31" or 33" Tires on 1977 FJ40 (1 Viewer)

[4x4veteran]

in 1973 i took my then new 73 to get tires i ended up getting 32 mudders ,they were the biggest tire at the time and i took a couple pair of aviation shears with me to cut the fenders because they rubbed just sitting there then went out and got stuck for 6 hours

In 73 when I bought my Cruiser with wimpy stock size tire I immediately took it out to Samoa beach in Eureka Ca. and got stock in the sand.
Put some Norseman's on it and liked them well enough to go through several sets of them.
The first ones were nylon so after setting a day they would thump for the first few miles of driving until the warmed up.
Can't remember size but they were probably same or close to the 31's I have now.
IMO 31 is a good size for stock height and aesthetics.

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

I like the tall skinny look you have going and am thinking of going the same route. I just wanted to know how you like the tire wheel combo so far? That 7.5R16 tire size seems like it would compliment the 5.5" wide wheels perfectly!
*Edit: I'd love to see some more pics of your 40 with tires/wheels if you have any!

I don’t have a ton of miles on the setup so far, but I’ve been pretty happy. I haven’t noticed a huge change in road noise over my Cooper A/T’s but take that with a grain of salt - I have a V8 and can barely hear someone talking to me in the cab.

As for pictures - here are a few more that I have. If you are looking for a specific detail I can snap a few in the garage later.

This one is a nice example of your options. If I recall the blue one is 31x10.5, mine was 7.5R16 (roughly 32x8), The lighter green 40 was running 35x11.5 or 12.5 and the darker green one was on 33x10.5 but I'm not 100% sure on all that.

 

[rustED71]

I don’t have a ton of miles on the setup so far, but I’ve been pretty happy. I haven’t noticed a huge change in road noise over my Cooper A/T’s but take that with a grain of salt - I have a V8 and can barely hear someone talking to me in the cab.

As for pictures - here are a few more that I have. If you are looking for a specific detail I can snap a few in the garage later.

View attachment 1914290

View attachment 1914291

View attachment 1914292

This one is a nice example of your options. If I recall the blue one is 31x10.5, mine was 7.5R16 (roughly 32x8), The lighter green 40 was running 35x11.5 or 12.5 and the darker green one was on 33x10.5 but I'm not 100% sure on all that.
View attachment 1914294

Thank you for the pictures, those help alot. I think I've decided to go with those KM3's I like the tall and skinny look, and how the tires and wheels are tucked in the wheel openings. I'm not to worried about road noise. I wish I could get City Racer's 16" wheels and center caps, but with my budget I cannot spend that much on wheels. I found some 16x6 Smoothie wheels from Wheel Vintiques that have the vintage look I want, and maybe I can figure out a hub caps solution later down the road. Thanks again for posting the pics, that's exactly what I was hoping to see!

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[tls3601]

At ‘31 the MT’s do fit slightly better.

 

[wdukes]

32 11.5 15 Considering small lift options.

 

[BuenasTardes123]

Exec lent posts. I’m doing 1” lift. W. Stuck rims. 33x9.5 or 33x10.5?

 

[4Cruisers]

Exec lent posts. I’m doing 1” lift. W. Stuck rims. 33x9.5 or 33x10.5?

I know that 33X9.50s are no longer made by BFG, and maybe no one else. I like the 30X9.50s on my '76 FJ40 (no lift).

 

[BuenasTardes123]

I know that 33X9.50s are no longer made by BFG, and maybe no one else. I like the 30X9.50s on my '76 FJ40 (no lift).

Thank you. I may be in luck. Seems like I have acces to sumoto tires. Never heard of them. But is form Japan. Lima caucho is another one. Butbis in shouts America and I may be able to ship. They have those sizes but only mud terrain. I heard that oem rims don’t do well w. 10.5. With. So even with 1” lifts I may have to stick to 33x9.5. I was hoping for 33x10.5. But if wider means the tire will
Come off..,,,

 

[4Cruisers]

Thank you. I may be in luck. Seems like I have acces to sumoto tires. Never heard of them. But is form Japan. Lima caucho is another one. Butbis in shouts America and I may be able to ship. They have those sizes but only mud terrain. I heard that oem rims don’t do well w. 10.5. With. So even with 1” lifts I may have to stick to 33x9.5. I was hoping for 33x10.5. But if wider means the tire will
Come off..,,,

Nothing wrong with 33X10.50s on stock rims, common here on MUD. It's just that most of the mainstream tire dealers won't mount them. Independent tire shops will usually mount them.

