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Tire size..

  1. Brian Member Joined: February 2020
    #116 Oct 2019, 3:00 AM

    So I have recently been thinking about going back down to 35's. Mainly because I am going to be driving more and for most of the trails 35's are totally fine. Apart from fordyce, barrett lake..perhaps certain areas on other trails.

    So I was thinking since I drive so much on the road and go on the occasional trail run..I might be better off back with 35's. Just the reality of daily driving really. Not really so much about mpg but sorta just everything that goes along with 37's. Wear and tear/ ride quality/ small mpg change/ longevity and cost.

    Was thinking once I don't DD the jeep anymore I would go back to 37's.

    Whats everyones thoughts?

    W6JLU
  2. Nubby Webmaster K6NUB Joined: February 2018
    #216 Oct 2019, 8:07 AM

    I haven't had 37s yet, but even on 35s it not he most fun drive for anything long, unless of course I am heading for a trail! Is the wear and tear between a 37 and 35 that much different?

    When I was thinking about 37s on a daily driver I was considering a set of someones takeoffs and run a factory size all terrain tire so it did not look too weird with the lift (32s on yours right?). Had you considered that at all? You have to store the 37s, but then you have them when you want to wheel 🙂

    Jamie & Damaris
  3. Brian started this Member Joined: February 2020
    #316 Oct 2019, 8:42 AM
    Jamie (K6NUB) said I haven't had 37s yet, but even on 35s it not he most fun drive for anything long, unless of course I am heading for a trail! Is the wear and tear between a 37 and 35 that much different?

    When I was thinking about 37s on a daily driver I was considering a set of someones takeoffs and run a factory size all terrain tire so it did not look too weird with the lift (32s on yours right?). Had you considered that at all? You have to store the 37s, but then you have them when you want to wheel 🙂

    Well, the 37's are about 10 pounds heavier per tire..which is all unsprung weight. And the leverage of turning the 37's vs 35's also comes into play. How much wear exactly? That I do not know haha.

    Yeah I have considered storing them but I have not decided for sure if I will keep them or sell them. I know that stock size would look ridiculous on my jeep though haha

    W6JLU
  4. Nubby Webmaster K6NUB Joined: February 2018
    #416 Oct 2019, 9:08 AM
    Brian said
    Jamie (K6NUB) said

    I haven't had 37s yet, but even on 35s it not he most fun drive for anything long, unless of course I am heading for a trail! Is the wear and tear between a 37 and 35 that much different?

    When I was thinking about 37s on a daily driver I was considering a set of someones takeoffs and run a factory size all terrain tire so it did not look too weird with the lift (32s on yours right?). Had you considered that at all? You have to store the 37s, but then you have them when you want to wheel 🙂

    Well, the 37's are about 10 pounds heavier per tire..which is all unsprung weight. And the leverage of turning the 37's vs 35's also comes into play. How much wear exactly? That I do not know haha.

    Yeah I have considered storing them but I have not decided for sure if I will keep them or sell them. I know that stock size would look ridiculous on my jeep though haha

    I hear ya, but we can get you a bumper sticker that says My Weekend Tires are 37s!

    Jamie & Damaris
  5. Brian started this Member Joined: February 2020
    #516 Oct 2019, 12:43 PM
    Jamie (K6NUB) said
    Brian said

    Jamie (K6NUB) said

    I haven't had 37s yet, but even on 35s it not he most fun drive for anything long, unless of course I am heading for a trail! Is the wear and tear between a 37 and 35 that much different?

    When I was thinking about 37s on a daily driver I was considering a set of someones takeoffs and run a factory size all terrain tire so it did not look too weird with the lift (32s on yours right?). Had you considered that at all? You have to store the 37s, but then you have them when you want to wheel 🙂

    Well, the 37's are about 10 pounds heavier per tire..which is all unsprung weight. And the leverage of turning the 37's vs 35's also comes into play. How much wear exactly? That I do not know haha.

    Yeah I have considered storing them but I have not decided for sure if I will keep them or sell them. I know that stock size would look ridiculous on my jeep though haha

    I hear ya, but we can get you a bumper sticker that says My Weekend Tires are 37s!

    😂
    W6JLU
  6. Josh Subscriber
    #616 Oct 2019, 12:49 PM

    My Jeep was a daily driver for years.

    Keep your 37 on inexpensive steel rims. Very cost effective and they hold up to trail abuse.

    Run your small tires as needed.  Who cares what it looks like it’s your jeep. Run it the way you want.

    I did this for years. I would switch tires out when needed. And I had good tires for the trail always.

    Semper Fi
  7. Gregulator Member Joined: February 2012
    #716 Oct 2019, 11:41 PM

    My Jeep has 72K miles and it's my only vehicle. I have had 37"+ since 20K. I like big tires. I would have a hard time dropping down, but I get why. I think I finally dislike daily driving a manual. People honk at me between shifts cause they think I am slowing down. Lol!

