Calgary Jeep Association

4x4 Related Groups => Tech Talk => Topic started by: Knox on March 12, 2012, 10:35:24 PM

Title: Talk me into 35s
Post by: Knox on March 12, 2012, 10:35:24 PM
The more I look at 35s the more I get intrigued but I also realize what I'm missing before I should really do it. I may have to buy tires soon, since my tires appear to be dying (one refuses to balance, running 31s atm)

So Summary:
3.25 RC lift.
Will be adding 1.25 JKS BL (have yet to buy) and a BrownDog 1" MML (sitting in the garage)
Gears: 4.56, open D30 in the front, elocker d44 in the rear.

Things I'm considering as a requirement before I put the 35s on.
Steering linkage upgrade, possibly the Iron Rock Offroad one.  http://www.ironrockoffroad.com/Merchant2/TJ_XJ_ZJ%201_2%20OTK%20Steering%20System%20Install.pdf (http://www.ironrockoffroad.com/Merchant2/TJ_XJ_ZJ%201_2%20OTK%20Steering%20System%20Install.pdf)
New steering stabilizer (I need one anyways, still running the stock one from circa 2003), looking at the OME one I guess, is there really much of a difference?

Things I'd like to do anyways
SYE kit, new CV drive shaft, + adjustable arms
maybe a new gas tank skid to replace the dented one...

Regarding tires, I'm still favoring the Duratracs, but I am starting to consider the MTRs w/ Kevlar.

Any thoughts?





Title: Re: Talk me into 35s
Post by: TL-Iguana on March 12, 2012, 10:40:17 PM
if your hanging more than 35 inches from the floor......

then compensate? :D

Hence why I only need to run 32's and Kevin is on 37's


;)
Title: Re: Talk me into 35s
Post by: Jrama on March 12, 2012, 10:47:43 PM
Jumping from a 31" tire to a 35" tire, you will notice a signifigant increase in maintenance. Not only because the tires are wider and stress components more, but primarily because you are now going to be trying much more "interesting" obstacles ( aka dumb crap), the new locker will only compound this problem  ;D. Buy some body armor and get ready for some fun!

You have enough lift to run em (you have to do bump stops)
You have reasonable gearing
you have the right diffs


And of course....you've gone this far...sooooo do it! COME ON

Title: Re: Talk me into 35s
Post by: WhiteOut on March 12, 2012, 10:48:37 PM
Currie instead of IRO steering though.
Title: Re: Talk me into 35s
Post by: Knox on March 12, 2012, 10:49:56 PM
Currie instead of IRO steering though.

why? for the currie joints? or is there something else?
Title: Re: Talk me into 35s
Post by: Knox on March 12, 2012, 10:53:24 PM
I think I should also seriously consider cromolly shafts for the front, I neglected to mention the rears are already upgraded.

I'm also running 10.5s right now, and they stick out of my flares just over an inch. regardless if I got to 33 or 35, I think I'd like to have a 12.5 wide tire, so I'll need to get new flares too...

Maybe I do go 33s for 2 years and spend that time upgrading everything else.
Title: Re: Talk me into 35s
Post by: Jrama on March 12, 2012, 10:56:44 PM
My front shafts lasted about 5 months-ish with a locker in the front before they would just barf out U joints. I highly recommend just getting full circle clips instead of chromolys for an open front, save some serious $$$ and they will be almost alloy. Just google it, they are a great upgrade, greggs carries the circle clips, it requires some grinding, nothing tough though.
Title: Re: Talk me into 35s
Post by: FiEND on March 12, 2012, 11:04:02 PM
12.5 on a 10.5 would be horrible unless they are beadlocks.  33x13.5 would be my choice since they are still challenging and a lot of fun and can still air down to 10 on aluminum rims.  wider tires are better than taller unless you're arse is a draggin' like in deep snow etc.  

with my 18 inch almost 10" wide rims I need to go to 37" tires for 13.5 wide but i will do it for width only, everything else is lose
Title: Re: Talk me into 35s
Post by: morerpmfred on March 12, 2012, 11:04:43 PM
X2 currie steering.
Title: Re: Talk me into 35s
Post by: Knox on March 12, 2012, 11:47:11 PM
My front shafts lasted about 5 months-ish with a locker in the front before they would just barf out U joints. I highly recommend just getting full circle clips instead of chromolys for an open front, save some serious $$$ and they will be almost alloy. Just google it, they are a great upgrade, greggs carries the circle clips, it requires some grinding, nothing tough though.

lol first google result for me
http://forum.calgaryjeep.com/index.php?action=printpage;topic=24275.0
I'm not sure what that is, I'll have to look at it, I did look at the "Almost Alloy Kits" that are weld on, anyone have experience with those?

