Should I go for smaller tires?

[elliot]

Right now I have 33in tires plus a decent size lift (not sure how much lift exactly) but my gearing isn’t right so I want to go down to 31 or 32in tires, how do you think it would look if I left the lift kit how it is but went with smaller tires? Would my truck look weird with smaller tires or would it be fine? 32s might look a little better but don’t help as much with the gearing issue as 31s would 

[JMO413]

To answer this question properly we kinda need to know what gear ratio your running.

[elliot]

My gear ratio right now is 3.73 and 33in tires, so it’s no good for rock crawling or going uphill or 4L

[eaglescout526]

I moved your post to the tech so others will see and chime in. 

[Muncher]

I love that bumper what is it?

[elliot]

I’m actually not sure who makes it, I bought the truck like this but it’s kind of a mall crawler which is why I want to either re gear or go to smaller tires so I can actually off-road and use my 4L

[DesertRat1991]

Regarding how it would look, the difference between a 33 and a 32 is only 0.5" of additional fender gap. No one will ever notice that other than you.

 

Dropping to 31s will be slightly more noticeable but will give you more of the effect you're looking for. Are those 17" rims? You might also consider dropping down t0 15" to save some weight; might help things feel more peppy.

[Pete M]

I would drop to 31s.  your braking, steering, ride, acceleration, everything will improve.   

[elliot]

Yeah it’s on 17” wheels right now which I don’t really like, so If I do go to 31s I’m definitely going to downsize to 15 or 16in wheels 

[watchamakalit]

I have 31's with 3.55 gears and 5th gear is worthless on all but the smallest of hills. 3.73 and 31's would be a really good match. If its gonna bea off road only rig then I would say go deeper on the gears but 31's with what you have would keep the streetability. And if you don't like the change you only have to deal with it till the tires wear out.

[75sv1]

Manual or Auto trans? I am guessing auto. I have an XJ on 31's and 3.73 gears 2" lift and auto trans. It runs about like a stock XJ. I did do a 2.5" cat back, and a header and bored TB. If mountain grades are in your travels, then 4.10 gears are a bit better. I do have an XJ on 32.5's and 4.10's. It does OK. Still, a bit sluggish. It was good on 31's and 4.10 gears though. 

[pizzaman09]

Personally I think the 33s look a little to large on your Comanche.  I'd swap down to the 31s, you won't regret it from the performance gains.

[jdog]

Those tires don't look right on it

[Eagle]

On 9/15/2021 at 1:32 PM, elliot said:

My gear ratio right now is 3.73 and 33in tires, so it’s no good for rock crawling or going uphill or 4L

 

FWIW, 3.73s with 31s works out to EXACTLY the same overall final drive ratio as 3.55s with stock tires.

[elliot]

To 75s’ question, it’s a manual. And I do drive up a lot of hills especially in the winter but I really don’t want to re gear so maybe I would even go down to 30s, but I have a big brake kit so if 15in wheels don’t fit I wouldn’t want to run 30s on 16in wheels 

[dasbulliwagen]

here's mine at 6 inches or so with 32's. Mine is a 2.5 with 4.10's though and I need better gearing.

[elliot]

2 minutes ago, dasbulliwagen said:

here's mine at 6 inches or so with 32's. Mine is a 2.5 with 4.10's though and I need better gearing.

 
so do you think 31s with 3.73 gearing might still not be good enough? Also I’ve never seen an xj/mj front grille and lights like that, it’s really cool actually 

[dasbulliwagen]

6 minutes ago, elliot said:

 
so do you think 31s with 3.73 gearing might still not be good enough? Also I’ve never seen an xj/mj front grille and lights like that, it’s really cool actually 

 

It is an XJ Wagoneer grille assy, they never came stock on an MJ. I think youll be fine at 31-32, and like was said, it will help drivability.