32" tires with stock gears

[MoparManiac]

31x10.5s were the most I've done on stock gears. It was fine, a little less getup and go than stock but liveable.

Once you get gears, you'll ask yourself why you didn't do it sooner.

4.88s and 33s were my favorite setup.

 

[kastein]

you seem surprised. talling gearing by increasing the stock final drive ratio with taller tires is gutless but will increase top speed. it takes more power/torque to get something moving then it does to keep something moving when on a flat surface. then it craps the bed as soon as there is an incline because it has too tall of gearing and is gutless.

in PA where i live, there are just too many hills/inclines for me to drive with tall gearing. i hate tall gearing.

Not all surprised, actually. The fastest I ever went before lift was 120 (once only), without even putting it all the way on the floor... if it wasn't for the fact that I'd probably get death wobble and crap myself and/or fly off the road, I could probably hit 130+ now with the larger tires and stock gearing. Not going to try, though.

 

[jeeperjohn]

It will be practically unwheelable with those gears. If you want to be able to wheel then I suggest saving up for gears or going with 30" tires.

 

[Dustin_XJ]

I ran 32s with stock gearing for about a year. On the road, as long as you keep it in Drive(3) it is not to horrible. However you will only get about 13 mpg and you can pretty much forget about wheeling.

 

[Shock357]

Odd, mine is a bit gutless at some speeds but it's not really too too bad. I find that getting from 50-65mph is pretty bad, but once I'm at 65-80 or so, I can just cruise. It'll easily do 90 into a headwind but not uphill... I try to avoid needing to go that fast, so I usually cruise around 75 or 80 (speed of traffic in these parts) without any real issue. I get 14mpg or so uncorrected, so 16 or so corrected - I was getting high 17 to low 18 range before. I'm hoping I recover at least some of this when I get my new axles with 4.10s in, though the larger tires will obviously weigh more and have more rolling resistance.

When does your slushbox drop into OD?
mine wants to drop into od around 45 (uncorrected)
doing 2K on the highway is kinda nice though.

 

[srmitchell]

Im on 31's and 3.55's. I have lots of armor too. TOO slow.

I hate it enough that I am swapping 4.56's, in the rear only til I can afford to get the front regeared. I'd rather be 2wd, than 3.55. I hate it.

 

[Ivan]

Most folks posting that say it's "do-able" on stock gearing are just kidding themselves......

I ran my 3.07 / 5 spd on 30's and hated it! Fifth gear was almost non-existance unless you were already at the speed beyond what I would consider safe in an XJ. When I moved up to 32's, I knew that was going to be even worse, so I regeared to 4.56's within days of putting my 32's on.

I've now got 32's and 4.56's and love it. It will run at about 2650 rpms at 65 mph and does not tax the engine. I have incredible torque at low end speeds, where I really need it most.

You ever hear anyone say the wished they hadn't geared too low?

 

[89xj]

Most folks posting that say it's "do-able" on stock gearing are just kidding themselves......

I ran my 3.07 / 5 spd on 30's and hated it! Fifth gear was almost non-existance unless you were already at the speed beyond what I would consider safe in an XJ. When I moved up to 32's, I knew that was going to be even worse, so I regeared to 4.56's within days of putting my 32's on.

I've now got 32's and 4.56's and love it. It will run at about 2650 rpms at 65 mph and does not tax the engine. I have incredible torque at low end speeds, where I really need it most.

You ever hear anyone say the wished they hadn't geared too low?

x2 i had 3.07 and 31's and hated it.

now with 4.10 and 31's it so much better, its a little deep, but much better then a little too tall.

4.10 and 31's with 5sp has great low end and i like being around 2700rpms at 65-70mph.

 

[89xj]

It will be practically unwheelable with those gears. If you want to be able to wheel then I suggest saving up for gears or going with 30" tires.

unwheelable? what about 4lo. i found the biggest problem was daily driving in 2hi with tall gearing.

 

[themangeraaad]

I currently have 33s (probably closer to 32's right now) on 3.07's and I don't have any huge issue with it for street driving. Just put the rig back on the road and took a 3 hour round trip and it drove fine (with the exception that my rear axle s*** the bed somewhere between the woods and the highway on the way home :laugh. On the highway I just leave it in 4th gear and back roads I leave it in 3rd (I have a 5 speed). With this setup I never did any serious off-road driving so 4-lo was enough to get me where I needed to go.

It does suck on hills and you will miss the power... but I drove it like that for a few years, including many drives from east MA to west MA which included a number of minor hills, no big issues, just move over to the slow lane if need be. My advice:

If you plan on regearing sooner than later: Get the 32s

If you don't plan on regearing: Save some money and get 30s or 31s

If you have a great deal on the 32s and dont plan on regearing: Up to you, but that's what I did.

