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

[BAT]

I went with Rubicon Take offs simply because it changed the entire look of my truck. Didn't do it for trails, or rock climbing, etc. Purely Esthetics. Took a small hit on MPG but was worth it to me. I eventually will go to 35's and that to will be totally for Esthetics cause I think it looks even better with the 35's. But oddly enough I don't think the truck looks good on larger tires or larger wider tires. But that is just me.

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[jsalbre]

Any rubbing with the 35’s?I’ll need studded snows in winter, but the Hakkapeliitta come in 315/70/17. And do you need special wheels with the Mojave.

No rubbing at all. The Mojave has the high rise fender flares like the Rubicon, and also has a 1” higher front suspension than the Rubicon. Some people are fitting “smaller” 37s on Mojaves without rubbing.

The Mojave comes with a wheel that pushes the tires a bit further away from the suspension, which may help prevent rubbing. Lots of Mojave owners have changed to different wheels with no issues though. No reason you’d have to stick with the factory wheels.

 

[Caraholic]

For me, it was about removing the rake and changing the stance of the truck. That was the practical side. The 35's and 2 in spacers - well they just look good. Here she is riding the "Tale of the Dragon" in East Tennessee. I love all the mods, but that Bestop is really a good one to think about. Lots of fun.

Those are stock rims, what tires u have?

 

[Caraholic]

For me the larger tires were to maintain the appearance of the jeep with a small lift (2in spacers) and maintain tow ability of the JTMT. Im on 285/75/17 at the moment. Now, due to another thread on here, im looking at 255/85/17 aka "pizza cutters"

Which thread is that? Can you link or post it?

 

[aldo98229]

I feel like I’m the only person here that has not gone to larger wheels and tires. Now I get those of you doing hardcore anything off road. Larger tires along with a lift give you more traction, better break over, and more ground clearance. However if you are not doing the Rubicon all the time what is the point? Adding lifts, tires, wheels , and gears costs thousands and hurts what little fuel economy we have. So I guess I want someone to tell me why this is a must have mod.

No. 1 reason is LOOKS!

Having said that, I got a Mopar lift on my Sahara and swapped my 33-inch KO2s for a set of 35-inch Generals: obstacles on the trail that appeared huge don’t feel so significant any more.

 

[MPMB]

Visually speaking, imo, a stock JT Sport/Overland look a little out of balance and need bigger tires, and for proper clearance, a lift.

I think JTs look the best with a 2-3" lift and 35"/37" tires that poke out just a bit.

 

[tjZ06]

I feel like I’m the only person here that has not gone to larger wheels and tires. Now I get those of you doing hardcore anything off road. Larger tires along with a lift give you more traction, better break over, and more ground clearance. However if you are not doing the Rubicon all the time what is the point? Adding lifts, tires, wheels , and gears costs thousands and hurts what little fuel economy we have. So I guess I want someone to tell me why this is a must have mod.

There are a lot more trails out there than just the Rubicon. The Gladiator has a very long wheelbase and terrible break-over clearance. I think I remember reading a Gladiator needs a 2" lift and 37"s to have the same break-over as a bone-stock JLUR. Also, going down the trail a taller tire rolls over everything more easily, and comfortably. It's not *just* about looks, any given rock, stair-step, etc. is going to be easier and more comfortable with a taller tire. You also get a taller sidewall, making airing-down more effective and safer to do without as much risk of losing a bead (I'm speaking in generalities here, obviously the exact wheel/tire combo dictates this).

If you only ever drive it to the office and grocery store, no there is no functional improvement with a lift and/or larger wheels/tires. If the hardest trail you do is a well-groomed forest service road, again no real improvement. If the trails you run are anything harder than a well-groomed forest service road, you'll find the Gladiator bellies-out quickly.

-TJ

 

[Elkcreekjeep]

The threads involving speed and efficiency always tickle me. I traded in a tuned GTI (I absolutely love that car) that regularly got 40mpg and had almost 100 more hp than the gladiator. It was fast, fun, and couldn’t be fully enjoyed where I live in rural colorado. Animals, mudslides, rock fall, ice blocks, it made every drive nerve racking. Fast forward to a rubicon on 37s, and now I don’t have a concern that a 4inch rock on the highway is going to result in my death.

 

[foo.c]

I think I remember reading a Gladiator needs a 2" lift and 37"s to have the same break-over as a bone-stock JLUR.

That's why I'm not even considering it and I feel no shame.

If that was important to me, I would just buy a Wrangler.

 

[jmdwifi]

The tires were the only thing I didn't like about mine. I changed them the next day. They look dorky with stock tires. Rubicons look good already.

 

[JoseQ_80]

That's why I'm not even considering it and I feel no shame.

If that was important to me, I would just buy a Wrangler.

A 2 door Wrangler.

 

[arneb04]

Most of the aesthetics issue I took care of by buying a willys. To me it had the right look and already had aggressive tires, the rubicon suspension, and rock rails. I could have bought a more expensive rubicon to get the same look, or a cheaper sport and spent more in the long run to get the same. Only thing I wish they would have done with the Willys package itself was add the steel winch-ready front bumper. But from a wheel tire and rake standpoint I don’t need rims tires or a lift. It already has the look and capability I need.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Because you'll never see a Brinks truck following a hearse.

 

[Chestnut]

The tires were the only thing I didn't like about mine. I changed them the next day. They look dorky with stock tires. Rubicons look good already.

Sorry for sound like a jerk but why didn't you just get a Rubicon? It seems like you modded your overland to close to Rubicon standards.

Any of you with large mud tires have troubles in winter? I find it hard to believe that large blocky tread is any good on ice and snow.

 

[TroutFishingInAmerica]

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

It's hard for me to explain, but at hwy speed and cornering is where I felt the most sidewall flex on the pizza cutters. It's like not a instant reaction from your input, just a noticable millisecond late. It's something that you feel and I don't know how to describe it. It feels similar to under steering but at same time it's totally different from under steering. Not a very good explanation. Maybe someone can chime in with a better definition. At no time did I ever think that there was anything dangerous, it's just something noticable.

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