I know I’m going to catch grief for this question. Why go larger wheels and tires

[hobbsserv]

Cause it makes me feel good when I get in it and when I turn around and look at it when I park it.

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[JoseQ_80]

Need vs want.

Snorkeling vs scuba. Both will let you be in the water and see things but Scuba will expand your capabilities and let you see many more things, but at increased cost and risk.

Me? I'm happy snorkeling and will keep my JT stock and explore what it can do stock and avoid trails I know I can't do stock.

 

[Chestnut]

I don't really think there is a good answer to this question. You could always find a reason not to do something. Or you can always find a way to make something work that isn't perfect. I've made it to a lot of really remote places with my WRX 5" of ground clearance. Summer performance tires aren't good for off-road but i made it work... slowly and carefully.

 

[Dryfly24]

I’m still shaking my head at this.

I’ll never understand why people care so much about what someone else thinks when it comes to something that ultimately only affects you. If you like big tires get big tires. If you think it’s a waste, keep it OEM. If you’re on the fence go mid sized.

Just do what makes you happy. You only get to go around once on this world. Have as much fun as you can.

 

[Trippin01]

Trails I did in Colorado last week? 10ish, # of stock JT's I saw on the easy trails? 2. # of JT's I saw on harder trails? "0" Same in Moab, same in S. Cali. I got a JT to pull my trailer and go jeeping. In order to even come close to keeping up with 2 door and 4 door JK's and JL's. On "fun" trails you will need a lift, more articulation, and bigger tires (especially if you air down) If you are cruising around, to Lowes, Home Depot, a dirt road to your favorite fishing hole and/or dusty road camping? Stock is awesome. I now see why some are going to bigger axels, V8's and 40-44" tires. If you don't play hard, yes, you will save $'s, and get better MPG's. If you want better MPG's, and are comfortable with stock size tires, then get a Prius, and feel good about yourself. Me? I want my fair share of that "Carbon Foot Print". The individuals I know that have "Stock JT's" are already selling or are about to sell their JT, because its not as plush as a Colorado Z, Silverado, or a Ram. Invest, and play hard, you won't be disappointed.

 

[93civej1]

larger tires yes. Larger wheels, no.

 

[GOCAMPN]

They won't. More mass, harder to spin.

Put some skateboard wheels on your Jeep and tell me how great your MPG is. I didn't say there weren't other factors that go into play. But the chart clearly explains tire SIZE to gear ratio. Smaller tires doesn't automatically make it better, you have to fall into a "sweet spot" based off of what gear ratio you are running.

 

[foo.c]

Did you read the chart? Put some skateboard tires on your Jeep and tell me how great your MPG is. I didn't say there weren't other factors that go into play. But the chart clearly explains tire SIZE to gear ratio.

Which means nothing basically.

 

[GOCAMPN]

Sorry you responded just a second faster than my edit. I'm still right.

 

[foo.c]

Sorry you responded just a second faster than my edit. I'm still right.

The chart has no idea what your engine load is going to be.

 

[red/green hawk]

OP you could literally ask the same question for every single mod people do and get a different answer each time.

 

[Lynn_F]

I thought long and hard before replying to this thread because I wasn't sure I could add value to it...I still may not but here's my 2 cents. This same question could be applied to anything in life: house, job, boat, kids and it basically all boils down to everyone is different, everyone has different needs vs wants and life is about balance. A lot of people have a house with an extra bedroom, a job that provides extra income but at a cost of extra stress, a boat that can do 80mph to get to a place that an aluminum boat could get to. A big one for me is when I see a family of 8 or 10 and I think "shoot me in the face - I can barely handle 2!!" I have a lifted Gladiator because it makes me happy. I have spent just enough money on my Jeep that I can still provide for my family AND do the other things in our life that makes us happy. That amount of money varies from person to person and there are plenty of people that don't lift their gladiators and add big tires but I would bet that there aren't too many people that have 0 mods. @Murgatroid decided to put flowers all over their gladiator...this makes them happy and that's what life is all about!

 

[brianinca]

I took 33 x 10.5 MT's off my YJ and swapped in the JTR tires, basically 33x12.5's. The turn in is less sharp, even though I went to AT's. I prefer the handling with 10.5's, but free tires were hard to pass up.

im relativley new to the idea of sidewall flex..what did it feel like for you with the slimmer tires?

 

[brianinca]

To the OP's original point, Jeeps are very capable with factory everything.

The Jeep Academy we went to in Hollister in 2020 was virtually all new JL's and JT's, we were one of only two Jeeps on larger tires. The instructors all drove completely stock Mojave's. There was nothing done that required larger tires. HOWEVER, my wife drove everywhere and specifically said "OH! Now I see why you put bigger tires on first thing".

She had been a little annoyed I started putting bigger/better on the Jeep when it was perfectly good out of the box. A little more experience, and she understood the why of bigger tires.

 

[whiteglad]

I am more interested in running on rocky trails (not rock climbing) so I got slightly taller E rated Falkens, which had been excellent on a past Jeep. I was not trying to get the highest score at the mall for size or appearance. The stock aluminum wheels work fine and look decent, to me. Not so long ago, Jeep tires were well under 30" tall, and upgrades were not even as big as the current Rubi tire size.

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