Noob question: 33's vs 35s

[skrape]

Awright, my nomex long johns are in place, so:
I just got a bone-stock 1st gen 4Runner and have (not as much as I'd like) money budgeted for a buildup.
Do I put 33's on it or 35's?
Asked that way on a 4x4 forum the answer is obvious, right? Bigger is better.
So put it the other way around: how much capability for crawling around the rocky trails of Colo and Utah will I give up by putting 33's on a rig vs 35's, given the same other mods: SAS, 4" suspension lift, 5:29's, lockers, dual t-case...
This rig is targeted at trail use but the truth is it'll see a thousand street miles for every hour it spends in the boonies. Obviously, by the mods I've listed, I don't want to get into the rocks and regret my tire size choice, but 33's are cheaper, and friendlier on the street, and I want to know if 35's are worth what they'll cost in $$ and in street manners.
So: 35's are: 1. A Lot more capable than 33's, 2. A Bit more capable than 33s; or 3. A Little more capable than 33s. - ?

[EvlDodge]

Think about this:
My 35x14.50 Boggers on a 15x10 wheel aired down to 10psi measure exactly 33"

So if you want a true 33" tire....

[fenderbmxer86]

in your situation id go with 33" if your driving 1000 miles on the street for every one hour of wheeling, your better off gettin a cheaper tire. with 35s your going to have to cut out your fenderwells too get maxumium flex.

[skrape]

Acutally I was kind of looking forward to cutting out the fenderwells :D
Locals I've asked are split - some say no big deal, some say I'd regret not putting on 35's... I don't have enough recent local wheeling experience to know, so I thought I'd put it out here.

[tenfourtyeight]

Hit some trails with it right now, stock, and see what you think you'll need.

Why jump right in with a built truck when you can have fun getting stuck in a stock one before you build it?

[halfxspaid]

x2

[skrape]

I agree about trying it out, got a trip scheduled this weekend. Actually that's got me slightly worried: stock rig + tired "all terrain" tires + snowy trail = lots of exercise for my buddies winch... Oh well, it's his fault for getting me obsessed with this deranged hobby anyway.

[fenderbmxer86]

I agree about trying it out, got a trip scheduled this weekend. Actually that's got me slightly worried: stock rig + tired "all terrain" tires + snowy trail = lots of exercise for my buddies winch... Oh well, it's his fault for getting me obsessed with this deranged hobby anyway.

haha i almost mis those days. :)

[Westy]

I agree about trying it out, got a trip scheduled this weekend. Actually that's got me slightly worried: stock rig + tired "all terrain" tires + snowy trail = lots of exercise for my buddies winch... Oh well, it's his fault for getting me obsessed with this deranged hobby anyway.


:laughing: :laughing: good call.

33s - 35s..there will be a noticeable difference...figure it this way as well..if you get 35" MTRs..they are pretty much a big 34" tire. Its only an inch...get the 35s, call it done. 35s are better with the 5.29s anyways for the highway. If you are worried about having a big tire on a DD, then dont get a real agreesive tire, stick with a 35" BFG AT, Yoko MT, MTRs, Yoko AT+...and get good mileage/wear out of them and you wont have a real heavy tire. Depending on the terrain, ATs can work well especially in AZ, UT, drier, rockier environments.

[4runninghank]

Hi tec retreads 35's on the steet. super swampers on the trail. problem fixxed.


http://www.high-tec-retreading.com/sizes.html

[Terrys_85_Toy]

Get what you can afford. I run 33's myself because I haven't gone hi-steer yet. And I can still keep up with the 35+ trucks, so...

[ROCKILLER]

you say budget build up, I'd look for a used set and spend my money on the essentials, maybe an extra case and some flexier suspension, I dont see 33 to 35 as that big of a deal for now, besides, tires wear out and when the truck is a little more built then you can spend money on some new 35's after you have experience and have seen what works and what doesnt on other trucks in your area. start trolling the for sale section and bulletin boards at local shops.

[4runninghank]

Get what you can afford. I run 33's myself because I haven't gone hi-steer yet. And I can still keep up with the 35+ trucks, so...


but 35's are so sexy!

[skrape]

Okay, I just told a guy that I'd buy his used 35 MTRs.
(The High-Tec Retreading site was pretty interesting though - I like the 'Green Diamond' idea for snows!).

[BogusBlake]

Lockers, Duals, and good suspension will get you ALOT of places. You'll just find yourself falling in holes that bigger tires would roll over. Smaller tires force you to pick your lines more carefully which may be good for someone just learning the sport.

[tanman2003]

think of it this way, 35s give you an inch more of ground clearance. pluss you still have the 4.10s right? do your self a favor and go with 33s if there are no future upgrades to the suspension and drive train in the near future.

[Reno Rich]

The relative price difference on 33 vrs. 35 in fairly insignificant, and if you are willing to gear it properly I say go for it. I'm on 33x12.5s, and getting ready to step up to 35x12.5s. When you try and go above 35" tires is where you will really hit a wall in the cost curve:eek: .

