31" tires vs 33" tires

39020 Views 29 Replies 19 Participants Last post by sparky, Oct 27, 2017

Loff68

Discussion Starter · Mar 1, 2015

I'm new to having a jeep (2006 TJ X) and I'm currently running 31x10.5 on what I think is stock rims. I love the way the 33x 12.50 tires look. I do mostly street/ highway driving and My tires need to be replaced soon. I was wondering what is the difference ( other then $) between the 2? Handling, gas mileage ect.,
I know a lift would be needed.
Also, if I get a lift for the 33" tires, can I keep the 31" tires. $ is tight?

1 - 20 of 30 Posts

Wattapunk

· #2 · Mar 1, 2015

Besides lift, you will need to regear to run 33s. Look at the rear diff, there should be a tag that states what gear ratio you have. You probably have either 3.07 or 3.73s for your X model, which will make it untolerable to drive with 33s. Ideally, you need to regear to 4.56 or 4.88s to gain back the performance.

jp2611

· #3 · Mar 1, 2015 (Edited)

Wattapunk is right...hate to say it.....but yeah you can't EFFECTIVELY run 33"s without more MODS than what you are looking at...yes it can be done as cheap as $1500 with a budget boost no regear and cheap tires and wheels.....but it won't be as GOOD as doing it right.
Just speaking from my experience...OME SL $1200 installed, BL and MML another $250, regear, SYE, and LCAs was about another $1800...tires and wheels $1500. Maybe I paid "too much", but it rode better than stock and went everywhere I wanted to and was rarely stuck.

Pic for clarification...The JK in my avatar is current Modding toy

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johnmbeard

· #4 · Mar 1, 2015

I just spent a little over 11k using high quality components to do the necessary modifications to run 33" tires on 17" wheels (285/70R x 17). Parts cost without labor was a little over 8k.

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drrosenrosen

· #5 · Mar 1, 2015

^^^ sharp looking Jeep, John!

drrosenrosen

· #6 · Mar 1, 2015

I know it is too late for OP, but for those that haven't yet purchased a jeep and might run across this thread, consider buying a rubicon model --- they have higher gear ratios standard in the axle. (Higher is right, right? Always forget how that works. The high number for the gear ratio.)

That's what i did. Not saying it was right but just one of several ways to get in to the jeep world and then run bigger tires with lifts, etc..

Loff68

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 1, 2015

Wattapunk said:
Besides lift, you will need to regear to run 33s. Look at the rear diff, there should be a tag that states what gear ratio you have. You probably have either 3.07 or 3.73s for your X model, which will make it untolerable to drive with 33s. Ideally, you need to regear to 4.56 or 4.88s to gain back the performance.

Can I do this in parts? 1st part have a lift installed w/ my 31" tires and the 2cnd at a later date have the 33" w/ new rims and re-gear done?

Or does the lift with new tires/ rims need to be done all together?

jp2611

· #8 · Mar 1, 2015

Loff68 said:
Can I do this in parts? 1st part have a lift installed w/ my 31" tires and the 2cnd at a later date have the 33" w/ new rims and re-gear done?

Or does the lift with new tires/ rims need to be done all together?

I ran the 31"s for several years with lift only...it does look " a little funny" to some people, but I never really cared, and it let the JEEP work much better off road...another Pic...on the 31"s with the OME SL.

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Loff68

Discussion Starter · #9 · Mar 1, 2015

johnmbeard said:
I just spent a little over 11k using high quality components to do the necessary modifications to run 33" tires on 17" wheels (285/70R x 17). Parts cost without labor was a little over 8k.

Really Nice jeep John! That's kinda the final look I wanna have with the lift and bigger tires.

Loff68

Discussion Starter · #10 · Mar 1, 2015

jp2611 said:
I ran the 31"s for several years with lift only...it does look " a little funny" to some people, but I never really cared, and it let the JEEP work much better off road...another Pic...on the 31"s with the OME SL.

The jeep looks good. How much of a lift does it have?

jp2611

· #11 · Mar 1, 2015

That was just the OME Sl...which they say is a 2"-2.5" lift....My springs and shocks were worn enough that I gained almost 3.25"s. Again before I went to the 33"s and different wheels I did the BL and MML..it was a "have to", even with the OME SL, IMO to clear the 33"s off road!!

