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Went 33s on 2.5, kind of regretting it

33K views 36 replies 24 participants last post by  Jarhead Al 
#1 ·
Hi guys, I just recently got 33x12.5r15, new rims and tires (goodrich KO2s). The problem is that I realized that I won't have money to re-gear it, (unexpected expenses, long story).

I was doing fine with stock tires, i was doing 70 on the highway no problems, I got the RC 4" lift and the tires and now it's slow, and kind of unstable. Don't get me wrong, I love the way they look, but since I can't count on money to re-gear, what do you think I should do? I now can only do 50s in the highway

Town fair tire accepts returns within 30 days, you think I should go 31s?
Will 31s even make a difference?

Go easy on me, this is my first jeep

Before Lift (stock)



After Lift (before 33s)



After Lift + 33s

 
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#2 ·
I also have the 4 banger and am running 32 11.50 15 bgf all terrain. I'm not really impressed with the performance. Will probably go 31's when I replace the tires.
IMO I would sell my four banger and get a six cylinder before I would spend the time and money regearing or changing the axles. I would probably take the tires back and get a smaller set.
Whatever you do let us know how it turns out.....
 
#3 ·
Anything over the height of a stock tire will weaken the performance of the 4cyl. The stock tire is a 215/75/15 and it is 27" tall. So you are 6" taller than stock. Dropping down to a 31, and you are still 4" taller than stock. The performance still isn't going to be there. Although it will be better than hauling the 33's around, it will still be lagging, just not quite as bad.

I keep telling people on here that there is way more to it than slapping a lift kit on it to get the bigger tires underneath, but nobody seems to listen. Now you get to see 1st hand what the outcome is.

Try staying out of 5th gear, and you will get some of your performance back, just running at a higher rpm. It will still haul the 33's at 60-65 in 4th. The other thing that you have to realize is with the 33's on it, the speedo and the odometer are about 12-15% off. Which means about 10-12mph at 55, you are actually going 65-67.
 
#32 ·
I keep telling people on here that there is way more to it than slapping a lift kit on it to get the bigger tires underneath, but nobody seems to listen. Now you get to see 1st hand what the outcome is.
Great advice ..... back in the 70's when it was cool to put big wheels and tires on cars a friend of mine went big on a brand new car.

Tire dealer warned him about doing so ..... he was into racing and this means doing burn-out.

Was;t too long before he snapped a drive shaft.

These vehicles come from the factory with what they have because they were engineers that way, when you go off the reservation with such changes....you are on your own.

That's why I am taking my 95 YJ back to stock ..... I don't need a high life and big tires to impress the ladies, I tend to use my natural bigness for that! :lmao:


Reminds me of an old motor phrase ....... " Displacement .... some men have to buy it, some have it naturally! :lmao:
 
#4 ·
I , too, always warn people about doing big tires especially with the four cylinder. I would trade them in for 30s, or 31s while you can.
 
#5 ·
+1 On the Downsize. You mentioned regearing, even if you did that the 4 banger already has 4.10 rear gears if it's a standard. The 6" diameter difference gears you up approximately 20% (19.2 by my calculator). If you went with the deepest gear that fit in the axles which are 5.13:1, that would bring you back closer to the original ratio, but the increased rolling resistance/weight of the tires would still keep you on the losing side of the equation. Those Tires are about 50 pounds a pieces. The OEM P215/75/15's are 22-25 pounds a piece on average.
 
#8 · (Edited)
Your jeep sure looks sweet on 33s but who cares if you don't like driving it anymore. I have the 2.5 as well and on 31s. I wouldn't go any bigger. I might even consider going a little smaller. I can maintain highway speeds (except up steep grades) but not the 75 mph freeway speeds around here. I pretty much max out in 4th gear and 5th gear requires ideal conditions. Swap them while you can! 31s will make some difference in performance but your jeep will still be slow. But hey its a jeep not a race car. Let us know what you do and how you like it.
 
#9 ·
Bigger tires need a bigger motor .... that's how I always look at it.

My 2.5 has oversized tires on it .... thankfully they needed to be replaced when I bought it and used that in negotiating price .... going back to stock size with replacements.

You might be better off selling the 2.5 and getting a 4.0 .... not sure how much regearing costs but it can't be cheap. ( if done correctly )
 
#10 ·
Too bad it didn't work out the way you wanted. It sure is a beauty on the 33s. Does it have the auto trans or 5 speed?
 