 

[BuenasTardes123]

Nothing wrong with 33X10.50s on stock rims, common here on MUD. It's just that most of the mainstream tire dealers won't mount them. Independent tire shops will usually mount them.

Now. That makes more since. Wonder why they won’t. Is not like they come off or pop? Unless you deflate them on a trail. But not panning that. At lest not down ton10psi. If you guys are good and happy. W. 33x10.5 on stock. And w. 1”lift works w/o messing stuff or having to use spacers.....

 

[igotta40]

I have 10.50 31 KM2 on stock rims, no lift, with around 22K miles. They fit just fine, great off road, but occasionally the left tire will rub the drag link rod on a hard left turn. The tread is already half worn down and they are loud AF on the freeway. I’ll never buy another set. My old BFGMTR & BFGATR back in the 80’s and 90’s were much better on and off road. YMMV . I want 9.50 33 All Terrain, if I can find a set.

 

[BuenasTardes123]

I have 10.50 31 KM2 on stock rims, no lift, with around 22K miles. They fit just fine, great off road, but occasionally the left tire will rub the drag link rod on a hard left turn. The tread is already half worn down and they are loud AF on the freeway. I’ll never buy another set. My old BFGMTR & BFGATR back in the 80’s and 90’s were much better on and off road. YMMV . I want 9.50 33 All Terrain, if I can find a set.

View attachment 2068831

Thank you. I may try my best to stick w. 9.5 then. I was afraid that a 10.5 may have some running issues.

 

[brianrb100]

I'm in the process of painting my OEM steel wheels. I'm really on the fence between KO2's or KM3's. Tire size will be 33x10.50x15. I don't do a lot of off roading, so I'm leaning towards the AT's, but I hear the MT's fit better. Is this true? I have a 2.5" lift.

 

[Advrider639]

I just put 33x10.5r15 KM3s on my truck and I love em. Will be heading to the mountains next weekend with some mild off roading, I have no doubt they will preform just fine.

 

[brian]

I'm in the process of painting my OEM steel wheels. I'm really on the fence between KO2's or KM3's. Tire size will be 33x10.50x15. I don't do a lot of off roading, so I'm leaning towards the AT's, but I hear the MT's fit better. Is this true? I have a 2.5" lift.

At's fit just fine.

 

[81fj40]

I struggled with this same conundrum for a long time. I eventually went with 31x10.5 on stock rims, with 2.5 inch lift. I'm happy with the results and it still fits in the garage

 

[kerplunk]

I've never been a purist and don't like the stock steelies much. And, I dunno what the previous owner did with on the springs, I suspect a 2" lift, shackles look similar to original and the axles haven't been flipped.

On a budget, I picked all the tires and rims up off craiglist. Wheels were off someone's FJ cruiser and are 17", tires (255/75R17)were someone else's take off's bought from a guy at a tire shop, almost new jeep and wanted something bigger...

I also don't know the history on the front end, which does have disk brakes now, and am not sure if it's the stock width, this combination fit the front fine, haven't seen any indication of rubbing or cutting. On the back, I had to add 1" spacers, tires were too close to the inside of the tub (I have an fj60 axle case in the shed on the project list to get rid of the spacers).

 

[CookieBird]

With a 2.5" OME lift and 33x12.50x15, so far I have really liked these tires....

View attachment 1030152


You can get them in 31x10.5x15

With 33" tires, are you going faster or slower on the freeway? Also, do you have enough power going uphill? Currently when going uphill I use 3rd gear but worried I might need to shift lower to 2nd gear. I also have 31" ATs

 

[GA Architect]

With 33" tires, are you going faster or slower on the freeway? Also, do you have enough power going uphill? Currently when going uphill I use 3rd gear but worried I might need to shift lower to 2nd gear. I also have 31" ATs

33" tires with the standard gearing, will produce what is sometimes called "Rubber Overdrive". Note, you will be going faster than your speedometer will read.

My 2F pulls the Georgia hills without much issues, but my rig is also has EFI.

 

[brian]

33" tires with the standard gearing, will produce what is sometimes called "Rubber Overdrive". Note, you will be going faster than your speedometer will read.

My 2F pulls the Georgia hills without much issues, but my rig is also has EFI.

swapping to 3:70 rears in addition to the 33s is like having a 4 1/2 speed trans