Bigger tires, Loss of power?

[HemiPower36]

Hello, this question to aimed at the forum members who have over sized tires on their truck. I am only seeking their opinions because, well, they have over sized tires on their truck. Nothing personal. I am either going to go one of two routes. (1) Use a quick lift shock to level my truck and put on 33" tires. Or, (2) 4-6" lift with 35" tires. I am leaning more towards the 4-6" lift. I like BDS with the coil overs. Siiiick,

Anywho, I love the power of my truck. I love to stomp on the gas and haul balls. Incredible. I have heard of people putting larger tires on their truck and noticing an obvious loss of "uummmpphh" as the engine labors harder to turn those beasts.

I own a 2014 CC Ram 1500 3.92 8- speed 4x4. Based on your experience with your trucks, how did your truck handle the added size/ weight of the larger tires? I want the 35" tires with the BDS lift. However, if it will turn my truck into a **** then I will just level it and call it a day.

If you respond please include your truck specs (year, engine, make/ model) and your suspension set up with tire size.

Thank you, sorry for the long post.

 

[Diminus]

I'm running 35 inch cooper STT's, 3.55 gears with the 6 speed tranny in my 2012, also installing BDS in the up coming week. I did notice a bit more drag on start off but nothing serious, truck still pulls hard on the highway . With you running 3.92 gears 35s will be fine you could probably go to 37's if you really wanted to. But yeah with 35s and the setup your aiming for I personally think you'll be fine. There's a gentleman on here running over 10 inches of lift on 3.55 gears and 38's if I'm not mistaken. Cheers!

 

[PX8]

You will feel it some. The kicker will be the MPG, braking, and handling. I didn't even increase the size of my tires on a V6 Nissan Frontier I just went with some Duratracs over the standard Rugged Trails and I noticed a difference in all of the areas. The Duratracs were 32" weighing 45 pounds a piece, the Rugged Trails were only 38 pounds a piece. Unsprung wieght is a SOB, I'm telling you.

 

[Caldwell]

as said above. your gonna feel like you lost power, and that is expected. 3.92's can handle 35's with out any issues. you just wont have quite the same 0-60 time if you will. The best thing you can do is to look for light weight tires, and light weight rims to help offset the loss in power.

also its something that I feel is often over looked, and not discussed alot. BRAKES...the larger tires will put added stress on your braking power. the stock brakes can take it, but they will not be as effective compared to stock. a good set of pads and slotted rotors will greatly minimize the braking loses of a larger tire

 

[RedNBlack]

I have 35's with 3.55 and a 6" RCX lift... as was said before by others, I can feel it dog a little off the line, but it will still leave other trucks in the dust!

 

[HemiPower36]

The best thing you can do is to look for light weight tires, and light weight rims to help offset the loss in power.

also its something that I feel is often over looked, and not discussed alot. BRAKES...the larger tires will put added stress on your braking power.

Good Sh*t, thanks for the advice.

 

[Caldwell]

the lightest weighing 35 I have found is ( 325/60/20 ) Duratracs = 67 lbs per tire. compared to 70 lbs or higher.

looking into after market rims can also help shave some weight. I shaved about 7lbs per corner when I swapped my DC2's on. That's only 28 lbs, but its that much less effort it takes to get the truck moving.

 

[PX8]

Yea, braking can be a *****. MT's don't stop great to begin with, but add 10 pounds on each corner and dude, it's scary as **** when the 18 year old in front of you slams on the brakes after dropping the phone during a text message.

 

[RyanJM]

I now have a 14 RC 2wd with a 6spd and 3.92. I just finished the Maxtrac 4.5" with ballistic razorbacks 20x9 and 35x12.5 federal cougaria MT's. It doesn't pull quite as hard off the line but after a day I didn't even notice anymore. Only thing that I noticed is the extra time to stop the truck. With a 8spd and 3.92's your truck should be even better off the line. Its not a total dog. Honestly if you want a fast truck their is always the supercharger. Wish I had the cash for one.

 

[FlyinHaYn]

New tire size x gears.. Divided by stock tire size = recommended gears.

 

[PX8]

I now have a 14 RC 2wd with a 6spd and 3.92. I just finished the Maxtrac 4.5" with ballistic razorbacks 20x9 and 35x12.5 federal cougaria MT's. It doesn't pull quite as hard off the line but after a day I didn't even notice anymore. Only thing that I noticed is the extra time to stop the truck. With a 8spd and 3.92's your truck should be even better off the line. Its not a total dog. Honestly if you want a fast truck their is always the supercharger. Wish I had the cash for one.

