Devils advocate of upping tire size.

[fun2drum]

I did buy new tires and wheels. But I kept the stock diameter and didn't lift at all.

My reason for changing the tires was that the stock tires didn't have the aggressive tread or grip I wanted for snow (or even rain for that matter), so I replaced them with Falken Wildpeaks of roughly the same diameter. Later I replaced the wheels because I always liked the look of those vintage white wagon spokes they used to put on trucks decades ago. I replaced them with Quadratec alloy retro reproductions of those wheels, and they look perfect to me.

Why no lift and/or increase in diameter?
1 - I prefer to not have to climb or lift things higher than necessary to either enter or load my truck. The stock height JT is already at about the top limit of what I want for my personal comfort, loading, and unloading. My wife has since told me she's glad I didn't lift for that same reason.
2 - I do some towing and stock tire size gives me better towing performance than larger would.
3 - My 4x4 needs are for sand driving on the NC coast, snow driving in the NC mountains, and the occasional dirt or muddy road I find myself having to drive on here in the NC foothills. A lift or larger tires are absolutely unnecessary for any of those scenarios. That said, changing from stock to Wildpeaks was a gamechanger as far as snow and wet driving go.
4 - I sincerely like the look of the stock height and diameter and big lifted trucks have never impressed me as something I would want. Don't read this wrong and take offense if you've gone big and high. I know local folks who've gone full-on monster truck with theirs and that's great for them. I don't hate that look and it's okay if that's what you're into - it's just not something I would personally value enough to spend an extra dollar on.

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[Orange01z28]

Started on 35s and a level kit

Went to a 3.5" Rubicon Express Lift

Will be adding 4.88s and 38" Pataguccis

I was thinking 37s but I have a bed rack that I can carry the tire with so I don't need to worry about the stock spare location anymore (which is a pita to remove the tire from)

 

[Jeeperjamie]

I'm surprised by this.

You're running 37s on stock gears, and you're all in this for less than $3K USD?

No offense, but I guess you Jeep is mainly used on-road, and flat roads and no towing at that? Totally fine if so, but otherwise, I'm puzzled. I don't see how you're running a matching spare at this price, I also don't see how the stock gearing would work for anything else, not to mention what are you doing for wheels? The pictures look stock, so I assume you're running spacers, but you mention nothing of this in the price.

Additionally, I'm assuming in addition to having an undersized spare, you have no way of changing that spare on the side of the road? The stock jack won't do with anything that high off the ground.

I actually keep a details list of all the mods I did for my 2008 JK, and for comparison here is a list of mods I did that are directly the result of lifting and running 35s and keeping it capable off-road as well as on-road:

• 16" pro-comp rims w/ center caps - $631.87
• AEV Pro-Cal- $149.00
• Crown extended brake lines - $129.95
• RC 3.25" lift kit - $424.90
• Gear install - $997.81
• 5.13 gears & aussie locker - $874.90
• JKS front trackbar- $144.00
• TF axle sleeve and gusset kit - $140.00
• OR-Fab tire carrier - $489.99
• OR-Fab 3rd brake light kit - $89.98
• AEV Jack stand base - $49.99
• JKS adjustable bump stops - $99.94
• JKS rear trackbar - $144.95
• 5 x 35" Goodyear DuraTrac Tires - $1250

Total $5,617.28

This isn't apple-to-apples, as some of this isn't applicable to the Gladiator, plus it is omitting some things (like install and balancing of those tires, and wear items like improved brake pads, shocks, & clutch), but still... this is nearly double the price you're at, and this was not in 2022 dollars (more like 2011 dollars).

In short...

Nope, I live in the Piedmont/ Foothills section of NC, not much towing being done and I got a extra 37 in the garage if I need to change a tire plus bottle jack from harbor freight to take the tire off. If I need it on a trail I just toss it in the bed and take it with me. 20yrs+ of running larger off road tires and knock on wood I've never had to change a spare out on the side of the road, not on my JT it any of my other 2 wranglers. I have had a flat but nothing I couldn't fix with a plug or make it somewhere to get patched.