[ETN4runner]

[QUOTE=skrape] SAS, 4" suspension lift, 5:29's, lockers, dual t-case...
This rig is targeted at trail use but the truth is it'll see a thousand street miles for every hour it spends in the boonies. Obviously, by the mods I've listed, I don't want to get into the rocks and regret my tire size choice, but 33's are cheaper, and friendlier on the street, and I want to know if 35's are worth what they'll cost in $$ and in street manners./QUOTE]

Well ive got an 85 with almost exactly the mods you have listed. I have 456 gears and no dual tcase though. Im very happy with my 33's. I know tenessee is alot different than colorado but i can do pretty well around here. I can also take my runner 75-80 on the interstate.

[Dreadnought]

I say go with 35s. I just picked up a set of 35" MT/Rs and I am glad I chose the bigger tire. Besides, trimming the fenders is FUN!

[Heavy Metal Toy]

35s. I wish I had.

[sickfab]

Do it once, do it right.
38.5 SXs. Dont look back. Until they start making 40" SXs.........:flipoff2:

[Lord Orange]

toyota's are made to be on 39.5 tsl or bigger.

[Keaponlaffen]

toyota's are made to be on 39.5 tsl or bigger.


Especially with a stock 1st gen runner :nuke:

Personally, I'd just do it once, get 35's right now, you'll never regret them if you regear to 5.29

[FLArunner86]

if u are regearing to 5.29's then a 35 will better suit the bigger tire. alot of people on here dont like 5.29 and 33 especially daily driving. i have neither so correct me if im wrong, just stuff ive learned form all the threads ive read through.

[Grim Reaper]

There is a few threads that covers this. Something like DD trail rigs is the tittle, If you had searched. :flipoff2:

Here is my take:

I'm in exactly the same boat right now. I'm told a 2 inch body lift and you can get 33's on it with the IFS if the back space on the rim is right. So I'm liking that so I can get back on the trail right NOW with the IFS and get the rear working better with some longer shackles and better shock placement,

I actually have a set of 35s sitting here but I am considering stepping back to a 33x10.5 on an aluminum rim. The reason is weight. My 35 inch BFG KM's on the 10x15 rockcrawler are 90lb each. I figure a 33x10.5 on a 8 x 15 Aluminum will shave about 15lb possibly as much as 20lb of rotating mass per wheel. This will improve brake performance a lot. This will also cut down breakage.

The second reason is this is my DD. I have had a Detroit in my last rig and I honestly hate them on a DD. I use to love driving my last rig on the street till that Detroit made it so ill handling. So I'm going with a selectable locker. Inchworm has 4.56 factory set up Toy e-lockers for $850 or something. You could get away with that gear with a 33' especially since I will be doing a crawler (T-case is already here for it). The jump from 4.56 to anything higher is $400. I can regear the front for half that. 4.56 lockers are not uncommon anyway. Thats a standard gear on some of the trucks factory so chances are I might be able to find one used for even less (like if my sister would leaver her Prerunner taco where I could get at it for an afternoon :D ).

Problem is this: Long term plans. I have my axle for a SAS here as well but I'm told 4 inches minimum for a SAS on a IFS frame. Well 4 inches with a little trimming will fit 35s especially if you have a body lift. So back to why run a smaller wheel. You can clear 33's without the body lift but the body lift lets you push the gas tank up and if you are planning a crawler box then you can get a clocked one and just about be a flat belly. The 33 x10'5 wouldn't fill out the fender wells then.

So you need to decide you ultimate goal and any mid way steps you plan and money you can afford to waste on those steps. I'm a cheap bastard and thinking the one time shot might ultimately get me the results I want and not be much more moeny...just more time before I can do it.



Good luck on your decision. I'm still tossing it around.


WELCOME NEWBIE :flipoff2:

[greasyjeep]

i would look at a good AT/MT like the MTRs or the TruXus and go 35s
you will be happier - i think Pit Bull makes a decent middle tire also, just not familiar with it.
figure if you buy 33s now and step up to 35s later - you will either loose money on the 33s or have to wait 20-30K miles before you are ready for them.
Not sure of your milage per year, but that is like 3-4 years for me.

go wheel what ya got now though and learn to drive

[laoseth]

Out of all the mods you have planned, I think tire size is the easiest to change. Get some used 33's or 35's and play. Don't like the size trade for the other size. If you are in colorado, check out colorado4x4.org, if your in utah, try RME. There are about 5-8 pairs of used tires posted on each of those every day. For the record, I have an 85, and when I put on my 4" lift, I think it was about a week before I swapped my 33's out for 35's.

[snowdrift]

you say budget build up, I'd look for a used set and spend my money on the essentials, maybe an extra case and some flexier suspension, I dont see 33 to 35 as that big of a deal for now, besides, tires wear out and when the truck is a little more built then you can spend money on some new 35's after you have experience and have seen what works and what doesnt on other trucks in your area. start trolling the for sale section and bulletin boards at local shops.


X2 you can find used 33s for cheap

[Lord Orange]

Especially with a stock 1st gen runner :nuke:

Personally, I'd just do it once, get 35's right now, you'll never regret them if you regear to 5.29


Mine is stock except for the longfields, and cromos. Eh!