Man for the price of the supercharger and install if you can't do it yourself I think I'd have to rent a car once in a while for the need for speed.

 

[fastNugly]

35's with and 8 speed 3.92 will still haul ass.
It does it without question on a 6spd.

Your MPG and braking as others mentioned will take a hit.

Try some 4.56 and 35's. Boy, it's fun! Only issue is highway rpms is through the roof and depending on your exhaust, it is annoying. I ran that way for winter... Lol

Any help with part sourcing or questions, let me know how I can assist.

Truck specs now:
7.4" lift (6" plus 1.4 bilsteins)
37x14x18 Nitto Terra
4.56 gears
2012 6spd Hemi

 

[fastNugly]

the lightest weighing 35 I have found is ( 325/60/20 ) Duratracs = 67 lbs per tire. compared to 70 lbs or higher.

They also measure slightly smaller than other brands with similar sizing.
But agreed! Weight helps and ATS are lighter than MT's and some rim brands are lighter than the other.
Moto metal's wheels seem to be a few pounds lighter than XD wheels

My set up weighs 115lbs /corner

I've had wheels weight closer to 130lbs.
I've swapped wheels, adjusted height to get it exactly how I want, yet still have the balance of power and MPG

 

[hankthetank2012]

35's with and 8 speed 3.92 will still haul ass.
It does it without question on a 6spd.

Your MPG and braking as others mentioned will take a hit.

Try some 4.56 and 35's. Boy, it's fun! Only issue is highway rpms is through the roof and depending on your exhaust, it is annoying. I ran that way for winter... Lol

Any help with part sourcing or questions, let me know how I can assist.

Truck specs now:
7.4" lift (6" plus 1.4 bilsteins)
37x14x18 Nitto Terra
4.56 gears
2012 6spd Hemi

How does ur truck run with the 4.56 and 37". I just put 35" on mine and was considering doing the 4.56 gears. Sounds like it would be better to wait til I get my 37"

Sent from my LG-LS970 using Tapatalk

 

[fastNugly]

How does ur truck run with the 4.56 and 37". I just put 35" on mine and was considering doing the 4.56 gears. Sounds like it would be better to wait til I get my 37"

Sent from my LG-LS970 using Tapatalk

Runs AMAZING!
I would say (for me personally) 4.56 is too low of a gear (higher numerically) for 35's especially if highway MPG is of importance as the truck revs higher with the smaller tire.
However, if you are after performance, 4.56 and 35's is a BLAST. Like spinning/burning MT tires fun....lol

But with 37's or even 38's its perfect. The right performance, yet decent MPG.

It still is not equivalent to stock BUT much better than when I had 3.55 and 37's
Almost wanted to kill myself, thats how bad it was (again for me personally)
Parked the truck and searched for a shop who was willing and capable to do my gears.

It was the best investment I made on this truck.

 

[xrsman]

Would 35's and 4.10 gears get better mpgs than with 3.92?

 

[fastNugly]

Would 35's and 4.10 gears get better mpgs than with 3.92?

I would say with 3.92 but between those 2 gears you can go either way.
If you have 3.92 and looking to go to 4.10 in hopes of getting better MPG, Id suggest to save your money as you may not even notice it as well as notice the performance difference

 

[xrsman]

I would say with 3.92 but between those 2 gears you can go either way.
If you have 3.92 and looking to go to 4.10 in hopes of getting better MPG, Id suggest to save your money as you may not even notice it as well as notice the performance difference

I didn't think there would be much of a difference but I thought I'd ask anyway! Haha thanks for the heads up!

 

[RyanJM]

Man for the price of the supercharger and install if you can't do it yourself I think I'd have to rent a car once in a while for the need for speed.

I actually have a modded LS1 Trans Am I use for a weekend toy. But man that supercharger would make a ram a fun daily driver.

 

[PX8]

One thing I guess you could do is shave the tires?? Don't know, that wouldn't be something I could do in confidence. I can't tell ya'll how happy I was to get rid of my Duratracs on that Frontier. Don't get me wrong. I did some serious playing with that thing and people were amazed at what those tires would do. But if I'm honest, that was like once a year or something. That weight killed that V6 and brakes. The soft sidewalls made it scary too. I'm glad I never needed to do any panic steering. Someone help me with the correct term there.

I replaced them with some cooper ATP's. A excellent tire for the money!!!