Heresy? road tires on a Rubicon? ETA- now a shock install

[Sandman 4x4]

I traded out of a 2017 F150 FX4 running Michelin LTX Defenders ( that I was very happy with), to get into a smaller truck. I settled on the JT because I didn’t like any of the other small truck offerings, or the turbo 4 cylinders in all but the Nissan.

I had a ‘24 Sport S with light truck tires and was very pleased with the road manners, (solid front axle wandering notwithstanding).

The ‘25 Rubicon I traded into not so much. It’s a longish story how I ended up in the Rubicon. I’m otherwise happy with this Glad. I’d just like to improve how it behaves on pavement, if possible.

My question, how much of an improvement in road manners could one expect with good road tires like the Michelins versus the Falken Wild Peak All Terrain tires that came on it. I realize the Rubi suspension is not the same as the Sport S and will also have an impact on road manners

Thanks in advance.

If you can afford a second set of wheels, with top of the line Michelin LTX tires, in a 255/80-17 @33.1” Road manners with be improved. If Michelin makes them in that size. As narrow a tall as you can on 17” and under wheels. That will save you plenty in prices of both wheels and tires!

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[azmojave]

I’ve seen plenty of pictures of Mojave’s in snow, so street tires on a Rubicon is no less heresy than that LOL.
You do you

 

[gonemad]

Hi All, What model number are the Bilstein shocks everyone is using? I have a 2023 Rubicon and would like to improve the ride. I have considered new tires but still have a bunch of tread on the Falcons. Actually, if I had known how rough the ride would be I would have gotten a Willys, but the Rubicon had every option I was looking for, especially the manual transmission. So, I've got a Rubicon, really like it, but would like a better ride. My off road excursions are pretty much pulling over on a gravel shoulder.

I ordered Bilstein B8-5100 for 0-1.5” lift, for 2025 JT Rubicon.

Front part # 33-304847
Rear part # 33-304854

They have several other flavors of the B8-5100 for taller lifts. I’m not lifting mine as its just a firewood hauler sometimes, and grocery getter all the time. I have had it on the trails at Uwharrie in NC, and *might* go back, but it won’t be often. Bilstein rates these for on-road and light off-road duty.

I noticed some youtube install videos on two occasions where the posters couldn’t find the Bilsteins and ordered some other shock. So these were somewhat scarce, at least wherever I was looking.

ExtremeTerrain was the only place I found a set of four, front and rear, assuming they actually have them. I received order confirmation last night, but not ship confirmation yet. MSRP I think was $164 each, marked down to $118, less 5% if you check the box that says “5% off”, free shipping, plus tax.

I picked up a 1/2” drive 18mm impact socket, 1/2” drive impact swivel, and 18mm box end wrench at a parts house, and a 1/2” drive impact wrench at Horror Freight to make this easier since thread locker * might* be involved from the factory. I haven’t needed 18mm since I wrenched at Sears in high school in the early-mid ‘70s

II’ll use Blue, medium strength Loctite or Permatex thread locker.

And no vehicular project is complete if you don’t break out the Dremel at least once. I cut some fender liner away to make it easier to get on the top rear bolts. I’ll clean that up later (or not).

 

[NC_Overland]

This is the Wild Peak A/T 285 70 17 that came on the Rubicon. I’ve been running 35PSI cold, and I think I’m going to air down to 30lbs before I do anything else.

And this is what came on the Sport S. I believe they were 245 70 17 all season. They were just basic light truck tires. I’m pretty sure I ran them at 35 cold which I think is the spec. But the ride between the Rubicon is somewhat like a dump truck compared to the Sport S which I found to be pretty agreeable.

My Overland came with those tires. Except 255/70/18. I hated it. It feels considerably more planted and stable with the heavier 285/70/18s I put on it I also. Mine has also had a Rubicon LE suspension on it since new so I had those tires on a rubicon suspension for a short time while I was waiting on the tires I ordered. About 2 weeks. So not just did it look ridiculous, you lose drivability.

 

[ArcticDreadnought]

I’ve seen plenty of pictures of Mojave’s in snow...

I seriously have considered trying find or make a new badge to replace the Desert-Rated one with Tundra-Rated.

Upside: It will NEVER overheat.

 

[azmojave]

I seriously have considered trying find or make a new badge to replace the Desert-Rated one with Tundra-Rated.

Upside: It will NEVER overheat.

Look what I found on Etsy:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/809148095/tufskinz-create-your-own-rated-badge?ref=share_v4_lx

 

[ArcticDreadnought]

I know, I know.... Le sigh.

