit around southeastern UT at 80+ mph speeds---thoughts on RPMs at that speed once regeared?)

Sponsored

 

[Mofawzy]

Just some info..3" Clayton front, 3.5" Synergy rears, 38" Trail Grapplers and Icon beadlocks. No rubbing so far and no issue steering...its not ready yet to play in the rocks. Stock 3.73's Diesel Rubicon. "Might" regear a little once I get it finished TBD. I Have RCV's for the front and TBD on the rear. It had 39" KM3's..just crappy tires so sold them.

How did you fit the 38 spare?

 

[caryt]

Haven't ran a spare in years..Never had any issues with Trail Grapplers.
I do carry a patch kit and in 50+ years I've never needed it. Was in construction for 30 years on all kinds of job sites and 30 years going off road. Lucky I guess.

I may get a Tire carrier bumper one day.

 

[BigG]

I think you're right on with the 4.56 and the 38" with the deezel. Would you do 4.30 or 4.56 if you had it to do over again? How much freeway driving do you do? (I drive quite a bit around southeastern UT at 80+ mph speeds---thoughts on RPMs at that speed once regeared?)

The 4.56 is perfect for me, I did it because of my travel trailer, otherwise I probably wouldn’t bother til I go bigger. The diesel did fine with 3.73’s in my opinion.

 

[Mbryson]

The 4.56 is perfect for me, I did it because of my travel trailer, otherwise I probably wouldn’t bother til I go bigger. The diesel did fine with 3.73’s in my opinion.

I'm of the same opinion with my 37" Mickey Thompson MTZ and the 3.73. I do haul my Buick Special around on a trailer at times and would LIKE to haul my trail Jeep (probably heavier than I should haul) after I put it on a diet. Just debating if I wanted to stick with the 37" tires and the "Swiss Army knife" concept of a Jeep/truck/daily that I have or move it a little more heavily into the "truck" category with the 4.30 or 4.56 gears (4.56 would give me options to run a 38" or 39" tire)

 

[T-Rock]

I think 72's will be the new 40's by next year. Then goldilocks will have to look for a new bowl of porridge.

 

[guarnibl]

I have this kit, super easy to install. I have been in some rocks with this kit and it does night an day better. My friends JL on 35s could not steer a section of Trail. 38s apex kit i was able to steer no problem. It is still far behind full hydro steer, but for the cost and time to install worth every penny.

I ran this kit on my 392 on 40’s through all of Moab including Pritchett and it was fine. Nowhere near as good as hydro, but close enough and without any downsides.

 

[Dickster]

I ran this kit on my 392 on 40’s through all of Moab including Pritchett and it was fine. Nowhere near as good as hydro, but close enough and without any downsides.

Good to know. I've been impressed with mine so far, $385.00 well spent.

 

[JT57]

I just mounted up a set of 38/13.5r17 Falken Wildpeak RT01 on my AEV Borah beadlocks and am very happy with the new tires so far. I had a JK on a few different lifts and tires and now two JT's with multiple sets of tires and lift heights. On the JT's I've run 285/75r17 KO2s, 35/11.5r17 Toyo ATIII, 37/12.5r17 KM3s, 37/12.5r17 KO2s, and now the 38" Falken RTs.

The Falken RT mounted on the truck comes in at 37.1 inches. My notoriously small 37 KO2s measured at 35.7 inches. It's a noticeable difference and one I think will make a difference on the trail. Additionally, my perspective on width has changed the more I hit the rocks. At 11.5" wide I was rubbing my wheels on every rock I tried going around. Even a 12.5 mounted on a beadlock would rub the hell out of the ring. The extra width is going to come in handy while crawling over obstacles.

I've always been a fan of AT tires since I spend most of my time on the road, but after a but of research I'm giving these RT's a try. I'll report back after I spend a Minnesota winter on them. So far the road manners are great, slightly louder than the KO2s (which were very quiet).

The other thing I kept hearing when considering jumping to a 38 was to just go 40's. This is a no go for me for a few reasons.
1. I'm already regeared to 4.56 and that will work for 38s but not 40s. If I could do it again I'd choose 4.88 or maybe 5.13 but I can get by at 4.56. I think 40s would force a regear.

2. When I decided on 38s I knew I would want to beef up my brakes (powerstop rotors and pads) and axles shafts (RVC up front, dana chromoly rear). This is a considerable expesne at $3k but I would be looking at 6X the cost for new axles if I went 40s.

3. I'd need a taller lift to fit 40s. At 38" I can keep my current lift (AEV 2.5") and retain a ride I really like. I did gut the fender liners and still need to check clearance at full lock/full stuff but I had quite a bit of room when I was running the 37s with the full fender liner. 40s and a 4.5" lift would mean I would no longer fit in my garage, another demerit.

