Requirements for 40’s?

[gearhead22]

I’m about to get my jeep regeared and am considering new tires after. I was looking at 38’s but there aren’t many options and some 40’s are similarly priced and similar weight. Obviously the leverage will be greater with the 40. Can stock 44’s handle 40’s? I don’t offroad but might some day and don’t want to be shooting myself in the foot.

Sponsored

 

[40x40]

I’m about to get my jeep regeared and am considering new tires after. I was looking at 38’s but there aren’t many options and some 40’s are similarly priced and similar weight. Obviously the leverage will be greater with the 40. Can stock 44’s handle 40’s? I don’t offroad but might some day and don’t want to be shooting myself in the foot.

yes they can. if one wishes to drive with a size 22 right foot, it is possible to break anything.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

You pretty much just have to be cognizant of the fact that you are on 40’s and beef up the internals and everything related to the axle to play it safe. CV axles, cromoly (or however you spell it) on the rear. Little stronger knuckles. That kinda stuff. Also if you’re the “When in doubt, Power out” type I’d suggest sticking to the 38” option. Replacing axle shafts or running in 3WD because you broke an outer C is really not that much fun. Time on the trails you run will tell you if you need to step up to 40’s or not.

 

[gearhead22]

You pretty much just have to be cognizant of the fact that you are on 40’s and beef up the internals and everything related to the axle to play it safe. CV axles, cromoly (or however you spell it) on the rear. Little stronger knuckles. That kinda stuff. Also if you’re the “When in doubt, Power out” type I’d suggest sticking to the 38” option. Replacing axle shafts or running in 3WD because you broke an outer C is really not that much fun. Time on the trails you run will tell you if you need to step up to 40’s or not.

I don’t run trails. It’s a daily driver. It may see offroad at some point but for now it’s just a pavement princess.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Then 40’s are kinda pointless unless you’re going for the look. Stick with the 38’s and save the gas money. It’s actually a pretty big jump in cost to run 40’s on the D44 safely. Key word there is “safely”. You could do it without the extra modifications but you’ll wear components out pretty quickly.

 

[3VOLVE]

Yes, you can run 40s on stock D44s.

This Is my JTRD daily driver and I offroad on 40s. It’s running 4.56 gears; front axle is trussed, gusseted, RCV, Adam’s driveshaft, 2.5T tierod and drag link, and PSC steering; rear is stock plus Adams driveshaft. I recently drove ~5700miles cross country from VA to hit the Rubicon, Colorado trails, and then back home., averaging ~18.2 mpg per computer.

 

[gearhead22]

Yes, you can run 40s on stock D44s.

This Is my JTRD daily driver and I offroad on 40s. It’s running 4.56 gears; front axle is trussed, gusseted, RCV, Adam’s driveshaft, 2.5T tierod and drag link, and PSC steering; rear is stock plus Adams driveshaft. I recently drove ~5700miles cross country from VA to hit the Rubicon, Colorado trails, and then back home., averaging ~18.2 mpg per computer.

I don’t want to have to do shafts and truss’s though. When I say a stock d44 I mean stock haha

 

[Janster]

I don’t run trails. It’s a daily driver. It may see offroad at some point but for now it’s just a pavement princess.

….then go with 37’s …. What’s the point of going bigger than that? And please don’t tell me…..”It’ll look cool”

I don’t know what year Gladiator you have, but your stock, bare bones -from the factory- Gladiator will kick ass on any trails you decide to ‘try’ someday.

THe bigger the tires you go with, the more potential there is for breakage in the entire powertrain. It puts more wear/tear on everything. Although, you ask about the Dana 44’s being able t handle it?? Is your brakes going to stop you? Is your transmssion going to be happy? How about your steering ? Cooling? And the list goes on.

 

[gearhead22]

….then go with 37’s …. What’s the point of going bigger than that? And please don’t tell me…..”It’ll look cool”

I don’t know what year Gladiator you have, but your stock, bare bones -from the factory- Gladiator will kick ass on any trails you decide to ‘try’ someday.

THe bigger the tires you go with, the more potential there is for breakage in the entire powertrain. It puts more wear/tear on everything. Although, you ask about the Dana 44’s being able t handle it?? Is your brakes going to stop you? Is your transmssion going to be happy? How about your steering ? Cooling? And the list goes on.

There’s plenty of 40’s with stock brakes, transmission and cooling. In my mind the axle is the one that’s questionable.

 

[Jaxmax]

Staying on pavement wheeling , and not hitting the gas hard , the steering and ball joints might be your concern overtime, upgrade when the time comes…..Jack

PS: This comes from a guy that runs skinner tires then stock and doesn’t need the big tires, so take it for what it’s worth!