 

[gonemad]

@BCB Turns out Rock Auto has the Bilstein 5100’s for $99 each. You pay some shipping, but still the better deal than Extreme Terrain where I just ordered last night.

And a good thread that I didn’t see till just now.
Post #8 in particular
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/replacement-shocks.105272/

 

[NC_Overland]

@BCB Turns out Rock Auto has the Bilstein 5100’s for $99 each. You pay some shipping, but still the better deal than Extreme Terrain where I just ordered last night.

And a good thread that I didn’t see till just now.
Post #8 in particular
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/replacement-shocks.105272/

Why are you buying shocks? People buy 5100s to replace the old rubicon Fox shocks that were undervalved and rode too bouncy. Like you hit a bump ans your jeep keeps bouncing. The later shocks they’ve used for the last several years are much better. The 5100s are definitely stiffer than the stock rubicon shocks. I like mine, and I don’t regret buying them, but they’re definitely stiffer.

 

[gonemad]

Why are you buying shocks? People buy 5100s to replace the old rubicon Fox shocks that were undervalved and rode too bouncy. Like you hit a bump ans your jeep keeps bouncing. The later shocks they’ve used for the last several years are much better. The 5100s are definitely stiffer than the stock rubicon shocks. I like mine, and I don’t regret buying them, but they’re definitely stiffer.

Because someone recommended them up thread. Way cheaper than a set of new Michelin LTX’s I was angling for. Maybe this is the wrong approach?

We’ll see. Nothing done that can’t be undone if I don’t like them.

This Jeep will become the hobby that my bikes have been up till now. I’ve bought four HD touring bikes in five years. I invariably change the shocks, windshields two to three times, seats one or two times, exhausts two or three times, handle bars at least two times, on every one of them.

I’m retired. If I didn’t waste money on bikes, and now Jeeps, I’d be bored out of my mind.

 

[NC_Overland]

Because someone recommended them up thread. Way cheaper than a set of new Michelin LTX’s I was angling for. Maybe this is the wrong approach?

We’ll see. Nothing done that can’t be undone if I don’t like them.

This Jeep will become the hobby that my bikes have been up till now. I’ve bought four HD touring bikes in five years. I invariably change the shocks, windshields two to three times, seats one or two times, exhausts two or three times, handle bars at least two times, on every one of them.

I’m retired. If I didn’t waste money on bikes, and now Jeeps, I’d be bored out of my mind.

I don’t regret mine, I think it drives better, but it absolutely will not give you a softer ride. It’s about the same if you hit a big bump, but you feel all of the undulations in the road more.

 

[gonemad]

I don’t regret mine, I think it drives better, but it absolutely will not give you a softer ride. It’s about the same if you hit a big bump, but you feel all of the undulations in the road more.

I figure tires, shocks, and springs are what differentiate the ride of a Rubicon, over the ’24 Sport S that I had. I was going to swap tires, but someone suggested Bilstien shocks.

I guess the $64,000 question remains, what can be done, within reason, to improve the road manners of a new Rubicon. Maybe it just is what it is.

 

[gonemad]

I had mentioned up thread that I had been running 35 PSI cold in my Wild Peaks. And it was suggested to air them down.

I just checked the plate in the driver door jam and it specs 37 PSI, front and rear. I aired them down yesterday. Not sure how accurate this Jeep’s TPMS is. I have a tire gauge that has matched the TPMS on my other vehicles, but it reads about three pounds lower than the Jeeps TPMS.

So I don’t know what the heck my pressures are exactly.

 

[NC_Overland]

I figure tires, shocks, and springs are what differentiate the ride of a Rubicon, over the ’24 Sport S that I had. I was going to swap tires, but someone suggested Bilstien shocks.

I guess the $64,000 question remains, what can be done, within reason, to improve the road manners of a new Rubicon. Maybe it just is what it is.

Tires do make a big difference. I’d recommend mine but they discontinued them a few months ago. Revo 3s. It has always driven great. once I ditched the horrible floaty overland suspension. My Rubicon suspension with those tires are the combo. My Fox shocks were pretty good till they wore out and now I like the 5100s.

Lower those Falkens to 33-34 psi. I had a rubicon loaner with those and it made it ride a lot better.

 

[gonemad]

So to close this up, I installed Bilstein 5100’s all the way around. That install was discussed in another thread asking some particulars on shock installation.

But since this thread was about improving road manners, here’s my two cents.

I removed the stock red Rubicon shocks. They are not Fox that Glads used to run.

The Bilsteins are firmer, as pointed out by @NC_Overland , but my assessment is that is a fair trade off. The Jeep feels more planted, less bouncy over rough road, less shudder over railroad tracks and big bumps. So Gonemad approves of this shock swap.

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