    Um...what?
  8. kris_olof Trailmaster Joined: October 2015
    #817 Oct 2019, 1:45 AM

    In college I had 2 sets of tires.  36" IROKS for trails and a set of 34" BFG ATs for daily driving.  I think it really depends on how long your commute is.  For the 15-20 mile per day commute i had in college it really wasnt worth it because the IROKS were aging out before they would get half worn (by aging out I mean that at 5 years they were harder than a typical MT so the benefit of the sticky tire was lost).  For the 50-60 mile per day commute after college it made total sense.  Or, if you are only putting 8-10K miles per year on the jeep then I would probably stick with just the 37s.  But if you are putting 15k or more per year then you could probably justify the expense of a second set.

    I do not support going smaller in tire size without keeping the 37s for weekends.  I do support trading Lani's car in for a JL with smaller tires.

  9. Brian started this Member Joined: February 2020
    #917 Oct 2019, 2:12 AM
    kris_olof said In college I had 2 sets of tires.  36" IROKS for trails and a set of 34" BFG ATs for daily driving.  I think it really depends on how long your commute is.  For the 15-20 mile per day commute i had in college it really wasnt worth it because the IROKS were aging out before they would get half worn (by aging out I mean that at 5 years they were harder than a typical MT so the benefit of the sticky tire was lost).  For the 50-60 mile per day commute after college it made total sense.  Or, if you are only putting 8-10K miles per year on the jeep then I would probably stick with just the 37s.  But if you are putting 15k or more per year then you could probably justify the expense of a second set.

    I do not support going smaller in tire size without keeping the 37s for weekends.  I do support trading Lani's car in for a JL with smaller tires.

    I got some 35x12.50r17 Ko2's from Americas tire this morning...I found a deal on amazon for $184 a piece..they priced matched! They actually thought I was trying to scam them. So I got a helluva amazing deal. Funny thing is that after I showed him, 5 min later the deal was gone..all it said was currently unavailable but who cares!

    Plan for now is to keep the 37's and get some cheaper black wheels..unless someone offers me a good deal on them. I might sell. The 35's actually still look really good.

    And yes we are going to get loni a JL in bikini pearl! Soon...soon. She is set on the bikini pearl color.

    W6JLU
  10. Brian started this Member Joined: February 2020
    #1017 Oct 2019, 9:57 AM
    Gregulator said My Jeep has 72K miles and it's my only vehicle. I have had 37"+ since 20K. I like big tires. I would have a hard time dropping down, but I get why. I think I finally dislike daily driving a manual. People honk at me between shifts cause they think I am slowing down. Lol!

    Me too. Big tires are awesome. I want to do some longer trips. Out to Colorado do some mtbing/ wheeling. Up to WA..maybe BC. So the ko2’s seemed like a great option. Leave the 37’s for the times I really need them.

    haha yeah I know what you mean about shifting Sometimes people get reallyyyy close when I shift. Probably makes them pretty angry.

    W6JLU
  11. k-jeep Member Joined: May 2009
    #1117 Oct 2019, 11:21 AM

    I’ve never had a problem shifting on 38s, but I have a lead foot.😀

  12. Gregulator Member Joined: February 2012
    #1218 Oct 2019, 1:45 AM
    k-jeep said I’ve never had a problem shifting on 38s, but I have a lead foot.😀

    You do have a lead foot. When do you shift? I seem to shift at approximately 3k rpm. But I feel like I should pull higher on the motor like 3500 or 4k. Seems with aftermarket exhaust the motor screams more as soon as I get over 3k.

    Um...what?
  13. Guy and Lynda Member Joined: May 2015
    #1321 Oct 2019, 12:38 AM

    I have been running 37" tires for quit some time & do NOT daily drive it. For the trail, in a short wheel base 2dr, the combination works well, as the rear tires will shortly catch up with the fronts, as opposed to the longer wheelbase 4-doors. I would think the equivalent combination on 4-doors would be like running 40's. However, running 40's on a daily driver would wear out some very expensive tires sooner than you want, making it a bad choice for daily driving, unless your drive is short. Not to mention it may be hard on steering parts as well.

    I too had been running steel wheels for longer than I've had the 37's & found in the long run that they bend. Running trails like the Rubicon hard certainly doesn't help that situation. I recently bought some aluminum wheels, & although they resist bending or breaking, they will get scratched up (time will tell). Not to mention they are considerably lighter & should be a lot easier to change or rotate.

    I would guess that daily driving a built Jeep can be hard on it, since many of the off-road parts are meant for one thing, building it up to accommodate both worlds can be challenging. Smaller tires would make a difference.

    I totally agree; Kevin, you do have a lead foot!

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