33s with stock gears

[3slow98]

Hi guys, I’m new to the forum and still trying to figure out how it all works. I have a question for y’all. I have a 1998 4x4 with a 3.0 v6 and a 5 speed. I’m currently running 31s on my stock wheels with cranked keys. I like how it sits but I’m wanting to go up to a 33 inch tire. Can I run 33s with my stock (3.73?) gears and be fine? I’m not worried about speed but I don’t want to burn up my clutch and I wanna be able to cruise at 65-70mph on the freeway. Let me know what your thoughts are. - Scott

 

[Dirtman]

It'll be pretty gutless but it will cruise at highway speeds just fine. The manual trans will help since you can just hold the gears a little longer (3.0's like to be wound up anyway).

Changing from the stock tire size to a 33" you are effectively reducing the gear ratio from 3.73:1 to 3.29:1. This is assuming the stock tires were 235/75R15 or 29".

 

[sgtsandman]

You can do it but I don’t think you are going to like it. Especially if you live in a hilly area.

 

[3slow98]

It'll be pretty gutless but it will cruise at highway speeds just fine. The manual trans will help since you can just hold the gears a little longer (3.0's like to be wound up anyway).

Changing from the stock tire size to a 33" you are effectively reducing the gear ratio from 3.73:1 to 3.29:1. This is assuming the stock tires were 235/75R15 or 29".

Thanks for the reply. My buddy said he has an extra set of 33s on ranger wheels so I might borrow those for a couple days and see how I like it before I make a decision

 

[Dirtman]

Wise choice. I personally wouldn't run 33's with any less than 4.56 gears.

 

[3slow98]

You can do it but I don’t think you are going to like it. Especially if you live in a hilly area.

Yeah hills might be a problem. There’s a steep hill by my girlfriend’s house with a stop sign at the top. The truck already won’t start on that hill with the 31s it just lugs and stalls no matter what unless I put it in 4 low. Usually I just roll through the stop sign but one time there was a cop behind me. I had to get out and explain that my truck couldn’t start on the hill lol

 

[sgtsandman]

My 2011 with the 4.0 SOHC, 3.73:1 gears, and 31’s doesn’t like some of the hills around here. I have to shift one down, sometimes two to keep up speed. I can only imagine what a 3.0 with 33’s and 3.73:1 would be like.