Jim C

· #12 · Mar 1, 2015

jp2611 said:
Wattapunk is right...hate to say it.....but yeah you can't EFFECTIVELY run 33"s without more MODS than what you are looking at...yes it can be done as cheap as $1500 with a budget boost no regear and cheap tires and wheels.....but it won't be as GOOD as doing it right. Just speaking from my experience...OME SL $1200 installed, BL and MML another $250, regear, SYE, and LCAs was about another $1800...tires and wheels $1500. Maybe I paid "too much", but it rode better than stock and went everywhere I wanted to and was rarely stuck. Pic for clarification...The JK in my avatar is current Modding toy

What fender are running there? Looks good. Does it cover the whole tire width?

saints39305

· #13 · Mar 1, 2015

I'm running PROCOMP AT 33's, no regear yet. (Still have 3.07) Only getting 12 MPG.

jp2611

· #14 · Mar 1, 2015

They do cover the whole tire, and keep the Jeep pretty clean when off road. They are TnT customs......they replace EVERYTHING as far as fenders go. No cutting, just take off the factory fenders (inner and outer), and 6 bolts to mount these...than mount/ relocate everything attached to the fenders. (that was the worst part)
Rock solid...hit trees with them hard enough bark/ and dead branches fell into the Jeep with me. No damage to the fender....lol

This might give an idea of coverage............you guys making me miss that old TJ.......

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Atumant

· #15 · Mar 1, 2015

I've been running 33's with a 2" BB and 3.07 gears for almost a year with no issues. Use of 6th gear is dependent on the wind and grade, but not a big deal. It's pretty flat in IL and I get between 14-17mpg. It does fine offroad (no rock crawling). Proper bump stopping keeps it from rubbing and it flexes okay. Is it ideal, no, but works fine for me so far. I will re-gear eventually.

jp2611

· #16 · Mar 1, 2015

Only place I have been that is more flat than IL is KS...glad it is working for ya...'cept no 6th gear.......

OffRoadToad

· #17 · Mar 1, 2015

You could do the Zone 4.25" Combo for around $750 (including $180 Metalcloak adjustable track bar) and install it yourself. That will save you money AND you get to learn about your Jeep. Then you can throw on the 33's (you will need new wheels if they are, in fact, stock rims)

The caveat is if you go to the bigger tires, you might find the power lacking and you'll need to regear(anywhere from 1k-1800 depending on area/shop). You will need to be prepared to either deal with the lack of power or pay the extra money at some point.

You can certainly go the other routes and spend more money for better quality components, but you can do it on a smaller budget if you so desire. It won't be as nice, but it will work for your given situation.

Zrxpilot

· #18 · Mar 2, 2015

Might be worth spending some time looking at 32's. I have 4:11's and didn't notice much if any power loss jumping up from 245's to 265's. It also corrected my speedometer for whatever reason.

Cost me about 3500 to get there doing all the work myself. Tires and adjustable control arms was a good bit of it.

I like the way it turned out. Probably keep it this way for awhile. Drives nice and looks considerably better than it did before.

If I was going to do 33's, I would do the OME 2.5 light duty springs, Bilsteins 5100's, JKS 1.25" BL, MORE rubber MML along with lots of research on bumpstops. Find me some 16" Moab's and Spidertrax wheel spacers and surround all that on 285/75/16 Duratracs. That will get you started. It will look awesome in the garage.

DavidW954

· #19 · Mar 2, 2015

I've got 33's on a 2005 TJ. The 6spd transmission copes with them much better than the 5spd. It is far from perfect but it's OK. You'll lose 6th gear. It's my next mod, but I've lived with it for a year.

I'm running an OME lift, 2" Bumpstop extensions front and rear, and 15x8 ProComp wheels. Nothing rubs.

SEAICE

· #20 · Mar 2, 2015

The taller the tire, the less power you will have, so your Jeep will be slower in the higher gears.. Hence, no one will argue against re-gearing, but it is expensive and many just live with the power loss. I have a 3.73 rear end and I don’t see that much of a difference except my overdrive is almost useless on the highway. Around town, it’s not that noticeable.
Asking “what you will need to run 33s” will get you answers all over the place. As you can see, you can spend far more than the cost of the Jeep itself… You can spend $6K or more on just one axle, to “run” 33s.
If you’re driving mostly street, and you’re on a budget, you don't need to spend huge money on suspension and axles. 3" of lift will be fine for 33s, you can get that cheaply with a 2” budget boost and 1” suspension lift for a couple hundred dollars, and a set of tires and wheels for $1,500 or so. So for around $2K, you’ll be good to go. You could go for 32s and just the 2” budget boost as well. This looks very good, not that much different than 33s.
This was my LJ with 2” lift and 32s:

Today with 3.5” lift and 33s:

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