Topic: are my tires too big?

[jubilee]

i have a 92 2.5 manual with 33 12.5 on it. it runs great around the city, but it is absolutely terrible on the highway. im not trying to cruise down the highway at high speeds, but i can barely hit 55 MPH.

i dont have money to regear, so i was thinking i could trade/sell my current tires and get a smaller tire.

1. what would still look good on it? it has a 4inch suspension lift.

2. i was thinking some 30 or 31. would that make any difference at all?

3. what kind of tire should i be looking for? i know nothing about tires. im commuting to community college a lot, but i want to be able to handle offroad as well.

[dwtaylorpdx]

I find the width is as big a deal as height, or nearly so.

I've tried a couple size changesover the years and the wide tires + the 2.5 + wind resistance seem to be a bad combo for a over teh road daily driver.

I'm running a 32x.5 ish tiree and much happier than I was with 33x12 tires.

I have 4.56 gears and a 5 speed.

What I'm suggesting is a narrow 32 or 31 will likely help the highway issue.

Dave

[Dylan]

Been there, done that, dropped down to 31x10.5 tires... drivability is much better versus the 33x12.5s though I still don't use 5th gear much unless there isn't any wind.

[sharpxmen]

i have a 92 2.5 manual with 33 12.5 on it. it runs great around the city, but it is absolutely terrible on the highway. im not trying to cruise down the highway at high speeds, but i can barely hit 55 MPH.

i dont have money to regear, so i was thinking i could trade/sell my current tires and get a smaller tire.

1. what would still look good on it? it has a 4inch suspension lift.

2. i was thinking some 30 or 31. would that make any difference at all?

3. what kind of tire should i be looking for? i know nothing about tires. im commuting to community college a lot, but i want to be able to handle offroad as well.

31s will look ok, but nothing like the 33x12.5

if you want hwy driveability get a set of stock tires/wheels and keep your 33s as well (i think they are 28s or around that diameter) - you can snatch 4 or the stock ones fairly cheap i would guess. if you go offroading then you still have your big tires.

[chrisfranklin]

I've got 31MTs on a 94 2.5, 5spd and it drives fine at highways speeds, 70-80 on flat roads.  Have to gear down on hills, though.  And I just have a 1" shackle lift.

If you have a 4 inch suspension lift, though, I'd find a way to regear. 

[wolf]

i have a 92 2.5 manual with 33 12.5 on it. it runs great around the city, but it is absolutely terrible on the highway. im not trying to cruise down the highway at high speeds, but i can barely hit 55 MPH.

i dont have money to regear, so i was thinking i could trade/sell my current tires and get a smaller tire.

1. what would still look good on it? it has a 4inch suspension lift.

2. i was thinking some 30 or 31. would that make any difference at all?

3. what kind of tire should i be looking for? i know nothing about tires. im commuting to community college a lot, but i want to be able to handle offroad as well.

i would consider trying a bfg all terrain in 33X9.5-15 if i couldnt regear with 4 inch lift.
BFG ats do a great job as a daily driver on the street and is still very capable offroad with the exception of deep sticky mud, and the narrow width of this size tire has MUCH less rolling resistance than the size you are now running so it be much easier for the 4 banger with stock gearing.

[oldjeep]

Learn to shift at the right time - get the revs up near 4000 and leave them there.  There is no reason why a 2.5L with 33" tires can't go at highway speeds.

Mine still has 4.10 gears and 35's, works fine up to 70 mph.  Too many times people think that they are supposed to be running at 1500 RPM on the highway, it's a 4 cyl - wind it up.

[neale_rs]

Some 31s would help but it also helps to stop trying to use 5th gear.

[jfrabat]

This is hoy my YJ looked with 31's and a 4" lift, so you can expect yours to look something along these lines...



Also, I used to run 31's and 4.10 gears on the 2.5 with the manual tranny; it's not great, but it is driveable.  Just forget 5th if you are driving against the wind or if there is any kind of upward inclination on the road (even overpases) when driving at highway speeds.  After the pic was taken, I changed gears to 4.88 and kept the 31's, and it was AWESOME!  Then I moved to 33's, and I lost a lot of driveability at highway speeds (once again, I have to downshift to 4th if there is a head wind at highway speeds); I sure wish I could go to 5.13 without having to change both axles!

This is the now picture, for your reference as to how much the tire spacing will make...  (of course, more than just the tires have changed, but you get the idea!)

i would consider trying a bfg all terrain in 33X9.5-15 if i couldnt regear with 4 inch lift.
BFG ats do a great job as a daily driver on the street and is still very capable offroad with the exception of deep sticky mud, and the narrow width of this size tire has MUCH less rolling resistance than the size you are now running so it be much easier for the 4 banger with stock gearing.

This might be worth a try; the AT is lighter than the MT, and the width will cut weight AND wind resistance...

Learn to shift at the right time - get the revs up near 4000 and leave them there.  There is no reason why a 2.5L with 33" tires can't go at highway speeds.

Mine still has 4.10 gears and 35's, works fine up to 70 mph.  Too many times people think that they are supposed to be running at 1500 RPM on the highway, it's a 4 cyl - wind it up.

While I dont agree that 35's and 4.10 would be advisable for the 2.5L, I do agree that the little engine is quite happy to maintain high RPM's; you can drive that little sucker at 3,000 RPM's all day long and it will not quit!

Hope this helps!

Felipe

[tjjohn]

Like you i ve had highway problems i have 411:1 gears and 34 X 10.50 tires dont work bad on highway as long as i dont try to user 5 th gear if travling aginst the wind or up hill .

[Torch_Ind]

I have 33x12.5's with 4.88's and there fine. you can't expect much with the 2.5L in a square tall brick!!!  I would go down to 33x10.5s to gain a little power on the highway. 

also have the 64mm t/b and header on fresh 2.5L. 


but on stock gears 31x10.5 were about the best if you don't want to swap all the time for dd driving.

[88yjvs92xj]

on my 98 tj 2.5 5spd i just got rid of over the summer i was running 37 14.5 r16 i couldnt even use 4th or 5th gear and when i would run in to wind i slowed way down it wasnt funny try to get the thing regeared it will help alot

[Torch_Ind]

when I was stock gears 31x10.5 km's

oh 4 inch lift

[Jeffy]

Looks good with 31 MT's.  AT's not so much.

[jfrabat]

Looks good with 31 MT's.  AT's not so much.

HT's are even worse...  What was it that Moz called it?  A roller skate?