33's and Auto trans issues

S

Spish

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I've got Toytec lift and was all set on getting 33's, then I keep reading about people with 33's and them making the Auto trans "search" or not shift right. Who has had these problems? The more I read, the more I'm leaning toward 32's, but then I don't really see the reason I lifted it if I'm going to "Settle" on 32. I'm not going to regear. I'm stumped...
 
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Spish said:
I've got Toytec lift and was all set on getting 33's, then I keep reading about people with 33's and them making the Auto trans "search" or not shift right. Who has had these problems? The more I read, the more I'm leaning toward 32's, but then I don't really see the reason I lifted it if I'm going to "Settle" on 32. I'm not going to regear. I'm stumped...
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The tranny will just downshift more often on grades with the 33's. My '96 with 285/75's was very driveable...but it definately kicked down more often than my current rig does.
 
I don't think the tranny searches for what gear to be in. To me it seems as if there are common shift points and with larger tires it may take longer to get there but i've never had any issues with it. I've ran 285's and now i'm on 315's so you'll be fine.

And only 1' of difference isn't anything to worry about. You'll be much happier with 285's or even a 255/85 than a 32" I think. Most people wish they went bigger.
 
mine doesnt have any issues at all. i live on the coast of SC but its flat here also , might account for something. i have driven it in the mountains with the 285's and it really didnt shift much more than with the 265's. If anything id say its due to the lack of power in 3rd gens
 
01t4rnr said:
mine doesnt have any issues at all. i live on the coast of SC but its flat here also , might account for something. i have driven it in the mountains with the 285's and it really didnt shift much more than with the 265's. If anything id say its due to the lack of power in 3rd gens
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What this dude said. Come to CO and drive in the mountains, not only do you have more mountains but steeper grades and less O2 to go along with it, running the truck in over drive in just normal out here. Need more power to turn heavier and a large diameter tires.
 
theizzardking said:
Not being a jerk but they where probably driving up a mountain and didn't know how to switch the over drive off
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It depends on the mountain. Before I got gears, my tranny went between 2nd and 3rd gear (with O/D off) about 20 or 30 times up my mountain (6K climb in 17 miles). My 3rd gear was too gutless with 33s to keep up with traffic so I would have to hit the gas and make it downshift to 2nd around just about every corner. That's what they mean by a "hunting tranny".

OP, If you're a "flatlander", you won't notice it much. If you're a squirrel-eating, no electricity-using, mountain hick like me, you'll notice it - a lot - probably enough to make you want to get gears.
 
I'd say 90% of this forum is on 33's with stock gears, I was one of them for a long time. It's manageable, but not ideal.
Try using the ETC PWR button, I leave mine on all the time.
 
You will really start wanting gears when you add some weight to the truck while on 33s. The truck will quickly turn into a pig.
 
So running a stock 3 inch lift with no added weight on 33's in a mostly flat area is not so bad? I've been concerned about it. I live in eastern NC, which is almost completely flat in most places, so maybe I can get by with 33's and no gears.
 
durrell said:
So running a stock 3 inch lift with no added weight on 33's in a mostly flat area is not so bad? I've been concerned about it. I live in eastern NC, which is almost completely flat in most places, so maybe I can get by with 33's and no gears.
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You should be fine, just don't expect to win any races or pass on the highway without dropping into 3rd.
 
durrell said:
So running a stock 3 inch lift with no added weight on 33's in a mostly flat area is not so bad? I've been concerned about it. I live in eastern NC, which is almost completely flat in most places, so maybe I can get by with 33's and no gears.
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You'll be fine without gears with your truck and where you live.
 
Mr. Leary said:
You should be fine, just don't expect to win any races or pass on the highway without dropping into 3rd.
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brian2sun said:
You'll be fine without gears with your truck and where you live.
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AWESOME. :frog:

Totally going 285's then. I don't expect to win any races anyway. Just want to have a little power if I need to maneuver in traffic or anything. I live in the middle of nowhere anyway, so it's not like I'm running 75 on a 4 lane highway everyday.

Thanks for the help guys.
 
Adding larger tires will make your engine work harder as well as transmission. I recently went on a 2 hour drive to Western MD, and had to leave my transmission in O/D OFF for the majority of the time through the hills. At 70 MPH i'm doing 3k with the overdrive off. Fine for me. Although you will feel the power loss when you step up to 33's. 4.88's are in the near future for me, once I can figure out how to swap out gears for less than $1500.
 
Yeah, I've done the larger tires thing on other vehicles. I realize there will be a power loss, but for my driving style/area it should be pretty minimal I think.
 
One thing to keep in mind is something I have noticed on my rig... temperature. With the OD off, the engine usually operates at around 193-198 on the highway. With the OD on I have seen temps get as high a 206.

Your engine and transmission will work harder with taller tires. IT becomes more important to ensure that the cooling system and fluids are properly maintained.
 
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