Question about gearing/tire sizes

[RangerJoe03]

The truck in my profile has a 3.0L, 5 speed, 3.73 gears and currently 30x9.5 tires. I will be lifting soon and don't want to regear my axles. I think that 31x10.5 tires would work fine but how about 32x11.5s? I'm looking at a 4" lift. The general consensus on this forum seems to be that 33's don't work well with 3.73s, so I will rule out 33's unless I come across more money to regear. Is anybody running 32x11.5 tires with the 3.0 v6 and 3.73 gears? Thanks.

 

[LittleBigFoot]

You can learn to live with a slow truck. Runnin 32s I don't think you'll be puttin tooooo much strain on your trans.

With my 3.0 I've run:

31s with 4.10s
33s with 4.10s
33s with 3.73s
35s with 4.10s
35s with 4.30s

Think of your ultimate desired tire size (to with in reason of the axles taking the abuse) and tire/gear accordingly. You'll regrett slowly stepping up like I did. Cause I do. Go big the first time. It's worth it.

 

[RangerJoe03]

Thanks for the response. I have always thought the truck was slow, even when I first bought it and it had 215's. I have always wished it was the 4.0, but I really like my truck overall. The difference moving up in size to the 30 inch tires has never bothered me. If I go to the 32's, I just don't want to have any problems getting moving when I'm out in the sand or headed up a hill. The 32x11.5's will fit on my stock 15x7 wheels right?

 

[red93terror]

yo man if youre around knoxville, ill trade you my 32s for your 30s if theyre in good condition. mine are in really good condition. probly 75% tread left. mastercraft courser m/ts

 

[4x4junkie]

I agree with LittleBigFoot, if you want to wake that truck up, stick a set of 4.88s in it and let it rev a bit as you shift gears (3000-3200 or so for everyday-normal-driving shifts). The 3.0L loves the RPM (your mileage might even improve some as well, since it won't be lugging all the time).

Yes, 32x11.50s should be fine on your stock 15x7s. I wouldn't go any wider though (you could go taller though, such as 33x10.50s. With 4.88s, your 3.0L pushing the 33s won't be an issue).

Otherwise I would stick with your 30s if you don't want to lose the use of 5th gear.

 

[LittleBigFoot]

A 3.0 would be well suited with 4.88s as Junkie said.

It'd be rather sluggish w/ stock gearing but in 4lo it wouldn't be too bad. Besides, how hard core of wheelin are you doin with 32s?

 

[RangerJoe03]

I don't do much serious wheeling, I just like to play in the mud and sand a bit. I'm more worried about gas mileage and drivability, and of course cost of the lift, tires, and changing the gears- but, I don't want to be frustrated or have any regrets. So 4.88's huh? How much would you guys guess for parts/labor on those bad boys?

 

[4x4junkie]

Maybe $200 for each gearset, $50-100 for each install kit, and maybe $600 or so for labor (both axles). You'll likely want to shop around a bit for pricing.

 

[RangerJoe03]

Thanks. So, I will definately consider re-gearing at some point but I will probably leave it for a little while. Will my gas mileage be terrible if I keep the 3.73 gears while running 32's or 33's? I will assume that my 5th gear overdrive is useless so I that would be bad for mileage right? It is my daily driver...