 

[gearhead22]

Staying on pavement wheeling , and not hitting the gas hard , the steering and ball joints might be your concern overtime, upgrade when the time comes…..Jack

PS: This comes from a guy that runs skinner tires then stock and doesn’t need the big tires, so take it for what it’s worth!

I already upgraded the ball joints a couple months ago

 

[40x40]

I already upgraded the ball joints a couple months ago

when i responded to your initial post i was going to ask if you were providing popcorn for the ensuing show. my 2021 rubicon has 54,200 miles on the build with a total 58,500 on the vehicle. yes, both axles are box stock except for the Dana-Spicer 4.88 gears. by build i mean 40x13.50x20 tires. non-beadlock rims. 4.5" lift. four OEM inner and outer fenders. no steering or cooling upgrades. at 79 mph on an interstate it is running at 2150 rpm in eighth gear. depending on wind or rising grade it will hit 18 mpg. 13,000 miles into the build i replaced the ball joints with ball joint deletes. zero wobble issues since.
we are enjoying retirement by collecting BOH badges and running other trails in close proximity. to date we've been to moab twice to obtain all but cliffhanger. in mixed terrain we've hit holy cross and all in ouray, SMORR, hot springs off road park, windrock, stoney lonesome, hawk's pride, jericho mountain, beasley knob, turkey bay, hidden falls adventure park, big bend, amatista ledges and our first one, the grueling tread lightly four wheel drive way in FL. you will not find a trail harder on your paint than that one!
we sold our second car three years ago as it was not being driven so yes, this is a daily driver. it handles like a dream and drives straight and true. the tires are maxxis razr AT and are surprisingly quiet. i stand by my comment that if you want to break something, you will. drive it like you want to keep it, you will. i don't give a rat's patootie how others define cool, but at 66 years old, i find my jeep to be cool. when i walk across a parking lot to get in it, it stands out. it is dented and scratched to hell and that shows it is a loved and played with jeep. folks that want to build a show and shine jeep, God bless ya have a ball. but for driving off road to enjoy it to its fullest potential, this is what works for me.
if i still lived in CNY i would invite you over for a drive. john

 

[gearhead22]

when i responded to your initial post i was going to ask if you were providing popcorn for the ensuing show. my 2021 rubicon has 54,200 miles on the build with a total 58,500 on the vehicle. yes, both axles are box stock except for the Dana-Spicer 4.88 gears. by build i mean 40x13.50x20 tires. non-beadlock rims. 4.5" lift. four OEM inner and outer fenders. no steering or cooling upgrades. at 79 mph on an interstate it is running at 2150 rpm in eighth gear. depending on wind or rising grade it will hit 18 mpg. 13,000 miles into the build i replaced the ball joints with ball joint deletes. zero wobble issues since.
we are enjoying retirement by collecting BOH badges and running other trails in close proximity. to date we've been to moab twice to obtain all but cliffhanger. in mixed terrain we've hit holy cross and all in ouray, SMORR, hot springs off road park, windrock, stoney lonesome, hawk's pride, jericho mountain, beasley knob, turkey bay, hidden falls adventure park, big bend, amatista ledges and our first one, the grueling tread lightly four wheel drive way in FL. you will not find a trail harder on your paint than that one!
we sold our second car three years ago as it was not being driven so yes, this is a daily driver. it handles like a dream and drives straight and true. the tires are maxxis razr AT and are surprisingly quiet. i stand by my comment that if you want to break something, you will. drive it like you want to keep it, you will. i don't give a rat's patootie how others define cool, but at 66 years old, i find my jeep to be cool. when i walk across a parking lot to get in it, it stands out. it is dented and scratched to hell and that shows it is a loved and played with jeep. folks that want to build a show and shine jeep, God bless ya have a ball. but for driving off road to enjoy it to its fullest potential, this is what works for me.
if i still lived in CNY i would invite you over for a drive. john

You’ve done 50k+ miles with 40’s on stock axles?

 

[Janster]

There’s plenty of 40’s with stock brakes, transmission and cooling. In my mind the axle is the one that’s questionable.

Well, I hope you never have to find out in an emergency braking situation.

I’ve had an old YJ on Dana 44’s with 35’s…. Upgraded braking system and I’ve had to do quick slow downs from 60mph, and that was scary enough…..

 

[40x40]

You’ve done 50k+ miles with 40’s on stock axles?

yes. approximately 54,200.

Sponsored