I found Mickey Thompson Baja radial MTZ's (something around $200 per tire) on Mickey Thompson Classic IIs ($150 per wheel) with very low miles; all for $600. So the only reason I went to 33's is because I found a good deal. Looking back I would do it again, but if you are going to buy tires new, just go with 30s or 31s. Now that my rig isn't my DD I can finally get around to regearing it properly and it is getting 4.88s. That should work very nicely with 33s

 

[jeeperjohn]

Well you could wheel it but it would be so sluggish it wouldn't be much fun. I had 31's with 3:07 gears and it sucked to wheel like that.

 

[FlexdXJ]

On 31's with stock gears it is bearable. I run that way and my jeep actually has more power than my old one did and it had 235's. I think this one runs a little better than my last one though and it doesn't have a cracked exhaust manifold/header(whatever you wanna call it) Anyways, I think 32's would be pushing it. On a side note I know a guy who runs 34's on stock gearing and has no problems with it.

 

[89xj]

On 31's with stock gears it is bearable. I run that way and my jeep actually has more power than my old one did and it had 235's. I think this one runs a little better than my last one though and it doesn't have a cracked exhaust manifold/header(whatever you wanna call it) Anyways, I think 32's would be pushing it. On a side note I know a guy who runs 34's on stock gearing and has no problems with it.

i must have higher expectations then you and your friend. bearable, doable, i got used to it,....really means it sucks until you regear.

FYI, it does matter what trans you have because the stock axle gearing is different.

 

[Goatman]

I must have higher expectations then you and your friend........bearable, doable, I got used to it....really just means it sucks until you regear.

Mega dittos!



Basically, you guys are saying you don't mind putting up with substandard performance. Being OK doesn't mean performance is OK, it's means you're OK with crappy performance.

If that's all you can do, then that's all you can do and you live with it. But it's a little humorous to read comments that "it's fine" followed by descriptions of how bad it sucks in the same sentance. :looser:

 

[MrShaft696]

If it matters I wheeled a 5 speed with 3.55's and it was ok & almost driveable on the street but the big hills on the highway would slow it down. I would consider that big time highway gears. I switched to 33's and it sucked, I couildnt pass a turtle on the highway & it was stalling and short on power off road. A month later I went 4.56 & its perfect.

 

[FlexdXJ]

i must have higher expectations then you and your friend. bearable, doable, i got used to it,....really means it sucks until you regear.

FYI, it does matter what trans you have because the stock axle gearing is different.

I know the manuals are 3.07's and Auto's are 3.55's with the 4.0 and the 2.5's have 4.10s. I have only had this current jeep for 8 days. Its getting an 8.8/4.10 D30 swap when I secure the axles. I know Its not ideal running 31's on stock gears but I will have to get used to it for a while. Its really not that bad but it could be better. My jeep is being built to Drive everyday and still wheel, don't think I am keeping it like that for too long. I'm thinking 34's would suck though!

Mega dittos!



Basically, you guys are saying you don't mind putting up with substandard performance. Being OK doesn't mean performance is OK, it's means you're OK with crappy performance.

If that's all you can do, then that's all you can do and you live with it. But it's a little humorous to read comments that "it's fine" followed by descriptions of how bad it sucks in the same sentance. :looser:

See above! Its just a matter of getting extra money while on unemployment for me.

 

[ROBZ95Xj]

those who think its fine must have never riddin in a geared jeep, ive been dd'ing with 3.55 and 33's for the past year, its doable but it sucks, the new england hills kick my ass, it aint so bad on the trails with the auto if i had the choice id def have lower gears, but i was just to cheap for this jeep

 

[themangeraaad]

Basically, you guys are saying you don't mind putting up with substandard performance. Being OK doesn't mean performance is OK, it's means you're OK with crappy performance.

If that's all you can do, then that's all you can do and you live with it. But it's a little humorous to read comments that "it's fine" followed by descriptions of how bad it sucks in the same sentance. :looser:

I only say that it sucks on hills while highway driving. Around town I have no problem making it up hills. Once I get into 4th on the highway is when I get a bit bogged down.

And this thread just makes me realize that I really can't wait to get my 4.88s :yelclap:

 

[M4Madness]

I have ran 3.55 gears with 32" tires for the last 22,000 miles -- until tonight. I just got home from dropping the XJ off at the gear installer's shop for a set of 4.56's.

I installed a transmission cooler when I first lifted it, and have driven in 3rd (AW4) to keep the RPM's up around 2200 at 60 MPH. Other than it being doggy on takeoff, I haven't really had any problems driving the hills of southern Indiana.

 

[chris420]

What size do you have right now?