Better Running 36" tires instead of 37" (4.88 Gears & Sport S w/2.5 Lift)?

[thedigitalmc]

So I've got a 2020 Jeep Gladiator Sport S (NOT Max Tow). I've done a number of things to it including:

1. 2.5" Clayton Lift w/ Track Bars & Adjustable Arms (Link)
2. Falcon Shocks SP2 3.3 Fast Adjust Piggyback Front and Rear Shocks
3. Falcon 2.2 Steering Stabalizer (Link)
4. ABOUT TO REGEAR TO 4.88 (Not done yet) & Get Lockers

More than 2 mechanics have warned me that on the Dana 44s and other stock components, that running 37" tires will start to break things as I offraod. I have 35s now with no problem. But that 37" jump seems to be a biggie. I was going to re-enforce my Axel with front/rear trusses, but my question is should I just split the difference and get 36" tires... and not the full 37". I want to go as big as possible, I enjoy climbing rocks in the mid-west, and I do some decent off-roading and rock crawling. But I don't want to (and can't afford) to spending 1000s of dollars every time I offroad because something breaks.

As noted I have already upgraded the track bars and steering stabalizer, so that should help, but is 36" tires just a bad idea. Am I really in danger going 37s on my jeep. I know I CAN, but is it going to cause a lot of problems and would 36" be a good middle ground. Not to mention 2.5 isn't a big lift... so 37s could be tight.

Sponsored

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

You can run 37s. 36” tires aren’t very common anyways.

 

[TurboChris]

I wouldn't advise less than a 37". You will be fine. You can also check out tire weights. Some are heavier than others. Go with a nice light (er) 37" and you will be just fine. (go with a heavy tire and you'll be fine too, but some DO go with a lighter tire as they want to reduce the possibility of any un-needed xtra wear / stress)

 

[thedigitalmc]

Thanks for the feedback!

Do you have suggestions on tires that are a bit lighter? I keep seing Nitto, Cooper and Mickey Thompson everywhere. But I have to think someone else makes a quality tire. Plus if it were lighter I'm good with that.

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

Milestars are light. XT’s are what I run and am very happy with them. MT’s wear pretty quick.

37’s are going to wear your consumables faster no doubt…. (Ball joints, rod ends, etc…) as far as breaking parts? Sure- if you use a lot of skinny pedal there is an increased probability of breaking parts. Keep your foot out of it, and be reasonable you should be fine.
At the end of the day- it is a Jeep, things do break.

 

[Zachanadandy]

Your mechanics don't know what they are talking about. Sure if you drive it like a rock bouncer you will break things with 37s (or 33s for that matter). Between 2 JLURs and my JT mojave we are at 120k miles on 37-39" tires. Wheeled all over the country including the rubicon and Pritchett canyon. So far 0 broken parts. Stock shafts, no trusses, nothing. Sure the ball joints only last 20-30k on big tires, but that's a wear item not broken parts. 36s are rare and if you go with a super swamper (one of the few 36s I know of) they'll likely be heavier than most 37s.

 

[PuddleJumper]

So I've got a 2020 Jeep Gladiator Sport S (NOT Max Tow). I've done a number of things to it including:

1. 2.5" Clayton Lift w/ Track Bars & Adjustable Arms (Link)
2. Falcon Shocks SP2 3.3 Fast Adjust Piggyback Front and Rear Shocks
3. Falcon 2.2 Steering Stabalizer (Link)
4. ABOUT TO REGEAR TO 4.88 (Not done yet) & Get Lockers

More than 2 mechanics have warned me that on the Dana 44s and other stock components, that running 37" tires will start to break things as I offraod. I have 35s now with no problem. But that 37" jump seems to be a biggie. I was going to re-enforce my Axel with front/rear trusses, but my question is should I just split the difference and get 36" tires... and not the full 37". I want to go as big as possible, I enjoy climbing rocks in the mid-west, and I do some decent off-roading and rock crawling. But I don't want to (and can't afford) to spending 1000s of dollars every time I offroad because something breaks.

As noted I have already upgraded the track bars and steering stabalizer, so that should help, but is 36" tires just a bad idea. Am I really in danger going 37s on my jeep. I know I CAN, but is it going to cause a lot of problems and would 36" be a good middle ground. Not to mention 2.5 isn't a big lift... so 37s could be tight.

BUWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! Somebody needs to tell your mechanics that these ain't old c-clip dana 30s under our trucks. These M series axles we have punch way above their weight class. In fact compare em to half ton pickups of 2007 and older and you'll see they are actually a lot better. ON A MIDSIZE TRUCK! I've only seen one failure one this forum where a guy split his front axle in half at the disconnect. He was on stock wheels and tires too. So manufacturing defect most likely. I however ran 37's BONE EFFING STOCK. No issues. I do recommend a regear to make it comfortable. And no, a taller gear set doesn't run a chance of somehow exploding due to rpm. Back when ring sizes were smaller and metallurgy wasn't as robust. One could end up with a weakened ring regear if running a taller set. That's why many upsize their axles back then. But pretty much since the late 80s Toyota proved that was unnecessary and I've seen plenty of Tacos and 4runners running 38s plus on stock axles with 5.29 gearing. and their ring gears can range from 8in to smaller. I honestly recommend going to a shop that actually knows their stuff and backs it up with confidence rather than use early fear mongering to get out of fault from a shitty regear install. Cus it ain't my first time around the block and I've seen plenty do it. They swear up and down that it'll damage or break under normal use. Bull shit! and then when they install it poorly, they can wash their hands and say they warned you.

 

[thedigitalmc]

Thanks everyone! I feel it's overkill to respond to all 1 by 1 - but seems common that 37s are not going to reak my jeep

I don't drive crazy, usually have kids with me so it's more techincal crawling than dangerous. @PuddleJumper my mechanic is a 30+ year veteran so to your point there may be some of that "back then" thought process. He's definately on the cautious side which I generally appreciate. You make a ton of good points -Makesme feel a bit better about my decision.

@Escape.idiocracy - I will look into those tires, got some decent reviews!

@Zachanadandy -Noted about the ball joints, and I do feel these trucks have some solid Axels so that makes sense. Thanks for taking the time!

... Net... I'm going to go find some 37" tires... still probobly gonna Truss the Axels just in case

 

[thedigitalmc]

Ok so I thought I had it settled and was going 37s... but I talked to multiple jeepers since and they all basically said when going to 37s, there is going to be noticable maintence... even if you are careful. The tires just stress all the components. Now they all may be crazy too, frankly I'm less than a year in trying to get set up and learn the ropes.

THAT SAID.... I found what I think are pretty interesting tires (Versatyre MXT/HD LT 36X12.50R17): https://www.prioritytire.com/by-brand/versatyre-tires/mxt-hd?var-versatyre=34266

I'm trying to get a final weight rateing, but seem low 70s lb/tire and at 36" would save 50% of the difference between the 35 & 37 (of which again... Hard to understand that 2" implication is such a big deal).

I fully expect to work on and fix my Jeep as I wheel. I'm not ignorant there. But it feels like i'm flirting with some thresholds at 37s... even though it's doable. Does that 36" tire give me just enough buffer to avoida couple $1000 per year?

... now if the answer is "Dude... you're overthinking it... go wheel your jeep, things break but it's tough" I am prepared for that haha.

 

[Bushcraft Global Joezilla]

@thedigitalmc What did you end up doing?

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Ok so I thought I had it settled and was going 37s... but I talked to multiple jeepers since and they all basically said when going to 37s, there is going to be noticable maintence... even if you are careful. The tires just stress all the components. Now they all may be crazy too, frankly I'm less than a year in trying to get set up and learn the ropes.

THAT SAID.... I found what I think are pretty interesting tires (Versatyre MXT/HD LT 36X12.50R17): https://www.prioritytire.com/by-brand/versatyre-tires/mxt-hd?var-versatyre=34266

I'm trying to get a final weight rateing, but seem low 70s lb/tire and at 36" would save 50% of the difference between the 35 & 37 (of which again... Hard to understand that 2" implication is such a big deal).

I fully expect to work on and fix my Jeep as I wheel. I'm not ignorant there. But it feels like i'm flirting with some thresholds at 37s... even though it's doable. Does that 36" tire give me just enough buffer to avoida couple $1000 per year?

... now if the answer is "Dude... you're overthinking it... go wheel your jeep, things break but it's tough" I am prepared for that haha.

Dude...

These 36s might be taller than some 37s.

 

[thedigitalmc]

@thedigitalmc What did you end up doing?

I ended up going with these 37"s : https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/atturo-trail-blade-mts

Nothing but good things about em that I can tell. They run 36.5 which is kinda smaller side of a 37" which is cool. Around 74-75lbs so not too heavy either.

Sponsored