I'm running a 2.5" bRwadylift spacer lift paired with a Rubicon Suspension take off I bought. Got all that for under a $1050, and I installed the Rubicon Suspension myself. Readylift spacer lift was installed by my local preferred shop for $801 with the lift kit factored into that. Rubicon takeoff was $250, got $1179 total for the tires installed. Bought another Kanati 37 for a spare for $220 and already had another black spare just like the one on my jeep that I found for free in Marketplace. I am running spacers in the wheels but I don't need to, they will fit with no rubbing but I prefer the extra poke, $140 on CJ Pony for those.

Edit one more time, forgot about the $150 rough country adjustable track bar and $100 lower control arm brackets,all in I'm right at $2900

 

[Len]

To clarify on this, I'm not knocking bigger tires. I almost immediately put 35's on my Rubi, but for aesthetics. It didn't look right to me with all the open wheel wells with the factory 33's.

Around me, it seems most JEEP people are into either Mall Crawler or Bro Dozer look. All chrome and big wheels with itty bitty sidewall tires.

Bro Dozer!!! That is funny!! Never heard of it and was always trying to think of a name for it. Now I have one!! Thanks!!

 

[Willpower1]

Yeah but you are not driving the JT the engineers wanted you to drive, you are driving the JT the accountants and lawyers let you drive.

I’m driving the exact JT I WANT to drive bub, and the only one that lets me, is ME.

 

[Willpower1]

The JTR's were pretty much designed to accept 35's straight from the factory. That's why they have a different fender on them. I think but not sure that the Mojave has a different fender than the sport as well. Rubicon had 2" more room. Thinking the Mojave has 1"?

Mohave has Rubicon fenders, and an additional 1” left up front over the Rubicons.

 

[mazeppa]

As a old geezer I'm staying with stock tires, suspension, and steering on my JT Rubicon for the way I use it. But still having just enough mental capacity left that I can remember that my younger self would have gone for the larger tires because that what younger people like and there is nothing wrong with that.

 

[Orange01z28]

Bro Dozer!!! That is funny!! Never heard of it and was always trying to think of a name for it. Now I have one!! Thanks!!

I always think of Brodozers like this

 

[hjdca]

We have all been there. If you could do it over again. Would you have upgraded? Sell me!

After upgrading what did you learn? We’re you declined warranties on items? Faster wear of stock components?

talk me out of buying these 37 ridge grapplers
??

I did 37" Goodyear MTR Kevlars, Method Bead grip rims, Clayton 3.5" overland Plus, lift, Falcon SP2 3.3 shocks, and 5:13 dana spicer gears... What an unbelievable difference while 4wheeling. The capabilities of the truck are unbelievably increased off road with these upgrades. The articulation, grip, clearance, torque, fun, confidence inspiring is fantastic. We have been having so much fun with our group 4wheeling almost every weekend. The only thing I regret is that I did not get it done sooner. I did these upgrades a 20K miles, and now I am at almost 40K miles with tons of off-road miles, and I have not had any issues at all. The truck has been extremely reliable. Note: mine is a JTR stick shift.

 

[Len]

I always think of Brodozers like this

Pointless!! Sorry if I offended anyone.

 

[RMFSJT]

I’m driving the exact JT I WANT to drive bub, and the only one that lets me, is ME.

No, respectfully, you’re missing the point bud, you were talking about driving a stock jeep right? Not modifying it because the engineers know so much. My point as an engineer is that the jeep you bought off the lot is not what the engineers would’ve wanted to give you, the jeep you bought is what the engineers were allowed to design and build because of monetary or other constraints from the accounting department and the legal department that’s my point . I know no one tells you what to do sorry if that wording I used was upsetting to you, by saying letting you drive I’m talking about the bigger picture, I mean had they (accounting and legal) not approved the the production none of us would be driving them. I sure the Jeep the engineers wanted to build you was much better.

 

[RMFSJT]

That makes no sense. It's engineered to be how it came.
Engineers make the steering to function best as it came.
Start making rad changes and you have to re-engineer it so how could a modified Jeep be what engineers wanted anyone to drive?
The AFTERMARKET sellers want you to change it totally and use their parts. So they market it as if you must totally change it and the bigger the tires, the bigger........... oh, never mind.
Tire swaps are needed for certain things - if you don't use the truck for that, then they are purely for show/looks.

Respectfully, it doesn’t make sense because you’re missing the very focused point and it has to be taken in context with the quote. Had the engineers not had to build according to constraints put on them from bean counters and lawyers it would be a different product. My comment only applies when someone says something about not wanting aftermarket ”because this is how the engineers made it and they know best“ (I know you as a mechanic tend to disagree) it can absolutely be improved on with the right aftermarket parts but they have to be thought out and work together. Everything else you said I completely agree with.