[Kaptain]

Go for 35's... I had 31" AT's for 2 years, 31 x 12.5 swampers for only 6 months, and now 33" TSLs for the past 3 months. I want to go bigger, and you will too. The swampers on 10" rockcrawler rims are heavy bastards.. don't do swampers on a rig that sees alot of highway. I'm hoping going from 33" swampers on wide rims to some 35" MT's on 8 inch rims will feel the same with the reduction of weight...

[Kaptain]

Go for 35's... I had 31" AT's for 2 years, 31 x 12.5 swampers for only 6 months, and now 33" TSLs for the past 3 months. I want to go bigger, and you will too. The swampers on 10" rockcrawler rims are heavy bastards.. don't do swampers on a rig that sees alot of highway. I'm hoping going from 33" swampers on wide rims to some 35" MT's on 8 inch rims will feel the same with the reduction of weight...

[Mattb]

Having gone from 33's (BFG MT's) to 35's (MTR's), I'd say go 35 from the get go. I run 4.88's and while I notice a difference, it is a very small difference. This is on a rig that I have put 26,000 (mainly street) miles on in the past 4 years as well.

[luvmeye22refi]

Out of all the mods you have planned, I think tire size is the easiest to change. Get some used 33's or 35's and play. Don't like the size trade for the other size. If you are in colorado, check out colorado4x4.org, if your in utah, try RME. There are about 5-8 pairs of used tires posted on each of those every day. For the record, I have an 85, and when I put on my 4" lift, I think it was about a week before I swapped my 33's out for 35's.

Definitely check out colorado4x4.org I got 4 35" yokohama mts with around half tread for 75 bucks from a good guy on there. There are always deals to be had there and a lot of the time I see people wanting to trade their 35s to step down to 33s (jeepers and d35s haha :grinpimp: ) Ill tell you from my experience though, that I wouldnt even waste a moment with 33's vs 35's again, not that large of a cost difference. Choke it back for another couple weeks and get 35's. Even with open diffs and nothing but a suspension lift youll still be a little bit happier. Bigger tire = smaller rock. I had 5:29's with 33's on my last toy and it was way too much gear for a 33 inch tire, I think top speed was like 65 lol. Good luck with your build. PM me if ya wanna do a little wheeling before too much snow flies, I dont have a winch but Ill tug your ass around if needed :D

[Clay]

I'm a big advocate for building your rig to your abilities. If you are new to all this (I think that you are) start out stock, then modify as you learn. If you get somewhere that you need a locker, put one in. If you get some where that you need more ground clearance, then put on a lift. Getting stuck is what teaches you how to drive, and how to wrench. Learn how your rig works and you will be a way better driver. I have seen many people just jump into this sport with tube buggies and 42's, the problem is they drive like shit and will never learn. They have a crutch, and once you start with it, you will always need it.

[skrape]

Technically I'm a 'sorta-newbie'... I wheeled a lifted Early Bronco back in the day. Doesn't mean I know my Birfields from a hole in the ground, of course.
I did buy a used set of 35" MTRs off Colo4x4, gonna pick them up this week.
Did some 'light' wheeling this weekend with the rig in stock configuration, and confirmed that the E-locker I bought was definitely a good purchase.
Now to find a front axle to do SAS...
Thanks to everybody who posted - more info definitely helped.

[98taco]

A thread like this needs to be a sticky in the newbie section. It took me a while to figure this sort of thing out. But my take is to do it all logically. If you start, too built too fast you won't learn. But you should keep in mind what your end product is going to be so you can eliminate steps that waste time and money. You decided to jump to 35s that will eliminate certain gear sizes which will eventually save you money. My plan is to go 33's until I save up enough for my SAS, which should be a while. Then it is as they so go big or go home.

[Mallrat]

just wheel it as it sits.

[myota]

Hi tec retreads 35's on the steet. super swampers on the trail. problem fixxed.


http://www.high-tec-retreading.com/sizes.html

WOW, this is cool!!!:cool2:

[NetBSD]

http://www.off-road.com/chevy/tsl-bogger/bogger.jpg


get a 35" TSL bogger, you wont be sorry, me and my buddies run them on the street and off-road and they are great, but as everyone else said, go stock till you get the feel for it, i did and now im upgrading like hell.

[94stepsideford]

35" boggers will be my next set of tires also. One thing that cant be stressed enough it dont move too fast. It will take the fun out of it. I mean I'd like to run 39.5" boggers but around here its just not reaslistic

[thecj3man]

Do it once, do it right.
38.5 SXs. Dont look back. Until they start making 40" SXs.........:flipoff2:


Do you prefer the 12.5 or the 14 inch wide version? Also 10 ply versus 6, does it really make a large difference in the way they perform when aired down?

Wes

[NetBSD]

35" boggers will be my next set of tires also. One thing that cant be stressed enough it dont move too fast. It will take the fun out of it. I mean I'd like to run 39.5" boggers but around here its just not reaslistic


speed dont bother me, i just stay off the interstate. saves gas aswell lol. id say i put 100 to 150 miles on my pickup a day just local driving arouind town. then about 300 to 400 miles a week offroad.