Gear Ratio for TJ with 33's

[TJustin]

I am doing an XJ 44 swap, and am to the point of deciding gears... I'm tore between 4.56's and 4.88's. The next set of tires would most likely be 35's.

I have heard that mileage will drop with the 4.88's if its not a lot I'm not too worried about it..

What experience do you have with this...

FYI its a DD.

 

[str8axleguy]

I never did them in my TJ but it was running 33's with the six cylinder and they told me 456. If you have the 4 cylinder or are going to be running 35's in the future I would go with the 488's for sure. I would rather be a little low on the gearing rather than changing them out and not noticing a difference.

 

[gijohn40]

if you are going to be driving it on the street I would go with 4.56 but if its just a offroad vehicle then go 4.88 and 35's.... but your gas will suck and your top speed will be not that high.... I run 4.56 in my cj with 33 right now and its great and will be just fine when I go to 35's/./.

My expedition has 4.56 and is running on 35's and with the v8 its is perfect...

 

[I Lean]

Auto or manual TJ? If auto, what year? (basically, do you have overdrive or not?)

 

[TJustin]

Ya, its a 2000 TJ and the NV 3550 5-speed tranny...

 

[I Lean]

With your OD you'll be OK either way, really. Especially with the 35's in your future.

Still, since it's your daily driver you'll have to balance the economy and stuff....is your typical usage mostly freeway, or around town? More freeway I'd lean toward 4.56's still, otherwise 4.88.

 

[TJustin]

I would say its 1/2 town and 1/2 freeway...

 

[GOAT]

For a DD TJ on 35s:

LP30= 4.56
HP30= 4.88

The gas mileage will almost be the same between the two with a 5spd, but the extra RPM from 88s will be nice in the rocks as well as on the freeway in the mountains.

my 2c

 

[mesha]

4.56s were perfect in my tj for 33s, but if you are going to 35's then I'd get 4.88s for sure.

 

[MikeGyver]

4.88 for sure, especially if you'll ever run 35's or have a 4 cylinder.
I have 4:88's in my YJ with 33's and they're perfect. A friend went with 4.56 in his 4.0L TJ on 33's and wished he had gone with 4.88 instead.

Also nobody is addressing the fact that fuel consumption is not necissarily RPM related, it's much more LOAD based than the very small rpm difference you'll see between the two choices.

 

[mesha]

p.s. you jeep is going to be soooo much more fun to drive.