12.5 on a 10.5 would be horrible unless they are beadlocks.  33x13.5 would be my choice since they are still challenging and a lot of fun and can still air down to 10 on aluminum rims.  wider tires are better than taller unless you're arse is a draggin' like in deep snow etc. 

with my 18 inch almost 10" wide rims I need to go to 37" tires for 13.5 wide but i will do it for width only, everything else is lose

and Al, my tires are 10.5, the wheels are 8. Sorry for the confusion

Title: Re: Talk me into 35s
Post by: Rubi03 jef on March 12, 2012, 11:47:44 PM
currie steering forsure

and dont worry about your fender flairs  in no time youll see that there completely useless and mud is still going to cover the whole side of your truck no matter what

Title: Re: Talk me into 35s
Post by: FiEND on March 13, 2012, 12:08:45 AM
ahh sorry... 8's OK for 12.5 wide.  i ran rubicons on 33x12.5 and 8lbs was easy as they are 16" so a little tougher sidewalls.  my tires ripped off my front fenders as are Bonnies (slowly but Shirley).
Title: Re: Talk me into 35s
Post by: Rubi03 jef on March 13, 2012, 03:00:08 AM
i wouldnt worry to much about wheel width . i think everyone freaks out abit much about this subjet

im running 15.5" wide on a 9" rim and i dont have a single worry
Title: Re: Talk me into 35s
Post by: Knox on March 13, 2012, 07:10:39 AM
i mean you see trucks going all the time sticking out past their fenders, has anyone on here had any issues with the city police?
Title: Re: Talk me into 35s
Post by: specialk on March 13, 2012, 07:35:10 AM
Not with Calgary police.  If you venture towards Dead Rear, they are pretty picky.  Get stopped around PC, you are guaranteed a ticket. 

35's are going to put a lot of wear on parts.  Get ready for bearings every 6 to 8 months, driveshafts, etc...  there is a lot more maintenance. If I was only going to wheel occasionally (once or twice every 3 months) , I would go with the 33 Kelvars.  This is still a daily driver, so believe me, 35's on a TJ is getting old  for daily driving (or I'm getting old... or both).

If you are really going to start wheeling and what to try new things with your rig, go 35's.  The Jeep is going to be a trail rig that also takes you to work, but make sure your pockets are deep enough to handle it   

I will also be the first to admit that 35's look good on any rig, but it just ain't worth it to drive to mall or look on the Edmonton Trail.   
Title: Re: Talk me into 35s
Post by: BlackYJ on March 13, 2012, 07:52:43 AM
I love my 33s and being locked front and rear I have had no problems following lots of Jeeps on 35"+ tires.  In addition, I have not replaced my unit bearing for probably 5 years and have only spat out 1 front u-joint when I was dead towing another Jeep and I had my front locker engaged

For the stuff around here, I believe 33s are a great balance between offroad ability and still good on the street especially since you have a rear locker

And to comment on Kevin's statement about tire coverage, the RCMP around PC are picky but they did not give me any issues on my Jeep.  I have the rubi flares and my 33s stick out about 1.5-2"
Title: Re: Talk me into 35s
Post by: NUXJR on March 13, 2012, 08:37:50 AM
Gotta be with Scott on this one ;).  It seems the line is drawn at the 33" range when it comes to the carnage/breakage regarding alot of the associated running gear.  If it's gunna be a Jeep driven often on the streets, I'd be sticking with 33" max.  Not many reasons a 'well equipped' unit on 33s can't keep up with most of the bigger units that are driven out to the trails.
Title: Re: Talk me into 35s
Post by: w squared on March 13, 2012, 09:08:09 AM
When you get into some of the "really" interesting stuff that is further away from Calgary, you'll probably find that there are a few obstacles (and certainly more than a few lines) where you can't follow guys on 35's or 37's...but that doesn't mean that you can't be on the run. A well equipped and driven rig on 33's will be able to go over or around a LOT. This holds true outside of Alberta too - an LJ on 33's (Duratracs) ran everything that the bigger rigs did when I was in Moab.

But yeah...35's are cool. The same money-sucking way that Jeeps are cool.  :-[
Title: Re: Talk me into 35s
Post by: Uboatcmdr on March 13, 2012, 09:24:19 AM
Anybody have suggestions for a steering setup for 35's on a YJ?

Saw that IRO kit but it looks like its only for coil sprung,

Anybody have experience with the ruff stuff 1 ton TRE kit?
Title: Re: Talk me into 35s
Post by: Jrama on March 13, 2012, 09:41:41 AM
Like I said earlier, from my personal (subjective) experience I am breaking more parts due to trying things I would have never tried before open/open on 33's. My wheels bearings still crapped out once a year (8 months)on 33" tires they last about the same now maybe take a month.

I wheel my rig regularly and I dd it, so far its been pretty good.... coming up to a year now on 35's. True I haven't been running it very long but this is just my 2 cents.  Everything I have broke apart from U joints I cannot attribute to tire size.



