Are 35" tires the best for the Gladiator?

[matthewmcw]

Are 35s the sweet spot for for Gladiators? I took some of your advice and bout a set of like new Rubicon take offs, they are just under 33". But im thinking 35" will be better and a 2" lift. I have a Sport S. Opinions and advice on a 2" lift, brand etc.

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[Hootbro]

• 35's and 4.10 gears, yes.

• 35's and 3.73 gears, no.

• 33's and 3.73 gears, 8th gear will phone in from time to time.

 

[DronePilot]

I’ve 35” and 3.73 gears and @bmpcamry09 BMPCalibration Tune and see 8th gear more frequently than you think. Happy with my ride.

 

[Cwg33]

Agreed with @Hootbro 35’s w/4.10’s no lift on a Mojave has been fantastic. Not sure 3.73’s & 35’s in the PNW elevation climbs would feel the same.

 

[Uparms]

I think it was built for 35s.

 

[Cwg33]

Agreed w/High lifter fenders & wide axles. 35’s on the Rubi’s & Mojave’s should be base.

 

[WambliSka]

Agreed w/High lifter fenders & wide axles. 35’s on the Rubi’s & Mojave’s should be base.

I agree wholeheartedly. Or at least a factory option for anything with 4:10 gears. For the “standard” Gladiators” 34” with a front leveling kit works fine but as has been said 8th gear will be a downhill on the highway with a strong tail wind proposition. But great up to moderate trails assuming the right tire is installed suitable for purpose.

 

[matthewmcw]

I agree wholeheartedly. Or at least a factory option for anything with 4:10 gears. For the “standard” Gladiators” 34” with a front leveling kit works fine but as has been said 8th gear will be a downhill on the highway with a strong tail wind proposition. But great up to moderate trails assuming the right tire is installed suitable for purpose.

Probably wouldnt meet EPA standards. I will change gearing, i mean whats a few more thousand dollars right?

 

[WambliSka]

Probably wouldnt meet EPA standards. I will change gearing, i mean whats a few more thousand dollars right?

The EPA thing is an interesting point. Didn’t think of that. On my Overland I did a front leveling kit and Wildpeak AT4W 34” and it gave me everything I needed for my aesthetics needs and pretty good off-road performance with zero issues or rubs. It looked perfect to me. The ride was a bit more on the bumpy side on washboards roads and again 8th gear elusive on the highway. But overall none of it was “burdensome” for lack of a better word and I probably taken care of the bumpy with better shocks. But I could have stayed with that truck just like it was but my wife was pushing me to a better desert ride for her so I took advantage of her enabling. She pretty much just got tired of doubling up on sports bras every time we went out

 

[WilldWilly]

• 35's and 4.10 gears, yes.

• 35's and 3.73 gears, no.

• 33's and 3.73 gears, 8th gear will phone in from time to time.

Bingo
Without gear change from 3.73s to at least 4.10s or you have the max tow package, then 35s will be a bit much. I think 35s look the best on Gladiator.

 

[NortonJTSS]

Are 35s the sweet spot for for Gladiators? I took some of your advice and bout a set of like new Rubicon take offs, they are just under 33". But im thinking 35" will be better and a 2" lift. I have a Sport S. Opinions and advice on a 2" lift, brand etc.

I certainly think so I have a Sport S with 35’s and 3.73 and I find 1st gear to be more usable now (manual) 6th was useless anyway. People on this forum get really hung up on seeing 8th gear on their automatics. If you combine a lighter tire (I have Toyos only 11.5” wide) with factory rims you can keep the weight down and you’ll be fine. I have a 4” Readylift (3” rear) with Falcon shocks.. happy with the setup

 

[drewcnit]

Probably wouldnt meet EPA standards. I will change gearing, i mean whats a few more thousand dollars right?

If you are going the re-gearing route, plan for where you will probably end up.

You think 35s now, but many on this forum have gone on to 37s after a time. If you plan to offroad frequently, that's the tire size that really opens more options.

As always, plan and be honest with yourself. I went stock -> 35s -> 37s -> 40s -> 42s.

That's two regears if you plan poorly, only one if you wait out the regear until 37s and then go straight to 5.13s.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

I've had 35s and 3.73 gears for 90k miles now.

It's tolerable, but it's not my DD.

 

[2terpsjeep]

Little bit of a different setup than you, since I have a Mojave which came with 4.10's and a wider axle to begin with... and then added a 2" AEV spacer lift with all the goodies (new track bar, geo relocation brackets, etc.) and Apex Autolynx disco's, split the stock fenders (which I believe only the Rubi's and Mojave's come with two piece fenders) and added AAL liners, and of course upgraded to 35" tires (Mojave's come stock on 33's). Long story long, love it.

It really should have come with 35's from the get go.

 

[ChrisNLA]

35's are fine with 4.10s (so I have heard) if your truck has them.

A friend of mine, he had 35s on his first Gladiator, then 37s, swapped the 37's to his second Gladiator, then went back to 35s. His third Gladiator I believe is on 35s.

For a truck that he daily drives, pulls a trailer with often, and wheels all over the country - he found the 35s to be a good mix of cost / capability / and not stressing the truck too much.

He has a Rubicon, also.

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