tires verses gears
 

i have a 1995 wrangler with a 4 cylinder engine. it has 33 inch tires.
would it be better to drop to 31 inch rather than switch to 4.88
gears? i do no do much off roading just some trails

Re: tires verses gears
 

Are you having issues?

I have the tall 3.31 gears in my CJ7 with it's 6 cylinder and 33" tires.

In my case I 'can' use 5th gear on the highway as far as engine power
goes, but it then revs too slow so the engine lugs and it just drinks
gas.

If I forget about having the 5th gear or overdrive as it is properly
called, then my rpm stay about 2300 on the highway or in the 'sweet
spot' for power and my mileage stays over 20 mpg, usually about 23 mpg.

As far as off road goes, I can count on one hand the number of times I
have 'needed' 1st low gear in the last ten years and even then it was
plenty low for the need. I normally start off in 2nd low and cruise in
3rd low off road.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

j wrote:
>
> i have a 1995 wrangler with a 4 cylinder engine. it has 33 inch tires.
> would it be better to drop to 31 inch rather than switch to 4.88
> gears? i do no do much off roading just some trails

Re: tires verses gears
 

Are you having issues?

I have the tall 3.31 gears in my CJ7 with it's 6 cylinder and 33" tires.

In my case I 'can' use 5th gear on the highway as far as engine power
goes, but it then revs too slow so the engine lugs and it just drinks
gas.

If I forget about having the 5th gear or overdrive as it is properly
called, then my rpm stay about 2300 on the highway or in the 'sweet
spot' for power and my mileage stays over 20 mpg, usually about 23 mpg.

As far as off road goes, I can count on one hand the number of times I
have 'needed' 1st low gear in the last ten years and even then it was
plenty low for the need. I normally start off in 2nd low and cruise in
3rd low off road.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

j wrote:
>
> i have a 1995 wrangler with a 4 cylinder engine. it has 33 inch tires.
> would it be better to drop to 31 inch rather than switch to 4.88
> gears? i do no do much off roading just some trails

Re: tires verses gears
 

Are you having issues?

I have the tall 3.31 gears in my CJ7 with it's 6 cylinder and 33" tires.

In my case I 'can' use 5th gear on the highway as far as engine power
goes, but it then revs too slow so the engine lugs and it just drinks
gas.

If I forget about having the 5th gear or overdrive as it is properly
called, then my rpm stay about 2300 on the highway or in the 'sweet
spot' for power and my mileage stays over 20 mpg, usually about 23 mpg.

As far as off road goes, I can count on one hand the number of times I
have 'needed' 1st low gear in the last ten years and even then it was
plenty low for the need. I normally start off in 2nd low and cruise in
3rd low off road.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

j wrote:
>
> i have a 1995 wrangler with a 4 cylinder engine. it has 33 inch tires.
> would it be better to drop to 31 inch rather than switch to 4.88
> gears? i do no do much off roading just some trails

Re: tires verses gears
 

If you feel you do not need the 33's the 31's may be better for you.
All things being equal, smaller tires put less strain on the drivetrain
and it will be less likely to break. The Dana 35c in particular is a
weakness of the YJs.


j wrote:
> i have a 1995 wrangler with a 4 cylinder engine. it has 33 inch tires.
> would it be better to drop to 31 inch rather than switch to 4.88
> gears? i do no do much off roading just some trails

Re: tires verses gears
 

If you feel you do not need the 33's the 31's may be better for you.
All things being equal, smaller tires put less strain on the drivetrain
and it will be less likely to break. The Dana 35c in particular is a
weakness of the YJs.


j wrote:
> i have a 1995 wrangler with a 4 cylinder engine. it has 33 inch tires.
> would it be better to drop to 31 inch rather than switch to 4.88
> gears? i do no do much off roading just some trails

Re: tires verses gears
 

If you feel you do not need the 33's the 31's may be better for you.
All things being equal, smaller tires put less strain on the drivetrain
and it will be less likely to break. The Dana 35c in particular is a
weakness of the YJs.


j wrote:
> i have a 1995 wrangler with a 4 cylinder engine. it has 33 inch tires.
> would it be better to drop to 31 inch rather than switch to 4.88
> gears? i do no do much off roading just some trails

Re: tires verses gears
 

oops gat a ford 8.8 in the rear
nrs wrote:
> If you feel you do not need the 33's the 31's may be better for you.
> All things being equal, smaller tires put less strain on the drivetrain
> and it will be less likely to break. The Dana 35c in particular is a
> weakness of the YJs.
>
>
> j wrote:
> > i have a 1995 wrangler with a 4 cylinder engine. it has 33 inch tires.
> > would it be better to drop to 31 inch rather than switch to 4.88
> > gears? i do no do much off roading just some trails

Re: tires verses gears
 

oops gat a ford 8.8 in the rear
nrs wrote:
> If you feel you do not need the 33's the 31's may be better for you.
> All things being equal, smaller tires put less strain on the drivetrain
> and it will be less likely to break. The Dana 35c in particular is a
> weakness of the YJs.
>
>
> j wrote:
> > i have a 1995 wrangler with a 4 cylinder engine. it has 33 inch tires.
> > would it be better to drop to 31 inch rather than switch to 4.88
> > gears? i do no do much off roading just some trails

Re: tires verses gears
 

oops gat a ford 8.8 in the rear
nrs wrote:
> If you feel you do not need the 33's the 31's may be better for you.
> All things being equal, smaller tires put less strain on the drivetrain
> and it will be less likely to break. The Dana 35c in particular is a
> weakness of the YJs.
>
>
> j wrote:
> > i have a 1995 wrangler with a 4 cylinder engine. it has 33 inch tires.
> > would it be better to drop to 31 inch rather than switch to 4.88
> > gears? i do no do much off roading just some trails