Geared People Running 33's-35's: ATTN
- Thread starter TFJ-4runner
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nevada
Senior Member
I have 33's on my truck and have done the math.
In terms of Re-Gearing
PROs -
Quicker response from stopped position
More torque on hills and rocks
Less stress on engine on hill/rock environments
CONs -
Loss of fuel efficiency
Highway ride = Horrible
More stress on engine in high speed environments
For PROs, your gears will allow your truck to respond quicker from a red light, it will be able to spin those bigger tires in an offroad environment and will run harder at lower RPMs than smaller gears.
ALTHOUGH! as for cons, when your on the highway going 60 or 70, instead of your truck sitting at maybe 2000 RPMS, youll be at around 2500 to 3000. You will lose fuel efficiency because of constant throttle given to compensate for the speed loss.
So now, I beg the question, WHAT is YOUR 4runner intended for. If you spend 80% on pavement and 20% offroad, then regearing isnt a good idea.
THATS WITH 33's!
Now, with 35's, theres no escaping a re-gearing, I am going to tell you that now, you would be torturing your 4runner with factory gears and 35s.
Comprehendey?
you are upside down, and backwards with your logic.
regearing to offset a larger tire is good, all across the board. as long as you match the gearing to the new tire size.
it will put your rpms back to where they were DESIGNED to be.
pretty much the only con for regearing is the cost.
Snowy21
New member
I just don't see being able to justify regearing for 33's..
It 33's just aren't big or heavy enough to justify it unless you feel like you have to win every stop light race. I drive from northern Illinois to Indy on a pretty regular basis and don't really feel like I'm lugging the engine.
Sure it's slower than stock but I'm not sure you can make up all the unsprung, rotating mass that the 33's have over the stock 260's. Physics are just working against you when you put a heavier tire on no matter what gear you pull. Try driving a Jeep with 3.07's and 33x12.5 and we can discuss slow and anemic, but Jeep people do it all the time and its not a total killer. You just plan you ETA accordingly with the wind speed and direction if you are on the interstate. :ybrick:
35's on the otherhand I think would benefit from regearing but if you aren't DDing it or have that far of a commute I could see getting away with 4.10's or 4.30's
FancyPantsMcGee
New member
my truck has 4.56's with the e-locker, automatic. I'm running 275/70r18(34x12.5) and speed/rpms are solid with the supercharger. I think it would be sluggish without the blower but not enough to justify a re-gear.
I change my mind too frequently to commit to something like a re-gear anyway. maybe you want 35's now but highway howl and a rear wheel bearing replacement later you may be thinking something else...
..just playing devils advocate.:whip2:
re-gearing so you're DD can pass everyone on the freeway with 35's seems a bit silly. but to each his own. I think money would be better spent on dual cases or something that justifies 35's in the first place...
also I wanted to poke into the "supercharger not a good substitute for gears" comment. power output has everything to do with final drive ratio. More power will undoubtedly help your gear ratios if you've upsized your tires. :boxer:
I change my mind too frequently to commit to something like a re-gear anyway. maybe you want 35's now but highway howl and a rear wheel bearing replacement later you may be thinking something else...
..just playing devils advocate.:whip2:
re-gearing so you're DD can pass everyone on the freeway with 35's seems a bit silly. but to each his own. I think money would be better spent on dual cases or something that justifies 35's in the first place...
also I wanted to poke into the "supercharger not a good substitute for gears" comment. power output has everything to do with final drive ratio. More power will undoubtedly help your gear ratios if you've upsized your tires. :boxer:
steezemcqueen
Moderator
DD and weekend wheeler.
white_n_slow
Senior Member
You live in Indiana. Your opinion would probably be very different if you lived somewhere where long, steep grades and high altitude were the norm. And lets not forget that taller gearing blows off road if you do any sort of crawling. It may be OK in an auto, but in a 5-speed you're going to put your clutch through a lot more abuse by running a larger tire with stock gears.
theizzardking
New member
^ Heck man, i have 33's on the 4.30's and i'm suffering at the tops of the passes i drive every weekend, i'm considering a re-gear just to run my 33's more efficiently in my geographic location and the driving i do. i cringe every time i'm in the 5k range on my motor just trying to maintain my speed up the pass, you got to remember to it's not just your transaxel that's suffering your also throwing heat and high revs into your motor as well every-time your shifting like that and it all adds up over the 1000's of miles!
nevada
Senior Member
its not about being the fastest, its about the engine running in its designed range.
if its a DD, regearing even to 33's would be beneficial. but, as you said, its hard to justify the cost. but, it WOULD drive better, and likely get better fuel economy. which, in the long term would help offset the regear cost.
its also easier on the engine, and transmission.
you're right. but only up to a point.
more power for sure helps, especially if it comes from a engine swap, or more displacement. but theres a point where no matter how much power, if you're running oversize tires, and not geared correctly, its not going to work well.
but you would spend the tens of thousands of dollars on the vehicle itself, and then countless thousands on tires, and upgrades?
i see it all the time, but i cant understand it.
as i said above, if its your DD, why wouldnt you want it working the way it was designed?
ive been in both situations, stock tires, 31's for a while, then 33's, then 35's all with stock gears, and now currently running 35's with 5.29's.
there is no way i would go back, and any future rigs that get oversized tires, will be geared to match. it makes driving them so much more comfortable, and much easier on the drivetrain.
