Are 33's really needed?

[Fargo]

Sorry if this should be in the tire section. I put it in the TJ tech section because I figure tire size and performance is relative to the vehicle. So on to my question.

If you spend enough time on this forum, it would seem that there is something magical about a 33" tall tire. It seems to be mass consensus that a 32" tire is too small and that once you make that move up to a 33 all the stars will align for you and there is nothing you can't do with your Jeep. We'll at least thats what it sounds like. But on a serious note, will 33" tires really perform that much better than a 32" tire? Your only gaining 1/2" of ground clearance under the pumpkin. So I don't see a big advantage there. Although I do see an advantage to the larger rolling circumfrence. But how much of an advantage does it really give you and are 33" tires really needed?

I am currently in the process of planning my Jeep build for the years to come. I love the way a 33" tire looks on the LJ but it seems that there is a lot more expense and some trade offs when moving up to that size of tire. So I need to decide what is best for me and if a 33" is needed.

My LJ is 99% on road driving. There are very few trails around here and for the most part they are easily done stock. So I am building my rig to drive on long distance trips to go wheeling in places like CO or MT or SD Black hills. But my Jeep is not a trailer queen. It will be driven over 2000 miles round trip to get to these places. So my first priority needs to be on maintaining roadworthyness and highway drivability. It seems to me that in order to run 33s that will require another extra inch of lift height on top of the added tire height. Not to mention higher rolling mass affecting gas mileage and braking distance. So I keep coming back to a 32" (265/75/16) tire. To the best of my understanding this will allow me to keep my Moab rims without spacers, keep my center of gravity lower, allow better handling, better fuel economy, better braking and overall better ride characteristics. Am I missing anything?

So with that information on hand. Are 33s really needed. Will I get out to CO and find that I just can't go anywhere because I have 32s. Will I find all the trails closed to me or too difficult to run? How drastic is the change from 32" to 33" I am seriously trying to build my Jeep to be the best all around vehicle it can be.

[vector6]

you have been mislead... 35's are the new 33's...

[emev0l]

Originally Posted by Fargo

Sorry if this should be in the tire section. I put it in the TJ tech section because I figure tire size and performance is relative to the vehicle. So on to my question.

If you spend enough time on this forum, it would seem that there is something magical about a 33" tall tire. It seems to be mass consensus that a 32" tire is too small and that once you make that move up to a 33 all the stars will align for you and there is nothing you can't do with your Jeep. We'll at least thats what it sounds like. But on a serious note, will 33" tires really perform that much better than a 32" tire? Your only gaining 1/2" of ground clearance under the pumpkin. So I don't see a big advantage there. Although I do see an advantage to the larger rolling circumfrence. But how much of an advantage does it really give you and are 33" tires really needed?

I am currently in the process of planning my Jeep build for the years to come. I love the way a 33" tire looks on the LJ but it seems that there is a lot more expense and some trade offs when moving up to that size of tire. So I need to decide what is best for me and if a 33" is needed.

My LJ is 99% on road driving. There are very few trails around here and for the most part they are easily done stock. So I am building my rig to drive on long distance trips to go wheeling in places like CO or MT or SD Black hills. But my Jeep is not a trailer queen. It will be driven over 2000 miles round trip to get to these places. So my first priority needs to be on maintaining roadworthyness and highway drivability. It seems to me that in order to run 33s that will require another extra inch of lift height on top of the added tire height. Not to mention higher rolling mass affecting gas mileage and braking distance. So I keep coming back to a 32" (265/75/16) tire. To the best of my understanding this will allow me to keep my Moab rims without spacers, keep my center of gravity lower, allow better handling, better fuel economy, better braking and overall better ride characteristics. Am I missing anything?

So with that information on hand. Are 33s really needed. Will I get out to CO and find that I just can't go anywhere because I have 32s. Will I find all the trails closed to me or too difficult to run? How drastic is the change from 32" to 33" I am seriously trying to build my Jeep to be the best all around vehicle it can be.

There is very little difference between 32" and 33" tires, like you said 1/2" more ground clearance.

To be perfectly honest, you would get threw more with lockers and 31" tires than you would with open diffs and 31" tires.

Taller tires give you more ground clearance, if your not having clearance issues then you don't need taller tires, but just about everyone that off roads wants bigger tires.

It's really not hard to run 33" tires, a 2.5" suspension lift and longer bumpstops will do it.

[rubiwannabe]

i currently run 32's with full under armor and a tummy tuck, my jeep will and does follow all w/33"s..where i get left behind is the guys with 35"s..