 
Title: Re: Talk me into 35s
Post by: reepr on March 13, 2012, 10:41:48 AM
If you are even thinking 35s just do it because if you do 33 or something smaller you will just be saying down the road dam wish I would of done 35s
Title: Re: Talk me into 35s
Post by: Spinalguy on March 13, 2012, 11:19:32 AM
i mean you see trucks going all the time sticking out past their fenders, has anyone on here had any issues with the city police?
never a problem in the city, well i did get pulled over for speeding and he did mention a bunch of other infractions with my truck. The tires sticking out are fined BASED on EACH tire. So, 4x the fine! But, he did not fine me. This is the only time i ever got warned but it was only because he pulled me over for speeding.
However, i did get nabbed for window tint near Nanton and no mention of tires. When i had my jeep on 37's, i never got hassled.
Title: Re: Talk me into 35s
Post by: frenchy on March 13, 2012, 11:39:49 AM
I would be more concerned about the stock suspension components rather than thinking of 35's  :)
Title: Re: Talk me into 35s
Post by: Knox on March 13, 2012, 11:43:22 AM
I would be more concerned about the stock suspension components rather than thinking of 35's  :)

are you referring to the stock arms?
I think at this time there is too much for me to do to go straight to 35s, and it is a DD, so I'll do 33 and keep slowly upgrading/improving other parts.
Title: Re: Talk me into 35s
Post by: tubby on March 13, 2012, 06:14:26 PM
I think at this time there is too much for me to do to go straight to 35s, and it is a DD, so I'll do 33 and keep slowly upgrading/improving other parts.

I'm glad that you've thought this through Steve, cuz I really wanted to go to your house and kick you in the junk as hard as I could.

Kevin offered some very sage advice about running 35's on your Jeep and using it as a DD. Everyday mundane chores and attaining reasonable gas mileage is a PITA. Ever had an old lady just flat-smoke you on the highway in a mini-van? I have...it's disgusting.

Oh, and the " Almost Alloy" kit is a waste of time. You have to grind off the welds if you want to replace your u-joints. Just tack your caps and run full circle clips if you really think blowing joints is a concern.
Title: Re: Talk me into 35s
Post by: Immortal on March 18, 2012, 03:21:26 PM
If you are even thinking 35s just do it because if you do 33 or something smaller you will just be saying down the road dam wish I would of done 35s

Agreed! You'll just end up at 35s anyways.
Title: Re: Talk me into 35s
Post by: Jrama on March 18, 2012, 03:52:36 PM


Things I'm considering as a requirement before I put the 35s on.
Steering linkage upgrade, possibly the Iron Rock Offroad one.  http://www.ironrockoffroad.com/Merchant2/TJ_XJ_ZJ%201_2%20OTK%20Steering%20System%20Install.pdf (http://www.ironrockoffroad.com/Merchant2/TJ_XJ_ZJ%201_2%20OTK%20Steering%20System%20Install.pdf)
New steering stabilizer (I need one anyways, still running the stock one from circa 2003), looking at the OME one I guess, is there really much of a difference?

Things I'd like to do anyways
SYE kit, new CV drive shaft, + adjustable arms
maybe a new gas tank skid to replace the dented one...

Regarding tires, I'm still favoring the Duratracs, but I am starting to consider the MTRs w/ Kevlar.

Any thoughts?

Problem here is that your "list" of things to do for 35's should be on a rig with 33" tires anyway. The only thing you should consider above and beyond your list is chromo shafts (as mentioned)....IMO you may as well run 35's. 33" will still fubar your rig up good unless its built up with the parts on your 35" tire list!

on 33" tires Your still chewing through units bearings, your mileage will still blow and your jeep won't be any more practical! DD 33" tires compared to 35" didn't change much for me...and I went from a 33x10.50 to 35x12.50.....

That said...the fact your are seriously considering dura-tracs as your primary tire tells me that...right now, 33" tires are good enough!

**Disclaimer  ;D** Duratracs are great tires! a fine trade off for the Weekend warrior, my comment simply suggests that you are not willing to put up with the draw backs of a full M/T for maximum performance. Clearly road driving is key! In the future under differing circumstances this may change. I could be wrong, this is my personal opinion/interpretation and no personal attack or insult is intended.
Title: Re: Talk me into 35s
Post by: Knox on March 18, 2012, 08:14:55 PM
**Disclaimer  ;D** Duratracs are great tires! a fine trade off for the Weekend warrior, my comment simply suggests that you are not willing to put up with the draw backs of a full M/T for maximum performance. Clearly road driving is key! In the future under differing circumstances this may change. I could be wrong, this is my personal opinion/interpretation and no personal attack or insult is intended.

No offense taken, that's exactly on my line of thought. I'm going to go 33s for the time being but there is nothing saying in the future I won't have a set of 35 MTs