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GX4SEVEND
New member
I spend the majority of time on the highway so it doesnt make sense for me. I would probably lose the little fuel economy I have. So no, it doesn't make sense.
If you live in elevation maybe it's different. But a 33 isn't a huge tire and a lot of people run them just fine. I had 285's and saw no reason to re-gear. Now with 315's you can feel the difference but being on the highway it doesnt make sense for me. I don't wheel hard enough to justify it either.
And then you have steeze who is running 35's with stocks gears and he wheels his and sees no need either. So it's really just personal preference.
If you live in elevation maybe it's different. But a 33 isn't a huge tire and a lot of people run them just fine. I had 285's and saw no reason to re-gear. Now with 315's you can feel the difference but being on the highway it doesnt make sense for me. I don't wheel hard enough to justify it either.
And then you have steeze who is running 35's with stocks gears and he wheels his and sees no need either. So it's really just personal preference.
nevada
Senior Member
it would require less throttle input, and the engine would be working LESS.
i would bet you would see an increase in mpg if you regeared.
you can make all the excuses you want, but that doesnt change the facts.
FancyPantsMcGee
New member
I thought I had 4.56, my gear code is A04A which I translated as 4.56. but the sonoran steel break-down shows only 3rz's got 4.56's and I have 4.30. Can anyone clarify this for me?
theizzardking
New member
I thought I had 4.56, my gear code is A04A which I translated as 4.56. but the sonoran steel break-down shows only 3rz's got 4.56's and I have 4.30. Can anyone clarify this for me?
afik that is correct, i have never heard of these having 4.56's
GX4SEVEND
New member
I'm almost positive it's 4.30.
As for excuses, if I'm traveling on the highway at 55 or 60mph every day, what would the difference be in engine rpm's?
If I had the $2K sitting around and I wasnt trying to buy a house and my wife would actually not mind if I spent that money, then maybe I would re-gear. But as for right now, driving how I do and for what I use it for, I don't see the need.
As for excuses, if I'm traveling on the highway at 55 or 60mph every day, what would the difference be in engine rpm's?
If I had the $2K sitting around and I wasnt trying to buy a house and my wife would actually not mind if I spent that money, then maybe I would re-gear. But as for right now, driving how I do and for what I use it for, I don't see the need.
nevada
Senior Member
thats a good reason, i know exactly what you're talking about. ive put off throwing my 1 ton gear under my wheeler, so i can spend the money elsewhere.
and as far as highway speeds, the rpms may be higher with lower gears, but the engine wont be working as hard to maintain that speed. the throttle wouldnt be open as far, IE, less fuel.
also you use the most fuel getting up TO speed. and thats where the gears will really make a difference.
it may be hard to recognise the improvement, without having driven a vehicle in both situations. stock gears, and large tires, and then regeared and large tires. its pretty significant.
GX4SEVEND
New member
Oh I'm sure it makes a difference. I just can't justify the cost just yet. If I had 10K I could probably find a way to drop all of it on the runner, and the wifey knows it. After a couple other major purchases the runner will definitely be getting a few more items. But for now, it's just going to be little things here and there.
MaverickTRD
New member
Each person has their own opinion...31s and 4.10s (many stock rigs) are not DRASTICALLY different from 4.30s (limited/e-locker) and 33s. Sure it will be a little more sluggish, but to imply I would be overworking my engine and tranny by large amounts is a stretch. The only times I even strive for more power/better gearing is on mountain passes on the highway. during wheeling and normal acceleration it is absolutely fine.
Me personally I will spend the money on a SC than gears. not to mention if I'm hauling a load slightly shorter gears are still going to leave me way down on power.
If I'm going 70 up a grade in 3rd at idk 3200rpm, I don't want shorter gears forcing me to run a similar mph at 3700 or w/e rpm. to ME that is working the engine more, I hate cruising for extended times with rpms up there. Whereas if I have more power from the SC it is easier for my rig to motor on up at 70 at 3200 while maintaining speed also without nearly as much throttle input
I'm not the only person out there with this same opinion, there is plenty of stock geared SC trucks out there, and plenty of geared rigs, and some with both...its just w/e floats your boat.
If I was going 35s you bet I'd regear in a heartbeat
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BrianSD_42
New member
One downside of a SC though is that it costs way more than gears.
Based on what I have seen around here you can find a SC for $750-$1200, then spend a few hundred more on 7th injector, then another $1000 on a SC rebuild within 6 months.
Gears are simple and only ~ $500 or less.
I am running stock gears (97 Limited) and no SC with 31.5" tires.
Based on what I have seen around here you can find a SC for $750-$1200, then spend a few hundred more on 7th injector, then another $1000 on a SC rebuild within 6 months.
Gears are simple and only ~ $500 or less.
I am running stock gears (97 Limited) and no SC with 31.5" tires.
4Running Daily
New member
Install is expensive!
MaverickTRD
New member
+1 paying for the gears to be installed is a lot more pricey than even the gears themselves. IMO Superchargers are an easier install affair to do in your garage. But either way, after paying for both products and install on both the price difference isn't thousands different.
I think either option is decent depending on your driving habits/needs/where you live and your preference.
I think either option is decent depending on your driving habits/needs/where you live and your preference.
