[raskull]

I've got an '03 TJ with a D30 front, and D35 rear. I've also got 3.07 gears. I'm not rich and I simply cannot afford to do a lift, tires, gears, lockers, and axle swap all at once unless I save up for 2 years, and that would be no fun. I already have wheels with the proper backspacing for 12x5 wide tires.

I'm ordering a 4.5 RE Super Flex kit, shocks, and a SYE/CV within a few months here, and I'm wondering what size tires to run. What do you guys run for your DD, 33's or 35's? What do you prefer? I know that more people run 33's, but how many wish they had 35's?

If I do run 35's I will likely put in a 1" body lift/MML as well for good measure, but that's no big deal.

I'm really just looking for opinions on how they are for daily driving. If you run 35's are you happy you went larger? Do you wish you had smaller tires for around town, then back to your 35's for wheeling? I really would like to decide once and stick to it so I don't end up buying 33's, regearing, then having to regear again later for 35's.

Yes, I know that both these tires sizes will suck *real bad* on 3.07's, and running them on a D35 is asking for problems, but those would both be taken care ASAP afterwards, so please don't bother telling me I'm being stupid for not changing my axel first, cause I know.

Thanks in advance!

[spyder6]

JeepJay has i belive 37" tires and his jeep is his DD heheh

i really dont think you can go wrong with either decision, but if you had any dream to go larger than 33's up to 35's down the road why not do it now? since you already addressed your axle problem and your gearing problem i'll address something else that you might not be aware of. the TJ's steering set is in no way capable of handleing the forces created by 35" tires you'll also need to pick up and install a HD steering set from PSC or Currie or whoever.

[miamisahara]

I have run 31, 33, and 35 over the last 4 years on my DD. I can honestly say that I have been most satisfied with me current combo. 35", 3.5 RE SF, 2 BL does the trick. I will never go back. I also run a D30/d35 combo.

[Y2KWRANGLER]

Originally Posted by miamisahara

I have run 31, 33, and 35 over the last 4 years on my DD. I can honestly say that I have been most satisfied with me current combo. 35", 3.5 RE SF, 2 BL does the trick. I will never go back. I also run a D30/d35 combo.

Do you have pics. I will be putting a 1"bl and would like to see what 2" looks like.

[Erik T.]

35's will need a lot of upgrading, axle, brakes, steering components.

My suggestion would be to get the 4.5 kit with 3.5 coils so you can skip the cv/sye and use that cash to help pay for a regear instead.

Then you can run 33's until you upgrade your steering components and brakes and can handle 35's.

[scs210]

I ran 33s on my first DD jeep which had 3.73 and it did fine. I didn’t know much about gearing and things back then and didn’t really have any problems with that combo. I just noticed it being sluggish when accelerating, but that is expected. I know have a sport with an RE 5.5 and love it. I'm running 35" Mickey Thompson MTX which is closer to an all terrain tire than anything else and I love the combination. I started off with 3.73s in it as well and drove it for a little more than a year. Wheeled it with these gears as well. It was doable. I hated it though. I could hardly run 60 in 5th gear (manual). Most of the time I had to run it in 4th and just push the rpms up. All I can say about your gearing is that if 3.73 were a pain I can’t imagine what 3.07s would be like. If you do go with 35s though, really plan on a regear very soon. I have 4.88s in it now and wouldn’t have done anything differently. I put an aussie locker in the back for money purposes right now but with I could afford a selectable locker. I love my combination and have a lot of fun wheeling it. As for the other upgrades, a stronger axel would do you well. I have seen (and others have too) many guys on the trail with one of their rear wheels sitting two feet out from their jeep from where they broke a C-clip. That, of course, is not cheap to upgrade either though. The brakes could use an upgrade but it is drivable without it. I would like to upgrade mine but I am still running the stock breaks and have not had any issues yet. You just have to be careful how you drive. That goes the same for the D35 as well. I would be careful how you drive it. Break something and you will be finding yourself upgrading a lot sooner.

That’s just my 2 cents though. Have fun with it. It will take all your money one way or another.

[Texas Jeep]

You said in 2 years you can afford to regear, my suggestion is to buy 33's now and in 2 years upgrade to 35's when you can regear.

[Skeezer]

I wouldn't run anything over 33" tires with D30&35's &/stock gearing. I would also try running a lighter rim, not steel.

[Jerry Bransford]

With your Dana 35c in the rear, run nothing bigger than 33". No locker in that Dana 35c either!

[tobannon]

I also have a 03 TJ and had the same delemna last year. I went with with the 33's because I did not have the money to re-gear and I didn't want to lose power as much as I drive. I have had no problems with clearance on the trail and am fully happy with the 33's. I went with a 4" Teraflex suspension. If you did go with the 35's, this would not be enough.

If you have the money do it all if not you won't be disappointed to go with 33's.

I do look at my Jeep now and the 33's do look a little small now that I am used to them. They used to look huge. I will get 35's and re gear once these tires need replacing.

[BlueFlame]

There are a LOT of TJs out there with 33s or 35s (mine included) with stock steering doing just fine. Sure, steering upgrades ultimately should be on your list, but to say it's not up to the task is utter bull.

35s with 3.07s will NOT be fun, and 35s with a D35 for anything other than gentle street driving is living on borrowed time.

[Dogman]

I would say if you're already considering 35s, then you should just go straight to 35s. But, I would also say to just spend the money getting your rig ready before you make the move. I know this takes patience - but it's the best thing to do.

Come up with a plan and maximize your funds.

BTW, I'm in the same boat

[Jerry Bransford]

Originally Posted by BlueFlame

There are a LOT of TJs out there with 33s or 35s (mine included) with stock steering doing just fine. Sure, steering upgrades ultimately should be on your list, but to say it's not up to the task is utter bull.

Those who wheel their 35" tires on trails any more difficult than a fire road would probably disagree with you, me included. My personal opinion is that the stock tie rod is not up to the forces 35" tires can generate in difficult wheeling situations. And I've seen or helped enough Jeepers get off the trail with bent tie rods with just 33" tires that it's even marginal with that size.

[Vertical Norm]

yeah man.. like said above.. if you're already considering 35's.. then you're always going to want 35's. i can't do any super great wheeling until i upgrademy axle... which is taking a lot longer than i expected. You should budget for that or something.. set aside so much cash a week. For me, and many others, 35 is about as big you'd wanna safely go for street handling but they still maintain reallly great offroading ability. they're a great balance
and yeah, you'll most likely wanna upgrade your steering. get a new steering stabilizer and some other stuff. im actually still using my stock but it's held up excellently. i plan on getting some HD stuff within a week though.

[Vertical Norm]

Originally Posted by Jerry Bransford

Those who wheel their 35" tires on trails any more difficult than a fire road would probably disagree with you, me included. My personal opinion is that the stock tie rod is not up to the forces 35" tires can generate in difficult wheeling situations. And I've seen/helped get off the trail enough Jeepers with bent tie rods with just 33" tires that it's even marginal with that size.

haha yeah... my stock tie rod... when the cash comes it wont be stock anymore.
first time i broke it i was going less than a mile an hour and hit some mud with a few littl rocks in it.. and SNAP!. left me stranded. but i learned my lesson and now i always have a spare.