I'm almost finished install my 4" lift and was wondering if i should run 33's or 35's? What do you guys think?

 

its up to you really, you will be able to run 35's because you will have enough room, but it will affect your gas milage, your braking as bigger tires are harder to stop, your "effective" gear ratio (for lack of a better explanation) and it will shorten the life of your steering components, wheel bearings and u-joints......BUT....you will gain ground clearance, and general off-roadability......and it looks damn cool......so its really what you can live with or what you plan on changing to compensate for the larger tires (eg: gear ratio etc)

 

What gears ya got?

 

I haven't swapped the gears out yet, but i'm planning on a set of 4.56 gears, that way it will have power while pulling my boat or travel trailer around.

 

33's is were I would stop, this version of a dana 44 just does not like 35s, unit bearings, steering parts, ball joints are just a few of the parts that you will eat though on a reg basis. I put my 35s on in 08 and it's just been a parts pig ever since. It's your choice in the end.

 

33's will look to small IMO, 35's will look great and you already have plans to regear

 

I put a body lift, a level and a couple small blocks on my '98 RCSB 5.9 4x4 when I had it, I'm guessing the over-all lift was about 4", maybe a hair over. I ran 35's and only had to trim a bit off the well liners up front for no rubbing at full turn.

Yeah, it looked badass IMO, but gas mileage did suck. I rarely hit 10 mpg in all-around driving and maybe, just maybe could nip 12 mpg on trips IF I kept it under 65 mph.

Luckily, I had a daily driver, the ex's Grand Cherokee and a company van to use at the time, so gas mileage wasn't even a thought...

 

tricky question dude..

effective gear ratio will be effected depending.. it will be lower (numerically higher) with the smaller, higher with the taller.. you will gain approx. 1" more ground clearance with the taller.. If you plan on towing, that ground clearance isn't worth it..

an important aspect is the width you choose.. It's been my experience with both second and third gen's, that the width is the determining factor on fit AND wear on other components. If you went tall, but fairly narrow (sub 12" width)- you're not going to work the steering components too terribly much (turning, especially at slow speeds on good surfaces; and they are much lighter).. you can get the clearance you need without trimming (it's the width of tire that causes rub issues) and you can have that extra inch of ground clearance.. but your effective gear ratio will be altered..

if you go 33" and fairly narrow (again, sub 12") you will fit easily, and lower your effective gear ratio- and take it easier on all components..

depending on how aggressive a tread you select will also play a large roll.. more aggressive= more rolling resistance and more noise.. The noise, for instance, doesn't bother me one bit.. that resistance does- I stop at the gas station more with more aggressive a tread, AND, I have to rotate and replace the tires more often.. AND, all that vibration isn't good on drive components. It will wear teh truck and the tire quicker..

harder compound rubber doesn't get the traction softer does.. but it gets more mileage.. ya gotta figure out what driving conditions you are most apt to do.. if you mud/trail 10% of the trucks mileage, you're likely better off buying another set of tires just for that purpose in the end- and keeping some harder rubber highway treads for everyday use..

nobody can answer your questions for you, but we can sure give up an opinion.. So, my opinion is get 35"x12.5" mudders.. I wanna see pic's.. I sure don't wanna replace them and the components you wear because of them, nor balance and rotate them like you're gonna have to either.

I have Cepek 35x12.5x20 Cepek FCII Radials on mine.. they look good, have good off road manners but pack up mud and snow, and awesome highway manners for a decently big tire.. I hope to get 40~45k miles out of them.. we will see.. when they are done, I'm going to stop lying to myself and get a AT tire, likely 33"- and keep an eye open for a true off road tire/wheel that I can swap out for the small percentage of the time I trail.

A lot of thought should go into your tire selection dude.. I hope you the best!

 

I'll be going with 33's for now, i can't stand the idea of trimming fenders.