[jmalys]

I have 32/11.5/15's and they will get you through 90% of the trails here in California (with lower gears and lockers f/r and some good skids of course!).

If your rig is 99% on the road, Go with the 265/75/16's. On the road, all a 285/75/16 vs. the 32" will get you is a higher gas bill.

[rubidriver]

Originally Posted by emev0l

There is very little difference between 32" and 33" tires, like you said 1/2" more ground clearance.

But at the same time there is a little bit more of a difference in a 265 vs a 285. The 265 is understood as a 32 and a 285 is understood as a 33, when it comes down to it the 265 is not as close to a 32x11.50 that you see on a 15 inch rim, as the 285 is to the 33x12.50 you see rolling on a 15 inch rim.

OP
I dont think a person who is doing as much traveling as you will be doing has any business, nor will they be happy with anything bigger than a stock tire. It will just never be the same. If you are willing to suffer the consequenses as we all have, go for it, I would think that someone in your shoes that drives that many miles at one would be wanting as much driveablility as realistically possible.

[Greg_Volkman]

run whatever you want. it's your jeep - you know where you take it. I see an awful lot of guys that run 35's and never leave the pavement because they think it's cool to have a jeep on 35's.

[otisdog]

When you get here to Colorado I'll show you all kinds of trails you can run with 32's.
I have 33's though - would like to have 35's.
Jim

[Elwood]

I like your logic and if you do get off road and feel you are dragging or even getting stuck on the "shovel" too much, a tummy tuck would serve you better than a larger lift and 33+ tires.

[daveshan]

Originally Posted by Fargo

So with that information on hand. Are 33s really needed. Will I get out to CO and find that I just can't go anywhere because I have 32s. Will I find all the trails closed to me or too difficult to run? How drastic is the change from 32" to 33" I am seriously trying to build my Jeep to be the best all around vehicle it can be.

Needed, no, not for most of the trails in Colorado a sane wheeler will tackle. You'll be fine with 32"s.

Most folks focus on the added ground clearance from larger tires, IMO that is not quite as important as the added circumference, the larger size makes rocks and holes seem smaller.

An extreme example is a small rock on the sidewalk, a skateboard will stop dead tossing you a.. over teakettle while a bicycle rolls right over it without even feeling it. The same thing happens when you go from 30"s to 33"s, what used to stop the tire in its tracks is now "smaller" compared to the tire allowing the tire to roll over it easier.

BTW if you're heading up this way give a shout over on the Colorado forum you'll probably find a couple of people to go with.
Cheers
Dave

[Jeep02Apex]

To the OP, if you don't have 33"s then your Jeep will actually blow up as soon as it hits any sort of mud.

Not just a little blow up, but I mean BOOM!

[NEastUnlmtd]

For a trip that long maybe bring along some beater tires and rims?

[Fargo]

Originally Posted by daveshan

Needed, no, not for most of the trails in Colorado a sane wheeler will tackle. You'll be fine with 32"s.

Most folks focus on the added ground clearance from larger tires, IMO that is not quite as important as the added circumference, the larger size makes rocks and holes seem smaller.

An extreme example is a small rock on the sidewalk, a skateboard will stop dead tossing you a.. over teakettle while a bicycle rolls right over it without even feeling it. The same thing happens when you go from 30"s to 33"s, what used to stop the tire in its tracks is now "smaller" compared to the tire allowing the tire to roll over it easier.

BTW if you're heading up this way give a shout over on the Colorado forum you'll probably find a couple of people to go with.
Cheers
Dave

Very well said. That is the benefit I see to 33s as well. Not so much the ground clearance but just the roll over size.

But its good to know that I won't be completely hindered by 32s. I'm willing to make some sacrifices in onroad handeling to get to a 32, but it seems too much to get to 33s.

By the way I have an LJ Rubi so I have lockers. Didn't Jeep do the Rubicon trail with the Rubicon on 31s. If so that should be more difficult than I will likely see for a very long time.

[Scotch740]

Originally Posted by vector6

you have been mislead... 35's are the new 33's...

True but he has a LJ so he needs 37"s

I would get the 33"s. If your considering it now you will be regretting it later if you don't. You can have a nice on road ride with lift for 33"s. Don't be opposed to a 1" body lift. They help more than just tire clearance. Plus you have 4.10s and the 4:1 TC so gearing shouldn't be an issue. I would get a spring lift not a BB if you plan to stay at that height for a long period. One with new lower control arms. Then look into high clearance skids.

[jonwood]

33's are way too small.