35" Tires on stock brakes? Yes please.

[lukethedork]

I would like to add some valuable information to people thinking about moving to 35" tires, and whether or not the brakes will still be 'safe'.

I have recently (within the last 9 months) passed the Australian Pink Slip, and MOT test in England. I passed these tests with 35" tires and stock brakes on my TJ.
Both of these tests are required yearly for your vehicle to be road worthy in Australia and England.
Both the Australian Pink Slip and English MOT use specialist equipment to test the brakes.

I would also like to add that the English MOT allows me to drive anywhere in the EU.
So basically what I am saying is, Blaine, Jerry, Nevermonday, If my stock brakes on 35" tires are considered to be 'safe' by the authorities in Australia, UK, and the EU then it sure as hell is good for me.

Luke, from England. (not Australia anymore)

Originally Posted by nicolas-eric

Here in Germany I also passed the brake test with stock brakes and 35s.

[dmgiff]

I always see everyone on here telling people if you go to 35's, you have to upgrade the brakes or your jeep will explode in a fireball the first time you stop. Okay, an exaggeration, but my 97 TJ that I bought about five months ago has 35's with stock brakes, and I have no problem stopping. Of course, my DD is an 04 F250 4x4 Crew Cab Long Bed, so it's not like I'm used to stopping on a dime. I have to plan ahead a little bit, but I think that's a safe way to drive anyway.

[TheBoogieman]

I drove mine for years like that.NO,it's not the best setup,but who's got an extra $1000 laying around.I stopped fine and could lock them up,but I didn't tailgate people either.They pass in the US too.

[digitalcox]

Its not the best way to drive around but if you are careful about your surroundings while driving, you will be OK. If you have the extra money laying around, a brake upgrade wouldn't be a bad idea.

[Jerry Bransford]

Think what you want but also understand that for some reason not even our resident brake expert mrblaine understands, SOME Jeep brakes seem perfectly fine with 35" tires yet the majority are not. What you are claiming is, while not unheard of, not typical. My own braking with 35" tires was abysmal before I upgraded them and even if they would have passed whatever test yours passed, they didn't pass MY personal tests of what I consider adequate braking.

So if your purpose here was to just try to prove people wrong about what is good/bad braking, I'd say you haven't even come close. And for those whose brakes are not adequate for 35" tires, you have performed a disservice to them which may just come back to haunt you.

[dmgiff]

Solution to those of you wondering if you should go to 35's with stock brakes.... put 35's on with the knowledge you may have to upgrade your brakes. Go for a drive. If your Jeep explodes in a fireball of molten steel and and plastic... upgrade your brakes. If not... you're good. Problem solved.

[TheBoogieman]

Originally Posted by Jerry Bransford

So if your purpose here was to just try to prove people wrong about what is good/bad braking, I'd say you haven't even come close. And for those whose brakes are not adequate for 35" tires, you have performed a disservice to them which may just come back to haunt you.

35's on stock brakes SUCK no matter what.It would be nice if the Vanco kit was $500 complete,so us poor people could afford it.(hint)

[fratis]

Originally Posted by Jerry Bransford

... even if they would have passed whatever test yours passed, they didn't pass MY personal tests of what I consider adequate braking.

X2

putting it on a machine is allot different then loading it down with people and gear and taking it down a trail. granted you may never do this with yours. wasnt concerned too much, just as you are until i couldnt stop. wasnt fun. if people on here are willing to shell out for lift kits, wheels, tires, bumpers, lights and a plethora of "fun" stuff, a simple break upgrade doesnt seem too much to suggest.

[badtux]

Upgrade with good quality pads and rotors and you're about 95% sure to be fine, for a total investment of under $200. Sometimes I think some folks here are more interested in saying "I have more money invested in my Jeep than you do!" organ length comparisons than in actually driving their ride. The folks I wheel with all have stock brakes (maybe with upgraded pads), and some of them are running 37's even .

[fratis]

Originally Posted by dmgiff

Solution to those of you wondering if you should go to 35's with stock brakes.... put 35's on with the knowledge you may have to upgrade your brakes. Go for a drive. If your Jeep explodes in a fireball of molten steel and and plastic... upgrade your brakes. If not... you're good. Problem solved.

this is in no way helpful. when you want to join the real discussion with something useful please feel free. try to keep the childish and self titillating comments to yourself.

brakes are a serious issue.

[TheBoogieman]

Originally Posted by Jerry Bransford

You're quick to offer advice for people with 35" tires even though you run 32" tires and have no 35" tire experience yourself, aren't you.

That's the way things work here.

[Jerry Bransford]

Originally Posted by badtux

Upgrade with good quality pads and rotors and you're about 95% sure to be fine, for a total investment of under $200. Sometimes I think some folks here are more interested in saying "I have more money invested in my Jeep than you do!" organ length comparisons than in actually driving their ride. The folks I wheel with all have stock brakes (maybe with upgraded pads), and some of them are running 37's even .

For someone who runs 32" tires, you're quick to offer advice to people for 35" tire applications, aren't you. Please feel free to start offering advice on how things should be done with 35" tires when you have first-hand experience with 35" tires on your Jeep.

[badtux]

Oops, you're right, the people I wheel with who have 35's and 37's with stock brakes don't exist, so I won't bother going out with them next weekend. Thanks for saving me gas money!

If 35's with upgraded pads and rotors work, you've saved $800 that you can use for gas money for driving your ride to someplace interesting. If it doesn't work, sell the upgraded rotors and pads to someone else in your club for pretty much what you paid for them and spend the bucks to get bigger brakes. I'm not interested in getting into an organ swinging contest here... . How high school. I have a Jeep to go interesting places, not to engage in high school "mine is bigger than yours!" locker room contests.

[lostsheep]

I'm running 35's and all that has been done to mine is some of the high performance (alledgedly high performance) pads in front. While I have no doubt that braking ability has been diminished, I don't find it to be dangerous by any stretch of the imagination.

[Jonny Jeep]

For everyones info the UK MOT requires the brake efficiency to be a minimum of 50% for all vehicles first used after the 1st of January 1968. I'm not sure how the machines used account for the differences of all the vehicles on the roads though.

I'm only running 33" tyres, and although I can lock them up on dry tarmac, I still consider my brakes woeful compared to some of the other vehicles I drive during the course of work. On occasion I find myself braking as gently as I feel I would in the Jeep, only to find myself being forced hard into the seat belt as the brakes are much more efficient than my Jeep for the same pedal pressure.

Next time I swap pads and shoes I'll be going for the EBC yellows in front and green in the rear. The Vanco big brake kit is on the wish list.