#11 ·
ok so i have a 95 yj with 4.10s and 31s with the 2.5 doggy at its best but still runs well until hills. but i regeared my speed sensor. and my gauge is actually 3 mph to the good. its as simple as pulling the speed sensor out of the TC and turning it one pin point. to the left. making the computer read the numbers with a lower gear which you have made by adding larger tires. there are conversions out there for final drive ratios so you know what and how much to adjust.
 
#17 ·
Following this thread to see where you end up. I have a 95 YJ with 2.5L running 31's. I would like to move up to 33's but this thread certainly spoils that a little. I'm happy with the performace on 31's so may move to 32's? No intentions of re-gearing at the moment but would not be opposed when (if) the rear ever gives out and I go with at Ford 8.8 rear end.
 
#18 ·
55 MPH with the 33's seems a bit off to me.

I also have the same '95 SE w/ 2.5 5spd. I have 32" on it. And while it is in no way a performance beast, I can still run 65mph. Probably more, but 65 "feels" about as fast as I care to go in it.

Check the Speedo with a GPS as mentioned earlier. I am about 10 mph off now as well. At least whenever the Speedo decides to work at all!
 
#20 ·
Hi guys, I just recently got 33x12.5r15, new rims and tires (goodrich KO2s). The problem is that I realized that I won't have money to re-gear it, (unexpected expenses, long story). I was doing fine with stock tires, i was doing 70 on the highway no problems, I got the RC 4" lift and the tires and now it's slow, and kind of unstable. Don't get me wrong, I love the way they look, but since I can't count on money to re-gear, what do you think I should do? I now can only do 50s in the highway Town fair tire accepts returns within 30 days, you think I should go 31s? Will 31s even make a difference? Go easy on me, this is my first jeep Before Lift (stock) After Lift (before 33s) After Lift + 33s
You wanna trade me for 31's? Haha I did the exact opposite and got too small of tire for my lift.
 
#23 ·
That does look great with the 33s. I have 33s on my stock axle 95 4.0 and I can't use 5th gear either. A stock 4.0 will probably have the 3.07 gears, you have the 4.10s now so you might be about the same at the end with 33s on the 4 banger. Even with a bigger motor, you will still need to regear.
 
#26 ·
so what did you end up doing? Keep the 33's?
I'm in the same boat right now trying to decide if I should put 33's or 31's on. 93 YJ with the 4 banger standard shift. 4" RC liftkit, right now i'm running some old 31's but need to buy something else and the temptation to go bigger is there but not so sure anymore after reading your thread.
 
#28 ·
My old bang around the barnyard YJ came with a 4 inch lift and the previous owner had 35"'s on it. Before he sold it to me he put the stock tires and wheels back on it, the day after I bought it the clutch went out.

My next paycheck I'm buying a new 2.5 inch lift and pulling the 4 inch lift and running 30/9.50-15's. Even with the 30's my long term goal is to regear to 4.56.

Looking cool and performance are two different things.

Uncle Ben
 
#33 ·
I have a '89 Wrangler yj with a 4 banger. It has a 2 1/2 inch body lift. When I bought it it had 31/10.50r15s on 7x15 aluminum rims. I live in Southwest VA so it's all hills. Big Hills. I was surprised the power the little jeep has. It pulls any hill around here in 5th. I will say if I am doing 60 it will drop to about 52 or 53mph at the very top but it doesn't bother me. I can drive anywhere in 4th gear and never drop more than 2 or 3mph. It also has the junk transmission. The AX5. A good buddy of mine has a 94 yj 2.5l and he says mine has double the power of his. I would like to put 33s on mine but I think I had better stick with the 31s.
 
#34 ·
I have a '89 Wrangler yj with a 4 banger. It has a 2 1/2 inch body lift. When I bought it it had 31/10.50r15s on 7x15 aluminum rims. I live in Southwest VA so it's all hills. Big Hills. I was surprised the power the little jeep has. It pulls any hill around here in 5th. I will say if I am doing 60 it will drop to about 52 or 53mph at the very top but it doesn't bother me. I can drive anywhere in 4th gear and never drop more than 2 or 3mph. It also has the junk transmission. The AX5. A good buddy of mine has a 94 yj 2.5l and he says mine has double the power of his. I would like to put 33s on mine but I think I had better stick with the 31s.
Welcome to the Forum!
 
#35 ·
Welcome to the Forum @John Waynes

What gears does your Jeep have?

Good Luck, L.M.
 
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