[rickm8]

Originally Posted by 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!

you said the same thing to me when i was all scared for not having $23842984237432986423896 poured into my jeep lol

[JBWood05TJ]

Originally Posted by vector6

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

+1 33s are old news.

[Greg_Volkman]

Originally Posted by 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

And you actually wheel Jim - and have wheeled your jeep on 33's for a while, unlike many that just decide to go with current trends with no reason. Stepping up to 35's would just be natural.

[Fargo]

Originally Posted by vector6

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

As others, I found the truth in this statement humurous. Its especially true if you have a JK. Not that they need bigger tires, but just because they are stock with 32s so they must need 35s to perform offroad. Or at least to LOOK offroad capable. Thats kind of why I was wondering about 33s. I just wonder how much they are really needed and how much is for looks. Don't get me wrong. I love the look, but I don't know if its worth the extra expense and loss of driveability. For me I am more concerned about how my Jeep works in ALL circumstances than how it looks.

Thanks for the replies guys. I do get the impression that 33s may not be as critical as it sometimes sounds.

[Fargo]

Originally Posted by Greg_Volkman

And you actually wheel Jim - and have wheeled your jeep on 33's for a while, unlike many that just decide to go with current trends with no reason. Stepping up to 35's would just be natural.

This kind of touches on something else for me. Since I don't get much of a chance to wheel, I feel I would be better off to wheel a little more with smaller tires and really get a feel for the Jeep before I go big. It seems if I go to big too fast I could get in over my head pretty quickly. Especially with the Rubicon. Since there is a good chance I would look up otisdog or others when I'm in CO, I never really know who my "trail guide" might be. Someone might see 33s and lead me to places I would never care to go and really put me in over my head. Although, I have to say that anytime I have wheeled with strangers, they have always been very polite and understanding that I don't have the experience that they do and I need to go easy. But then again, that was always with an old TJ Sahara on 30" tires. Like I said, the next guy might see 33s and just say "Ahh heck ya. Your Jeep can do that." Which of course the Jeep could if I knew how to drive it. But being a greenhorn, it could also get me into a lot of trouble. Anyway, I guess fear is another reason I tend to shy away from 33s. Does this seem reasonable?

[SurfnSnow]

You're on the right track. Like it was said before, a locked rig on 31's are very capable and since you have a rubicon the only thing really would be to armor up underneath. I run 33's and a short arm lift on my LJ and that's been fine for me as my rig is half commuter, half trail rig and I abuse/wheel pretty good with that combo. The cool thing is if your needs change you can always add a lift later on

[IslandTJ]

Originally Posted by vector6

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

Tru dat.

[Imped]

Man, this thread is sure making it difficult to stay committed to 33x10.50's for my next tire. I'm itching to go 35. If only I had another DD....

[BloodThirsty]

Count me in as a near future 32 owner!

[NEastUnlmtd]

Originally Posted by Fargo

the Jeep could if I knew how to drive it. But being a greenhorn, it could also get me into a lot of trouble. Anyway, I guess fear is another reason I tend to shy away from 33s. Does this seem reasonable?

You can hone tire placement skills anywhere, anytime. Way more fun on the dirt of course. Remember your jeep has reverse so if you get there you can usually get back. Doubling back because of an obstacle may be time consuming but still a great plan B. I feel safer with the capability of the 33s with a LWB. Now a stock CJ5 is another story. Rock meets metal, skid or not metal is not always the winner.

[AVilla4]

33s are not needed at all i have 32s and it still looks aggressive without the cost of more power because it will slow it down. the 32s run great and they are quiet with no rubbing i have been able to go on the trails with no problem in fact one of my buddies has 33s and got stuck plenty of times while i had no trouble at all

[Unlimited04]

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.

x2 on that. with 2.5" lift + 1" BL, 33s, lockers and lots of armor (Rokmen full skid setup) you can get pretty much anywhere you want to go. Sure there are harder trails, but most don't really go anywhere, are only like 1/2 mile long and not scenic. Mostly just for big boys that want to bash stuff. personally I want to get to good camping spots, good picture spots and have a little fun, I find no point in breaking stuff you have to replace and spend money on later.

and x2 on wheeling if you come to CO...I'm always up for a wheeling trip

[Fargo]

Originally Posted by Unlimited04

...Sure there are harder trails, but most don't really go anywhere, are only like 1/2 mile long and not scenic. Mostly just for big boys that want to bash stuff. personally I want to get to good camping spots, good picture spots and have a little fun, I find no point in breaking stuff you have to replace and spend money on later.

and x2 on wheeling if you come to CO...I'm always up for a wheeling trip

You just described what I want to do in CO. I will have my wife and 2 boys with and the LJ will be filled with camping gear. I want to be taking the trails that will take me to some nice scenic overlooks or good hiking trails or camping spots. I'm not building my Jeep as big as I can just to see what it can do. I'm building it to get me places and see things I can't see with my Maxima.

Also breaking down is not an option. I will likely be doing a lot of trail riding alone and won't have spare parts or the knowledge to replace a broken axle or something even if I had the parts. And I sure don't want to spend my week vacation in Colorado sitting in some 4x4 shop watching some mechanic write a symphony on the cash register ringing up my bill for broken parts. I need to maintain the utmost in reliablity and driveablity, while trying to gain just a little bit more in offroad ability. Does that sound like 32s or 33s.

[Unlimited04]

Originally Posted by Fargo

You just described what I want to do in CO....Does that sound like 32s or 33s.

damn right it does. thats exactly my plan too - heres what I would build if I was to start with an LJ Rubicon like yours:

Armor -
Up-Armor Package #3 - http://www.rokmen.com/products/skid_plates/up_armor_skids/up_armor_skids.html
Riddler Diff Covers -
http://www.rokmen.com/products/differential_protection/riddler_diff_covers/riddler_diff_covers.html

Suspension -
2.5" LJ/ZJ OME kit + Rokmen control arms -
http://www.rokmen.com/products/suspension_systems/rokmen_control_arms/tj_lj_control_arm_packages/rear_upper_control_arms.html

Tires -
33x10.5 General Grabber AT2 or BFG ATs

Other -
Roll cage additions to stock - see thread in my sig (perfect setup for a family)
9500lb Warn winch
Windshield hinge 'mickey mouse' lights.
full radiator hoop welded to winch mount

Thats pretty much all you could ever need for typical trail riding and getting to cool spots.

[BaystateTJ97]

I'm going with 32's over the summer when i finally "go bigger" with a RC 2.5" lift, for me i've wheeled her stock and figured out that although my 30"tires have gotten me most places, that extra inch of ground clearence would help me out and i'm in need of new tires anyways so i figure why not. I hesitated to stay off of 33's just because for me( 75% DD 25% offroad) the extra rolling resistance and power loss i would suffer wouldn't be made up for with 1/2 inch more ground clearence. Also if you go wheeling talk to your trail guide ahead of time and just give him a heads up the your rig is your DD and you don't want to do anything really hardcore, if throughout the day you feel the need to be more challenged ask them to take you on some tougher stuff. just my .06