Overall, it's just my opinion, but 38's are the Goldilocks of tires for these trucks. Not too small, but not too big.

Here are the quick specs on my JT for those curious:
2021 JTR AEV JT370 (4.56 gear package) auto transmission
AEV 2.5 lift
Metalcloak CAs (all 8)
Currylink steering (tie rod/draglink)
Teraflex rear upper control arm extended travel kit
Rancho adj trackbar
38/13.5r17 Falken Wildpeak RT01 on Borah Beadlock wheels (+25mm offset)

Whit 38 Will it go true a 8 foot garage adoor

 

[Rubi-Zero]

Whit 38 Will it go true a 8 foot garage adoor

I’m sure it will.
I have 3” Pro-X no limit RK on 40’s and still have about 2-3” for a 7ft garage door.

 

[RodRecket]

Whit 38 Will it go true a 8 foot garage adoor

Well how much lift you have will impact that as well, but mine fits

 

[Rubi-Zero]

An 8ft garage door has plenty of clearance for a lifted Jeep. I doubt you will be scraping the top coming into the garage opening at 96”

What lift are you running?

 

[desertmonkey]

I just mounted up a set of 38/13.5r17 Falken Wildpeak RT01 on my AEV Borah beadlocks and am very happy with the new tires so far. I had a JK on a few different lifts and tires and now two JT's with multiple sets of tires and lift heights. On the JT's I've run 285/75r17 KO2s, 35/11.5r17 Toyo ATIII, 37/12.5r17 KM3s, 37/12.5r17 KO2s, and now the 38" Falken RTs.

The Falken RT mounted on the truck comes in at 37.1 inches. My notoriously small 37 KO2s measured at 35.7 inches. It's a noticeable difference and one I think will make a difference on the trail. Additionally, my perspective on width has changed the more I hit the rocks. At 11.5" wide I was rubbing my wheels on every rock I tried going around. Even a 12.5 mounted on a beadlock would rub the hell out of the ring. The extra width is going to come in handy while crawling over obstacles.

I've always been a fan of AT tires since I spend most of my time on the road, but after a but of research I'm giving these RT's a try. I'll report back after I spend a Minnesota winter on them. So far the road manners are great, slightly louder than the KO2s (which were very quiet).

The other thing I kept hearing when considering jumping to a 38 was to just go 40's. This is a no go for me for a few reasons.
1. I'm already regeared to 4.56 and that will work for 38s but not 40s. If I could do it again I'd choose 4.88 or maybe 5.13 but I can get by at 4.56. I think 40s would force a regear.

2. When I decided on 38s I knew I would want to beef up my brakes (powerstop rotors and pads) and axles shafts (RVC up front, dana chromoly rear). This is a considerable expesne at $3k but I would be looking at 6X the cost for new axles if I went 40s.

3. I'd need a taller lift to fit 40s. At 38" I can keep my current lift (AEV 2.5") and retain a ride I really like. I did gut the fender liners and still need to check clearance at full lock/full stuff but I had quite a bit of room when I was running the 37s with the full fender liner. 40s and a 4.5" lift would mean I would no longer fit in my garage, another demerit.

Overall, it's just my opinion, but 38's are the Goldilocks of tires for these trucks. Not too small, but not too big.

Here are the quick specs on my JT for those curious:
2021 JTR AEV JT370 (4.56 gear package) auto transmission
AEV 2.5 lift
Metalcloak CAs (all 8)
Currylink steering (tie rod/draglink)
Teraflex rear upper control arm extended travel kit
Rancho adj trackbar
38/13.5r17 Falken Wildpeak RT01 on Borah Beadlock wheels (+25mm offset)

That's stunning, I'm new here to the state and the JT arena, I have been a Ram guy for years, until a problematic 2019 told me otherwise. I traded for a 20 Rubi with 37s at a local dealer in the MSP metro area. Love how these look! Where in Minny are ya? I'd enjoy meeting more like minded Jeepers here. I'm also new here from SD. Stunning JT,
Thanks!

 

[RodRecket]

That's stunning, I'm new here to the state and the JT arena, I have been a Ram guy for years, until a problematic 2019 told me otherwise. I traded for a 20 Rubi with 37s at a local dealer in the MSP metro area. Love how these look! Where in Minny are ya? I'd enjoy meeting more like minded Jeepers here. I'm also new here from SD. Stunning JT,
Thanks!

Thanks! I'm in Rochester. There's some great wheeling up in Gilbert and a decent trail in Appleton MN from what I remember. Always up for some wheeling or Jeep nerding/wrenching.

 

[tonywin]

@RodRecket Could you post some head on pics? Would like to see the 13.50 width. About to pick these up as well. Thanks!

Sponsored