Looks vs Logic - Tire size ??

[Deleted member 64921]

So.......the age old tire size dilemma.......did you go strictly LOOKS or did you choose LOGIC??

For my 2025 Base 7MT -

LOOKS tells me go with 315/70/17 on a +30 offset wheel (FP Everglades)
LOGIC tells me go with a 285/70/17 on a +55 offset wheel (BD steelies)

The 33" tire is LOGICALLY a better tire for a 4.46 geared 2.3 7MT
BUT the 35" tire LOOKS really good and I know I will give up not only MPG but acceleration as well.

What say you ??

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[monsterfd]

there are a lot of rigs with way less power and less favorable gearing than you that switch to 35s without batting an eye. get the 35s and if somehow you end up hating them, trade them for someones stock 33s or ride it out till next tire change.

 

[SierraBronco]

Do what appeals to you-you’re the one paying for it.

 

[crenca]

As a 7MT Sasquatch owner (4.7 diffs), on road I sometimes wish 1st was not so short, really only being able to get up with traffic in 2nd ( without winding out 1st past 5k). Off road I appreciate it more

I say try out the 35's....you always have C gear to fall back to on steep driveways and what not.

 

[Deleted member 64921]

As a 7MT Sasquatch owner (4.7 diffs), on road I sometimes wish 1st was not so tall, really only being able to get up with traffic in 2nd ( without winding out 1st past 5k). Off road I appreciate it more

I say try out the 35's....you always have C gear to fall back to on steep driveways and what not.

Yes, I have a mall crawler never any off road but sometimes longer highway drives - I had 315's on my 24 BD 2.7 auto and it was not too bad, but the 2.3 7MT is a different story.

 

[Brian_B]

A taller wheel will get better MPG on the highway than a shorter one and have better clearance. A lighter wheel will get better MPG with lots of starts and stops and reduce stress on the drive line

And then you need the right tread and load rating for what you are driving over.

It’s about optimizing that equation, which is gonna be different depending on your use cases

I’m running 38s on 7MT 4.43. A lot of folks here wouldn’t do that - but it isn’t their money being spent on my rig so I do what I wanna do. It still drives.

 

[crenca]

Yes, I have a mall crawler never any off road but sometimes longer highway drives - I had 315's on my 24 BD 2.7 auto and it was not too bad, but the 2.3 7MT is a different story.

Well 35's is all I have ever had. I do have a FP tune which helps with grunt in that 2500 - 4k range. I suspect @monsterfd is right in that it won't feel under geared with 35's, though you will spend more time in 5th then 6th on the Interstate.

 

[Deleted member 64921]

A taller wheel will get better MPG on the highway than a shorter one................

That is not entirely true......such is the case with the 2.3 7MT, if it's geared wrong for the taller tires, it spends a LOT of time in boost on the highway, especially at over 70 MPH, and in a head wind, THUS using a LOT more gas (MPG goes way down)......IMO, its all about being correctly geared for the tire size, and I dont want to change gearing.

 

[Techun]

A taller wheel will get better MPG on the highway than a shorter one

Maybe on a 3 speed transmission. This is obviously not the case for modern broncos with either trans.

 

[Brian_B]

That is not entirely true......such is the case with the 2.3 7MT, if it's geared wrong for the taller tires, it spends a LOT of time in boost on the highway, especially at over 70 MPH, and in a head wind, THUS using a LOT more gas (MPG goes way down)......IMO, its all about being correctly geared for the tire size, and I dont want to change gearing.

If you are spending time in boost ~you~ are in the wrong gear. This may mean that 6th gear is useless, and maybe even 5th gear.

I get ~better~ mileage on the freeway cruising at 70-80 with 38s than I did with 35s, even though the wheel weighs 10 lbs more. And I'm in 4th or 5th gear doing it, depending on the headwind and/or traffic around me.

 

[Deleted member 64921]

If you are spending time in boost ~you~ are in the wrong gear. This may mean that 6th gear is useless, and maybe even 5th gear.

Well, I forgot, you are the expert here, I should have asked you earlier but then again you are running 38's with 4.43 gears on a 7MT so that pretty much tells me everything I need to know.

 

[Brian_B]

Well, I forgot, you are the expert here, I should have asked you earlier

I'm no expert but I do have experience with it. Just telling you what I've seen. Others may have a different experience, but I'm not telling you what I think will happen based on what I think should be (and I admit sometimes I do that), I'm telling you what I see happen in the real world out driving it.

 

[Deleted member 64921]

I'm no expert but I do have experience with it. Just telling you what I've seen. Others may have a different experience, but I'm not telling you what I think will happen based on what I think should be (and I admit sometimes I do that), I'm telling you what I see happen in the real world out driving it.

Thanks, and I'm sure 5th and 6th are a waste with your 38's, so your rig is all about looks, which if that's your thing then great.

 

[WarthogJr]

If you really wanted the most “logical” option, you wouldn’t be driving a MT Bronco for your on-road life. You bought it because it looks cool. Why contradict that with stupid little tires?

 

[Deleted member 64921]

If you really wanted the most “logical” option, you wouldn’t be driving a MT Bronco for your on-road life. You bought it because it looks cool. Why contradict that with stupid little tires?

Well, I cant dispute that at all, good point, but I gotta find a balance for highway driving, we shall see - thanks

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