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3 inch lift with 33 tires

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Old May 15, 2012 | 09:40 PM
  #1  
daniellemarie008's Avatar
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Year: 1999
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Default 3 inch lift with 33 tires

I know there is probably a thread for this already but I couldn't find anything when I searched. I just got my 3 inch lift on today and picked my jeep up. My old tires look so tiny so I'm trying to decided what tire size to get a friend of mine has 33's and he put them up next to my jeep and they looked pretty sexy. I had already decided before that that i was only going to get 31 but now I don't know what to do and i'm stuck because the 33's looked so nice but I feel like thats going to open a whole other can of worms. I just got my full time job back for the summer so regearing for 33 shouldn't be a problem and I also wanted to put 1 inch spacers in for just a little bit more clearance and cut the fenders just a little bit. Should I just go for 31 to start with tho. or should I just go big the first time and not worry about working my way up. I was also worried that my jeep would drive worse with the new lift kit but so far it almost drives better. Before I got my lift kit I had death wobble at 60 and I still have death wobble at 60 now so nothing has changed at all really besides having more awesome shocks and suspension.

I voiced my concerns about gas mileage going way down with 33 because I do have to drive 20 mins on the highway to work. But one of my friends works at a place that does regearing and he said once you regear you almost have the same gas mileage as before and It won't be a big issue.

Last edited by daniellemarie008; May 15, 2012 at 09:42 PM.
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Old May 15, 2012 | 10:07 PM
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You'll need to trim quite a bit and bumpstop it to clear 33s. It can be done and my brother is running it now but he has almost no up travel and cut about 4" out of the front and cut and fold on the rear, which still rubs.
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Old May 15, 2012 | 10:10 PM
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Originally Posted by xjmarc
You'll need to trim quite a bit and bumpstop it to clear 33s. It can be done and my brother is running it now but he has almost no up travel and cut about 4" out of the front and cut and fold on the rear, which still rubs.


I have my BDS 3" and 33" KM2s. I didnt have to cut anywhere near that much.
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Old May 15, 2012 | 10:12 PM
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From: Soddy Daisy TN
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My brother's is a RC lift and doesn't look anywhere near as tall as yours.
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Old May 15, 2012 | 10:20 PM
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I always thought it may be a bit more than a 3" but idk, i thought it measured up.

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Old May 15, 2012 | 10:31 PM
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You will have to trim like crazy i have 31s and had to trim
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Old May 15, 2012 | 10:35 PM
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From this I'm coming to the conclusion that RC lifts just suck.
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Old May 15, 2012 | 10:52 PM
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Thats pretty harsh, i got 3.25" after it settled in id say thats pretty darn good since i bought a 3" lift, most othe lifts end up much higher then they say which sucks if you didnt want to do all the extras needed for over 3". By your logic RE sucks which we know is not true

I only had to trim bumper end caps but 33s would be a lot more

Last edited by bnkk; May 15, 2012 at 11:07 PM.
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Old May 15, 2012 | 10:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Gee oh Dee
From this I'm coming to the conclusion that RC lifts just suck.
Pretty much. His control arms were shot in less than 6 months and the rear springs were sagging after a year. He got just over 3" and it settled to about 2.5-2.75".
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Old May 15, 2012 | 11:34 PM
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Go big. Cut where needed. Don't look back, its just sheet metal.
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Old May 16, 2012 | 12:11 AM
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Cut away its sheet metal i fit 35s on 4.5 inch lift
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Old May 16, 2012 | 01:29 AM
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Trim trim trim. Here is mine on an RE 3.5" and 35s with JK 17s:

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Old May 16, 2012 | 06:57 AM
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33s on 4 inch with no cutting. Im gonna install flat flares on it.
Attached Thumbnails 3 inch lift with 33 tires-forumrunner_20120516_075651.jpg  
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Old May 16, 2012 | 07:15 AM
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Originally Posted by bnkk
You will have to trim like crazy i have 31s and had to trim
i have 31s with no trimming. but word to the wise... not all tires are the exact size they say. ive seen 32's measure to 31.5, 33s that were 34s. just go with the size you need, and when you rub, trim. that way you dont trim too much (if there is such a thing )
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Old May 16, 2012 | 07:17 AM
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When I was buying tires for mine I had the same dilemma. I wanted the tires to be taller wider than 10.50 but found that the next popular step was the 33/12.50 and i thought that might be a little too much. In the end I got some 32/11.50 km2's and I love them. Check those out if you are stuck on it. I figure I will re-gear for 33's and get those next time around.
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