I have a 2003 Ram 1500 5.7L with cranked T-bars and 3.92 gears. I'm looking to upgrade my tires to 33/12.50/17, just trying to get feedback from anyone else currently running this setup. How will this affect my gas mileage, acceleration, speedometer, handling, braking, just any info you all have. I've read that if I go with a 33"+ tire, I should look into 4.56 gears, but I don't have the money for that right now.

 

Here's a thread from another forum

http://www.wranglerforum.com/f5/why-...ars-57812.html

It lets you know about the 4.56 gears and 33inch tires, it sums it up better than I could plus now I don't have to type it all in on my IPhone lol

 

Good link BUT, unless you are talking a REAL new Wrangler it's a poor comparison due to the difference in the transmissions. One has to take into account that these newer transmissions have what is basically an "extra" over-drive gear and you can "get away with" running numerically higher gearing and still maintain good highway RPMs, getting "best of both world benefits and all of the low end advantages of the 4.56 and even 4.88 gearing. An '02 or '03 3rd Gen Ram with the 5.9 gasser and the 46re transmission would be turning a LOT higher RPM on the highway given the same gearing and tire diameter as a 3rd Gen with the 545rfe transmission for example.

33x12.5x17s are gonna be ok with 3.92 gears, not the greatest power combo, but not bad either. Now if you had the 3.55s I would have suggested saving your coins rapidly for a gear swap, but you should be fine. If you want more low end then by all means go to 4.56s at some point in the future. Just make sure your wheel choice has less than 5" of backspacing (a negative offset)...

 

I agree hammer, sorry I never really paid much attention to transmission portion of the situation as I said I was at work and on my IPhone so I was just in a hurry

 

Alright thanks, I've been looking at another 17" rim with 4.75" backspacing. I actually wouldn't mind dropping down to a 285/70/17, but I really want to try out the General Grabber tire which only comes in 33 or 35/12.50.

 

The Grabber is a very good tire, you won't be sorry you bought it...

There is absolutely no reason to apologize for offering to help someone. I was merely adding my point of view to your post...

 

+1 to the grabber tire, my friend has a set I believe and they are nice

 

I had 33/12.5/17's on my truck before my current tire. It is the same relative diameter as the stock GY that comes on the 20" wheels, so your speedometer isn't off by much -- if any, at all. The new meat is going to grab and stick better than skinnier, more road-oriented rubber. You will be fine with stock gears and 33's. I didn't notice a HUGE mpg decrease, but, I also hadn't driven my truck in the better part of a year (deployed), and when I got it back it had the tires, new wheels and a 3" BL on it, so I can't really say one thing made a difference over another.

In all, you aren't going to notice a shocking difference, negatively, in my opinion. Go for it!

 

Thanks for the feedback guys, really appreciate it. I'm ordering the tires today, can't wait to get em on!

 

My Ram came Stock with 33" rubber(275/60/20) and 3:92 gears. My window sticker stated 13/17.

I wouldnt worry about a thing, not unles you had 3:55 gears, then you'd notice a difference.