Wheeling with 31's?

My friends both have TJ's with 4 inch lifts and 33x12.50s. They drive them everyday my 5 is just a toy, I have a truck for everyday (and towing the jeep if nessisary) I have a 2.5 inch lift that is being installed this weekend and I was told 31x10.5 is as big as I can go with this lift. Heres my question, how well will I be able to keep up with them on the trail? I live in Colorado and we just do local trails so its not like I'm going to try to do Moab or anything. I could get some longer shackles or do a bunch of trimming (my tub is rusty and pretty shot) to clear 32s or 33s but will my stock D30 and D44 hold up to the extra strain? And is the extra .5 or 1 inch of ground clearance gonna make that much of a difference?

 

My $0.02 canadian, I wouldn't worry, 31's should be fine. Larger tires might make life easier in a couple of isolated incidents, but I don't think it'll make or break a ride at any point.

 

31's will work. But I've run 33's with a 2 1/2" lift and yes they rubbed some, but that's the only way to know if your tires are big enough.

 

As far as keeping up, what kind of gearing are you running? 4.88s, etc.

 

I've got a 258 six with 4.27 gears from the factory and both of my freinds are still running the 3.55 stock gears with open diffs.

I may have enough cash to put a lock-right in the rear before the end of summer which would put me one up on my friends



Barry what size tires do you run on your older CJ5 with the 2.5 inch lift?

 

Go 33s.
Throw a locker in the back and out wheel 'em.

 

33's will fit. You may have a little rub at full flex, but not alot to worry about. I run 31's with no lift at all...

 

Got 31's on my TJ also. The front and rear lockrights make a world of difference though. Kept up with a rubi on 33's this weekend.

 

I bought a new YJ back in 94, which I sold in 98, and put a 2 1/2" Rancho suspension lift on it and 31" BFG All Terrains on. Otherwise it was stock. I was amazed at the stuff I could go through and over with those tires. It was pretty tough to slow it down or stop it.

On the other hand, theres nothing like an agressive set of 33" tires on a Jeep and since this is not your daily driver, I'd see if you could stuff em' under there. If they rub a little at full lock, no big deal.

 

The Dana 44 and 30 will work with up to 35" tires so don't worry about them. Put a lockright or aussie locker in the 44 and show those TJs what a real Jeep is capable of. I run 35's with 5+ inches of lift and its all suspension. I still had to do some pretty major trimming of the sheet metal to keep the tires from rubbing at full flex.

Remember your are shorter and narrower then the TJs. My 5 kept up with some seriously built TJs and YJs in Moab back in March. And I had an easier time because of my narrower wheel base and shorter length.

 

I just installed 31's on my 75 CJ5, no rubbing. A bud has a 72 CJ5 with 33's, actually 2-buds.. Both are running the 33X10's. Slight rubbing but no real problems.. None of us has a lift.

 

I ran Tellico in may with 3.73 gears, Aussie locker up front, open rear and 31" tires with a 2 1/2" lift and only had 1 probelm and that was climbing the rock going up Fains Ford, a little gas and a better placed tire did the trick on the 3rd try, other than that no problems.

 

Amen. Save the money you would spend on the bigger tires and put lockrights in both axles. Then make the Tjs look bad!!! :hurrican: :hurrican: I got 'em and love to out climb TJs!

 

keep the 31's and go trail sleeper. drives the guys w/big $$$$ jeeps nuts.

 

I have 34 x 10.50-15's on my YJ SOA, D30/44 equipped 69 CJ5 with 5:38's. No breakage issues at all.
Didn't have to trim anything either.

 

Just need training wheels on it right John? R) j/k