For enthusiasts, building a custom lifted Jeep isn’t a hobby… it’s a way of life. Some of us need to build, to tinker and customize our Jeep vehicles until they’re completely and utterly unique — a reflection of ourselves. And for those of us who can only afford one vehicle, our custom builds aren’t a project vehicle, they’re our daily driver. So it’s important to realize some of the things you’re going to face daily driving a Jeep on 37-inch tires before you decide to slap them on there. Today we’re going to highlight some of the realities that come with just that, including a look at the ride quality, fuel efficiency and parking drama you’re bound to face.
Ride Quality: Effects On Comfort
37” tires are massive, and while there’s no denying that they look amazing, you’re going to have to deal with some side effects. