"TW" <a t t w @ w a v e . c o . n z> wrote in message
news:c8cqgf$pqa$1@news.wave.co.nz...
> Hi All,
>
> I have a very stock 2001 TJ 4.0L with automatic transmission and 3.07 diff
> gearing with Dana 44 rear. The bug has finally bitten me and I am at a
> stage where I need to change the tyres. Currently I am running 225/70R16
> BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KOs on factory aluminium Icon 16x7inch rims.
> After doing the last run on the track, it seems that I need ground
> clearance, and fast. I have spent about a week researching what available
> in the local market and what everybody else in the club is running and the
> choice has come down to tyres.
>
> 1) Goodyear Wrangler MT/Rs - they are only available in two 16 sizes
235/85
> (32 inch equivalent) and 255/70 (30 inch equivalent). I have read a lot
of
> good reviews about them in magazines, but nobody is running them in NZ.
> They are expensive and hard to find. One of the dealers said, if you blow
> a tyre it would be a week or two for a replacement to arrive. I do like
> the look of it and the reviews in mags have been wonderful.
>
> 2) BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM - they are available in various sizes
and
> everybody is running them here. They are also relatively cheaper to buy
> and more commonly available. I am interested in three sizes 235/85 (32
> inch), 265/75 (32 inch) and 255/85 (33 inch). I don't think I can go
wider
> than 265s on 7 inch rims. Also I don't really want to change the rims at
> this stage.
>
> The questions I have:
>
> 1) Any personal opinions on how the two tyres would perform in mud, wet
> tracks and wet rocks (it rains a lot in NZ).
>
> 2) Two guys in our club are running 32/10.5 R15 BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain on
> stock TJ suspensions and without sway bars and have no rubbing at all at
> any stage. I was thinking, can I perhaps then go with narrower 33s
> (255/85R16) for now and upgrade the suspension in 3/4 months (which I
can't
> do rightnow due to the need for ------ing the budget a bit). I am new to
> this sport, so don't do it every weekend. I can be careful during the
> period while my suspension is stock.
>
> 3) How much of a power loss would it be due to 3.07 gearing. Its an auto.
> Regearing to 4.10 or 4.56 is in the plans, but more like 9/12 months away.
>
> 4) Which speedo gear would I need to recalibrate my speedo with 32 or 33
> inch tyres. I am more inclined towards 33s as almost everybody else is
> running at least 33s here and following those setups is not fun with my
bum
> rubbing on even pebbles in stock tyres.
>
> Thanks all for your valuable input, you guys have been really helpful in
> the past.
>
> Cheers
> TW
>

Well, the Mud Terrains are the way to go. I was going to suggest you
consider the All Terrains, they actually are a better all around tire for
dry conditions, but you said the conditions at your house are seldom dry, so
the MTs will work better. The ATs fill with mud whereas the MTs will clean
themselves, theoretically.

I think the max you can put under a TJ without lift is a 31. I think that
the size that will work best for you will be a 32, max. I know several guys
with larger tires than I have (I have the BFG Mud Terrain in a 32 x 11.50) -
BTW, can you get tires in the "inch sizes", 32 x 11.50, 31 x 10.50, etc.? -
and they can't do much more than I can do.

You are going to run into gearing issues soon no matter which size you
choose, but since you have the automatic trans, you might not notice. All
things considered, gearing and lack of lift, I think you will be best with
the 31" tire options. You can put any available width (in a 31, and most
widths in a 32) on the standard rims.

 

"TW" <a t t w @ w a v e . c o . n z> wrote in message
news:c8cqgf$pqa$1@news.wave.co.nz...
> Hi All,
>
> I have a very stock 2001 TJ 4.0L with automatic transmission and 3.07 diff
> gearing with Dana 44 rear. The bug has finally bitten me and I am at a
> stage where I need to change the tyres. Currently I am running 225/70R16
> BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KOs on factory aluminium Icon 16x7inch rims.
> After doing the last run on the track, it seems that I need ground
> clearance, and fast. I have spent about a week researching what available
> in the local market and what everybody else in the club is running and the
> choice has come down to tyres.
>
> 1) Goodyear Wrangler MT/Rs - they are only available in two 16 sizes
235/85
> (32 inch equivalent) and 255/70 (30 inch equivalent). I have read a lot
of
> good reviews about them in magazines, but nobody is running them in NZ.
> They are expensive and hard to find. One of the dealers said, if you blow
> a tyre it would be a week or two for a replacement to arrive. I do like
> the look of it and the reviews in mags have been wonderful.
>
> 2) BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM - they are available in various sizes
and
> everybody is running them here. They are also relatively cheaper to buy
> and more commonly available. I am interested in three sizes 235/85 (32
> inch), 265/75 (32 inch) and 255/85 (33 inch). I don't think I can go
wider
> than 265s on 7 inch rims. Also I don't really want to change the rims at
> this stage.
>
> The questions I have:
>
> 1) Any personal opinions on how the two tyres would perform in mud, wet
> tracks and wet rocks (it rains a lot in NZ).
>
> 2) Two guys in our club are running 32/10.5 R15 BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain on
> stock TJ suspensions and without sway bars and have no rubbing at all at
> any stage. I was thinking, can I perhaps then go with narrower 33s
> (255/85R16) for now and upgrade the suspension in 3/4 months (which I
can't
> do rightnow due to the need for ------ing the budget a bit). I am new to
> this sport, so don't do it every weekend. I can be careful during the
> period while my suspension is stock.
>
> 3) How much of a power loss would it be due to 3.07 gearing. Its an auto.
> Regearing to 4.10 or 4.56 is in the plans, but more like 9/12 months away.
>
> 4) Which speedo gear would I need to recalibrate my speedo with 32 or 33
> inch tyres. I am more inclined towards 33s as almost everybody else is
> running at least 33s here and following those setups is not fun with my
bum
> rubbing on even pebbles in stock tyres.
>
> Thanks all for your valuable input, you guys have been really helpful in
> the past.
>
> Cheers
> TW
>

Well, the Mud Terrains are the way to go. I was going to suggest you
consider the All Terrains, they actually are a better all around tire for
dry conditions, but you said the conditions at your house are seldom dry, so
the MTs will work better. The ATs fill with mud whereas the MTs will clean
themselves, theoretically.

I think the max you can put under a TJ without lift is a 31. I think that
the size that will work best for you will be a 32, max. I know several guys
with larger tires than I have (I have the BFG Mud Terrain in a 32 x 11.50) -
BTW, can you get tires in the "inch sizes", 32 x 11.50, 31 x 10.50, etc.? -
and they can't do much more than I can do.

You are going to run into gearing issues soon no matter which size you
choose, but since you have the automatic trans, you might not notice. All
things considered, gearing and lack of lift, I think you will be best with
the 31" tire options. You can put any available width (in a 31, and most
widths in a 32) on the standard rims.

 

"TW" <a t t w @ w a v e . c o . n z> wrote in message
news:c8cqgf$pqa$1@news.wave.co.nz...
> Hi All,
>
> I have a very stock 2001 TJ 4.0L with automatic transmission and 3.07 diff
> gearing with Dana 44 rear. The bug has finally bitten me and I am at a
> stage where I need to change the tyres. Currently I am running 225/70R16
> BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KOs on factory aluminium Icon 16x7inch rims.
> After doing the last run on the track, it seems that I need ground
> clearance, and fast. I have spent about a week researching what available
> in the local market and what everybody else in the club is running and the
> choice has come down to tyres.
>
> 1) Goodyear Wrangler MT/Rs - they are only available in two 16 sizes
235/85
> (32 inch equivalent) and 255/70 (30 inch equivalent). I have read a lot
of
> good reviews about them in magazines, but nobody is running them in NZ.
> They are expensive and hard to find. One of the dealers said, if you blow
> a tyre it would be a week or two for a replacement to arrive. I do like
> the look of it and the reviews in mags have been wonderful.
>
> 2) BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM - they are available in various sizes
and
> everybody is running them here. They are also relatively cheaper to buy
> and more commonly available. I am interested in three sizes 235/85 (32
> inch), 265/75 (32 inch) and 255/85 (33 inch). I don't think I can go
wider
> than 265s on 7 inch rims. Also I don't really want to change the rims at
> this stage.
>
> The questions I have:
>
> 1) Any personal opinions on how the two tyres would perform in mud, wet
> tracks and wet rocks (it rains a lot in NZ).
>
> 2) Two guys in our club are running 32/10.5 R15 BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain on
> stock TJ suspensions and without sway bars and have no rubbing at all at
> any stage. I was thinking, can I perhaps then go with narrower 33s
> (255/85R16) for now and upgrade the suspension in 3/4 months (which I
can't
> do rightnow due to the need for ------ing the budget a bit). I am new to
> this sport, so don't do it every weekend. I can be careful during the
> period while my suspension is stock.
>
> 3) How much of a power loss would it be due to 3.07 gearing. Its an auto.
> Regearing to 4.10 or 4.56 is in the plans, but more like 9/12 months away.
>
> 4) Which speedo gear would I need to recalibrate my speedo with 32 or 33
> inch tyres. I am more inclined towards 33s as almost everybody else is
> running at least 33s here and following those setups is not fun with my
bum
> rubbing on even pebbles in stock tyres.
>
> Thanks all for your valuable input, you guys have been really helpful in
> the past.
>
> Cheers
> TW
>

Well, the Mud Terrains are the way to go. I was going to suggest you
consider the All Terrains, they actually are a better all around tire for
dry conditions, but you said the conditions at your house are seldom dry, so
the MTs will work better. The ATs fill with mud whereas the MTs will clean
themselves, theoretically.

I think the max you can put under a TJ without lift is a 31. I think that
the size that will work best for you will be a 32, max. I know several guys
with larger tires than I have (I have the BFG Mud Terrain in a 32 x 11.50) -
BTW, can you get tires in the "inch sizes", 32 x 11.50, 31 x 10.50, etc.? -
and they can't do much more than I can do.

You are going to run into gearing issues soon no matter which size you
choose, but since you have the automatic trans, you might not notice. All
things considered, gearing and lack of lift, I think you will be best with
the 31" tire options. You can put any available width (in a 31, and most
widths in a 32) on the standard rims.

 

I have 32/11.5" in Goodyear MT/Rs on my '02 Wrangler Sahara 8 inch Mickey
Thomson wheels and they are top quality tires... I advise rotating them VERY
often ... I failed to do so and so they have not worn nearly as well if I
had been more attentive.Also make sure your inflation is consistant like any
tire.

-Jim

 

I have 32/11.5" in Goodyear MT/Rs on my '02 Wrangler Sahara 8 inch Mickey
Thomson wheels and they are top quality tires... I advise rotating them VERY
often ... I failed to do so and so they have not worn nearly as well if I
had been more attentive.Also make sure your inflation is consistant like any
tire.

-Jim

 

I have 32/11.5" in Goodyear MT/Rs on my '02 Wrangler Sahara 8 inch Mickey
Thomson wheels and they are top quality tires... I advise rotating them VERY
often ... I failed to do so and so they have not worn nearly as well if I
had been more attentive.Also make sure your inflation is consistant like any
tire.

-Jim

 

I have 32/11.5" in Goodyear MT/Rs on my '02 Wrangler Sahara 8 inch Mickey
Thomson wheels and they are top quality tires... I advise rotating them VERY
often ... I failed to do so and so they have not worn nearly as well if I
had been more attentive.Also make sure your inflation is consistant like any
tire.

-Jim

 

Thanks Steve. I'll reply to your comments in the body:


"Steve" <xjlifter@bogus.com> wrote in message
news:AIpqc.42143$Np3.1794090@ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca...
>
> I drive similar terrain here in NS Canada on 33x10.50R15 BFG MTs. Work
> very well. No complaints.
>

Great to know.

>
> First, I think you meant 33x11.50R15. Can't speak to the TJ, but with my
> XJ, narrower tires let me get away with less lift. On stock wheels
> though, you may find the tires rub on the inside wall of the wheel wells
> when flexing. You will certainly have a reduced turning radius on road
> or off due to rubbing on the lower control arms. Neither issue is likely
> a show stopper. If you do try it, be sure the tires won't catch up on
> any flares or exterior sheet metal. Maybe you could install some coil
> spacers as a stop gap before you get your lift kit.
>

I did call the guy today and yes I got it wrong, he is running 32x11.50R15.
I also asked him about rubbing and he said "no rubbing". Although coil
spacer option does look tempting. I think 10mm OME spacer is about NZ$12
each here. Fitting should not be a big problem.

>
> Likely intolerable with an auto trans. Nine months will seem like an
> eternity, but you may be able to tough it out.
>

Well, its taken me about 9 months to come to the point of changing tyres,
as I wanted to learn what I could do with stock TJ first, I think I can
control myself for another 9.

>
> With my BFG 33s (actual 32.8"), 4.10s and a 34 tooth gear, my speedo
> clocks about 1 km/h faster than my GPS at 100 km/h. Pretty darn close.
>

Thanks.

>
> When I did my daily driver XJ last year, I too was in a twist over all
> this stuff. I ended up doing lift, tires, and gears all in one pop. I
> cheaped out on gears and got used D30/35 4.10s from one of the many
> junked 4-cyls available locally. That got me up and running and I can
> now take my time with wheels, bumpers, skids, lockers, winch, etc. I've
> since built up a rear D44 with a Rubi air locker for little cash and no
> time pressure.
>

That is what the plan was and I had started saving, but then things don't
always go per the plan. I was thinking, I need bigger tyres for better
ground clearance, higher suspension to accommodate bigger tyres, then
regearing. It will take about 12 months for all to happen. Unfortunately,
Jeeps are a novelty here so not many junkyards with old junked Jeeps here.
Would gears from a 94/95 Cherokee fit a TJ D30/44? These Cherokees are
coming here used from Japan in droves. I should be able to find some
junked ones with better gearing.

Thanks
TW

 

Thanks Steve. I'll reply to your comments in the body:


"Steve" <xjlifter@bogus.com> wrote in message
news:AIpqc.42143$Np3.1794090@ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca...
>
> I drive similar terrain here in NS Canada on 33x10.50R15 BFG MTs. Work
> very well. No complaints.
>

Great to know.

>
> First, I think you meant 33x11.50R15. Can't speak to the TJ, but with my
> XJ, narrower tires let me get away with less lift. On stock wheels
> though, you may find the tires rub on the inside wall of the wheel wells
> when flexing. You will certainly have a reduced turning radius on road
> or off due to rubbing on the lower control arms. Neither issue is likely
> a show stopper. If you do try it, be sure the tires won't catch up on
> any flares or exterior sheet metal. Maybe you could install some coil
> spacers as a stop gap before you get your lift kit.
>

I did call the guy today and yes I got it wrong, he is running 32x11.50R15.
I also asked him about rubbing and he said "no rubbing". Although coil
spacer option does look tempting. I think 10mm OME spacer is about NZ$12
each here. Fitting should not be a big problem.

>
> Likely intolerable with an auto trans. Nine months will seem like an
> eternity, but you may be able to tough it out.
>

Well, its taken me about 9 months to come to the point of changing tyres,
as I wanted to learn what I could do with stock TJ first, I think I can
control myself for another 9.

>
> With my BFG 33s (actual 32.8"), 4.10s and a 34 tooth gear, my speedo
> clocks about 1 km/h faster than my GPS at 100 km/h. Pretty darn close.
>

Thanks.

>
> When I did my daily driver XJ last year, I too was in a twist over all
> this stuff. I ended up doing lift, tires, and gears all in one pop. I
> cheaped out on gears and got used D30/35 4.10s from one of the many
> junked 4-cyls available locally. That got me up and running and I can
> now take my time with wheels, bumpers, skids, lockers, winch, etc. I've
> since built up a rear D44 with a Rubi air locker for little cash and no
> time pressure.
>

That is what the plan was and I had started saving, but then things don't
always go per the plan. I was thinking, I need bigger tyres for better
ground clearance, higher suspension to accommodate bigger tyres, then
regearing. It will take about 12 months for all to happen. Unfortunately,
Jeeps are a novelty here so not many junkyards with old junked Jeeps here.
Would gears from a 94/95 Cherokee fit a TJ D30/44? These Cherokees are
coming here used from Japan in droves. I should be able to find some
junked ones with better gearing.

Thanks
TW

 

Thanks Steve. I'll reply to your comments in the body:


"Steve" <xjlifter@bogus.com> wrote in message
news:AIpqc.42143$Np3.1794090@ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca...
>
> I drive similar terrain here in NS Canada on 33x10.50R15 BFG MTs. Work
> very well. No complaints.
>

Great to know.

>
> First, I think you meant 33x11.50R15. Can't speak to the TJ, but with my
> XJ, narrower tires let me get away with less lift. On stock wheels
> though, you may find the tires rub on the inside wall of the wheel wells
> when flexing. You will certainly have a reduced turning radius on road
> or off due to rubbing on the lower control arms. Neither issue is likely
> a show stopper. If you do try it, be sure the tires won't catch up on
> any flares or exterior sheet metal. Maybe you could install some coil
> spacers as a stop gap before you get your lift kit.
>

I did call the guy today and yes I got it wrong, he is running 32x11.50R15.
I also asked him about rubbing and he said "no rubbing". Although coil
spacer option does look tempting. I think 10mm OME spacer is about NZ$12
each here. Fitting should not be a big problem.

>
> Likely intolerable with an auto trans. Nine months will seem like an
> eternity, but you may be able to tough it out.
>

Well, its taken me about 9 months to come to the point of changing tyres,
as I wanted to learn what I could do with stock TJ first, I think I can
control myself for another 9.

>
> With my BFG 33s (actual 32.8"), 4.10s and a 34 tooth gear, my speedo
> clocks about 1 km/h faster than my GPS at 100 km/h. Pretty darn close.
>

Thanks.

>
> When I did my daily driver XJ last year, I too was in a twist over all
> this stuff. I ended up doing lift, tires, and gears all in one pop. I
> cheaped out on gears and got used D30/35 4.10s from one of the many
> junked 4-cyls available locally. That got me up and running and I can
> now take my time with wheels, bumpers, skids, lockers, winch, etc. I've
> since built up a rear D44 with a Rubi air locker for little cash and no
> time pressure.
>

That is what the plan was and I had started saving, but then things don't
always go per the plan. I was thinking, I need bigger tyres for better
ground clearance, higher suspension to accommodate bigger tyres, then
regearing. It will take about 12 months for all to happen. Unfortunately,
Jeeps are a novelty here so not many junkyards with old junked Jeeps here.
Would gears from a 94/95 Cherokee fit a TJ D30/44? These Cherokees are
coming here used from Japan in droves. I should be able to find some
junked ones with better gearing.

Thanks
TW