SteelBlue99

Hello everybody. My name is Justin. I own a 1999 XJ Sport. 4.0 4wd. It's currently in the garage on jack stands, becuase my 4.5" Long Arm IRO lift is getting installed. Previously i had a WJ, but it got too expensive to mod. So, i sold it and bought this XJ for a good price, with money left over. Here's the dilemma:

Ideally i want to run 32" tires. However, the tires i really want (Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac's) come in 31x10.5 and 33x12.5. Although Goodyear's site lists the 33's as 32.5".

Will i have to/ how much will i have to trim with the 33x12.5. I got the long arms to really be able to flex.

I'll be running stock gears for a while, how bad will stock gears be with 33's? Will there be a big difference in MPG between the 31's and the 33's.

So, i guess my main question is should i run the 31's, or the 33's?

Sorry about the novel, but any and all help is greatly appreciated!

superj

i have the 31" version of hte tires you are asking about and the gas mileage and performance was terrible on 3.55 gears. i changed to a bored out throttle body and performance went up 200% and gas mileage is now acceptable. i only have a 1/2 more lift then you do but i would have rub problems with 33s

Tural

are you trying to avoid trimming the fenders?

SteelBlue99

I hadn't heard anything about the gas mileage, but i was also considering running 32" BFG KM2's. However, i like the Goodyear DuraTrac's, becuase they seem to be a cross between a M/T and an A/T.

Not necessairly trying to avoid trimming alltogether, but i don't want to have to trim TOO much.

superj

anytime you upgrade the tire size, you are picking up weight so your going to lose gas mileage. my lose wasn't specifically because of hte duratracs, but more from having 5"s of lift and 31" tires all done at once. there is no way to keep good mileage when lifting and doing tires. you can keep it decent by doing some things like changing your gearing and doing engine mods but your mileage will decrease with a lift and tires

and i love these tires. they are quiet on the road and grip like crazy off road

SteelBlue99

Good good. Yea, i know about the gas mileage. Thought you meant it was this specific tire. Not terribly worried about the mileage. I have an 04 Acura TL as a DD. So, you're running 5" of lift and 31's? Anyone else care to chime in?

superj

alot of people will say you can run the 31s with minor trimming if you end up having rubbing. they say i can run 33's but i know they will rub because some of the times i have went over things, my 31s just barely fit into the wheel well so 33s would've tore off my flare and the liner inside the well.

and i leave my sways connected, imagine how much stuff would get tore up with those diconnected

SteelBlue99

Ok, so i have decided that i definitely want to get the Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac's. However, i have one more question. Like i said before, i really want 32's. I think 31's look just a tad too small on a 4.5 inch lift, plus the DuraTrac's list their 31's as 30.5. I could also run the 265/75R16 which it lists as 31.7". Goodyear's site also lists their 33's as 32.5 inches. Is that a common occurance? I really don't know what to do.

Ritter4.0

Just go with the 33"s first. You will have them eventually. Do the "basic" cut and fold trim and be done with it. And bumpstop properly.

As far as gas mileage goes, lifting it that much already hurts the mpg's, with 33's, expect anywhere from 10-15mpg's. Take it really easy and you might get 16.

I have 33"s on a 3" lift, with 3.07's and the 5spd. I don't even pay attention to my mpg's. Even if I did, it wouldnt matter, I rarely make drives over a half hour, which probably makes fuel consumption eratic between drives.

Tural

it's quite normal. most tires do not measure exactly as they say. my 31's measured about 31.5". but it's not uncommon for a tire to measure under the advertised number. if you set up to run 32's, you'll most likely clear 33's. just to give you an idea though, i run 31's on a 4.5" lift and it doesn't look bad at all. and with 3.55 gears i get about 19-20 mpg with mixed driving. but when i drive highway only 300 or so miles, i get about 22mpg. sometimes even a bit better than that.

superj

yup, my jeep in my avatar is a 5" lift on 31s and it looks great according to everyone who stops to talk about it

SteelBlue99

Yea, i'm thinking i might do the 31's. I got the long arm kit to be able to flex, and i don't want to limit that with 33's. Anyone know the actual size (or where to find it) for 33" BFG KM2's?

SteelBlue99

Anyone running 4.5 lift w/ 265/75/16's? I was thinking about those, because they're about the same size as a 32" tire, the only difference is they're 10.5 inches wide. Not sure if that would look funny or not.

superj

no one is going to notice the width of your wheels unless you get those 9" wide 33s. those look skinny but they have a purpose so they are fine to use

SteelBlue99

Alright, sounds good. Sorry about the indeciseveness (is that a word). But thank's everyone for all of your help!