 

[Willpower1]

No, respectfully, you’re missing the point bud, you were talking about driving a stock jeep right? Not modifying it because the engineers know so much. My point as an engineer is that the jeep you bought off the lot is not what the engineers would’ve wanted to give you, the jeep you bought is what the engineers were allowed to design and build because of monetary or other constraints from the accounting department and the legal department that’s my point . I know no one tells you what to do sorry if that wording I used was upsetting to you, by saying letting you drive I’m talking about the bigger picture, I mean had they (accounting and legal) not approved the the production none of us would be driving them. I sure the Jeep the engineers wanted to build you was much better.

Actually, I’m not missing your point, as it wasn’t a difficult concept to follow, and I’m not upset in the least. CLEARLY, I gave MY own opinion about this question. I bought the trim I wanted, that will do everything and then some, that I need it to do. Leaving it stock, I don’t have to concern myself with warranty issues, or with methodically going through the chassis and drivetrain with each “upgrade” to be sure that the rest of the components will hold up to my mod. Just offered that opinion to the OP. I mentioned that the factory engineers of my truck know more than I do because, well, they do. Just like they’d likely not know as much as I do about rotator cuff pathology, torn ACLs, neurodegenerative disorders, etc., because that’s what I do for a living. I’ve been driving high performance cars and trucks for some 40 years now, so this ain’t my first rodeo. In that time I’ve had some pretty cool stuff, and still do. I’ve spent many thousands on mods in the past, some good, some not so good, but nearly all had trade-offs, and many were a double edged sword. So, I merely gave my quick opinion about what works for me. Just like with my Hellcat. It’s a sweet street car, and an extraordinary GT cruiser, which is exactly what I wanted. I had the funds to do any level of Challenger I would have liked, and the 485hp Scat Packs had most of what I wanted, but not all. On the other end, The Redeye and Super Stock cars had 10% more horsepower than my Hellcat, but I couldn’t get adaptive cruise or frontal collision warning on either, so that ruled them out, as I wanted those options. The 717hp car was the sweet spot for me, and I ordered one exactly as I wanted it. I won’t touch it, it will remain bone stock, as it’s an animal of a street car that way. To make that beast a true corner carver, you’d spend a fortune and still not have it handing anywhere close to my 2002 S2000, also stock, with 27k miles. So, when I want to burn some corners, the S2000 it is. Like I said, I absolutely love high performance cars and trucks and have my whole life. Right tool for the right job, and there are some FANTASTIC stock tools out there right now for the right job. So, MY point was simply what works for me, and offering that. I would also wager that a STOCK JTR or JTM will do ANYTHING that 99% of buyers need or want to do. Mods are a rabbit hole where one can spend a fortune quickly and then have something less than reliable too. So, most of the time it isn’t as simple as throwing on bigger tires, rather one needs to have an overall plan involving a detailed dive into all potentially effected components, and a budget to match the plans, if one wants a pleasant experience, and close to OEM reliability. But, I ramble. Is that a bit clearer though?
My response to you was made in the way it was because I judged your response as a snarky one, and of absolutely no value to the subject matter. So I threw some snark back. Also, I’m a big Wolverine fan, and was watching Logan. So, BUB, I picked up what you were trying to put down, there just wasn’t much to it You’re an engineer, I’m sure you can come up with something substantive to add here, other than ”hey bro, you’re not driving what the Jeep engineers wanted you to”. Maybe not, but again I’M driving what I WANT TO, and on all counts. And it’s glorious

 

[Willpower1]

These tools accomplish every job I want done in my particular motoring life, do so amazingly and with great fun to boot, and they’re all bone stock. I appreciate the incredible feat of engineering that each represents, despite any input from accountants or lawyers.

PS: ALL the lawyers must have been on vacation when the Hellcat was approved for production...

 

[Len]

These tools accomplish every job I want done in my particular motoring life, do so amazingly and with great fun to boot, and they’re all bone stock. I appreciate the incredible feat of engineering that each represents, despite any input from accountants or lawyers.

PS: ALL the lawyers must have been on vacation when the Hellcat was approved for production...

And when they decided to put a 392 in a Jeep!

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