Topic: Is it hard on a TJ to run different types of tires front & rear?

[BOOGIE444]

Say one has 33 x 12.5 mud king radials on the rear and wants to but on oh say 33 x 12.5 boggers or 33 x 13.5 LTB's on the front just for offroading trips not DD.  Also say said person has true trac LSD in front and rear, would this cause any problems on the TJ's drivetrain???

I want some swampers but I am thinking that would be a bad idea to put them on the rear axle with the weak dana 35, plus I dont really want to blow the $$$$ for a set of four tires right away either, cause they are just going to be for play.

[neale_rs]

First, keep in mind that a bias ply 33 will often be closer to 34, so they aren't the same even though they are marked the same.  That being said, I used to run 30X9.5 Cooper LTs in front and 30x9.5 Cooper STTs in back.  The LTs were quite worn and measured only 27" when on the Jeep and the STTs were pretty new and measured 29" when on the Jeep.  This never caused any problems off-road, no drivetrain bind was ever noticed, and it shifted in and out of 4wd with no problems.  Based on this you probably won't have any problems with the drivetrain.

[BOOGIE444]

I guess now that I think about it dont alot of desert racers use BFG AT's on the front and BFG MT's on the rear?  I never thought of the size difference, but yeah interco tires are oversized espeically when compared to radials.

Maybe because I have limited slip diffs instead of lockers it will give the drivetrain a break?

[neale_rs]

The Dana 35 has a bad reputation but here locally many people run 33s and we only occasionally here about a broken axle, although it does happen every so often.  One TJ runs TSL 33s which are actually 34s and has done some fairly hard trails without breaking.  I don't think your front axle will suddenly start causing problems due to a switch from mud kings to swampers, most of the problems are with the rear D35.

[Jeffy]

I guess now that I think about it dont alot of desert racers use BFG AT's on the front and BFG MT's on the rear?  I never thought of the size difference, but yeah interco tires are oversized espeically when compared to radials.

Maybe because I have limited slip diffs instead of lockers it will give the drivetrain a break?

You can't compare them.  They typically use 33's up front and 35's in the back but they are geared correctly.

You can run different tires but I'd try to keep them the same size as much as possible.  like what neale said, bias ply's are usually on the large end of the tire scale while the radials are more towards the smaller end.  The only time this would be a porblem is if you're on the road in 4wd, otherwise you shouldn't really notice it.

Now a True-trac is a geared LSD.  I don't think it would have a problem if you run a bias on one side and a radial on the others like a locker would.  IIRC, it biases up to 2.5:1.

[BOOGIE444]

You can't compare them.  They typically use 33's up front and 35's in the back but they are geared correctly.

You can run different tires but I'd try to keep them the same size as much as possible.  like what neale said, bias ply's are usually on the large end of the tire scale while the radials are more towards the smaller end.  The only time this would be a porblem is if you're on the road in 4wd, otherwise you shouldn't really notice it.

Now a True-trac is a geared LSD.  I don't think it would have a problem if you run a bias on one side and a radial on the others like a locker would.  IIRC, it biases up to 2.5:1.

I dont plan on running mismatched tires on the road, especially in 4wd, so I guess I am good to go???  I will start out just buying two tires and see how that works.  Do you guys think running swampers or boggers in the rear will increase my chances of breaking the dana 35 significantly???

[Jesse-James]

Do you guys think running swampers or boggers in the rear will increase my chances of breaking the dana 35 significantly???

I have seen a couple guys at the Cliffs run TSL's up front and Boggers in the rear. Keep in mind though that Boggers are HEAVY.

[BOOGIE444]

I have seen a couple guys at the Cliffs run TSL's up front and Boggers in the rear. Keep in mind though that Boggers are HEAVY.

I think I am just going to get two 33" boggers for the front.  I will put one on my tail gate as a spare and the other one I will just through in the back cause I dont use my rear seat anyways.  Then I can drive to whatever offroad park or trail and then just change out the front wheels / tires when I arrive there.  Cause we all know how well interco tires last on the open road......

I am already approved to buy one wheel & tire for a spare from the wife, this way I can just tell her oh I just need only one more tire and wheel

Running boggers in front should substanually increase my offroad performance shouldnt it???

[Jeffy]

I have seen a couple guys at the Cliffs run TSL's up front and Boggers in the rear. Keep in mind though that Boggers are HEAVY.

Not sure what' Cliffs is but that's a typical setup for mudders.  They want the front to float a bit more and the rear to dig.

[Jesse-James]

Cliffs = Mud

here...... http://4bangerjp.com/forums/index.php?topic=4517.0

[Jesse-James]

In fact, just came across a pic of one from The Cliffs set up like that....

[BOOGIE444]

Thanks for the pic   But man it looks absolutly slimey at the cliffs.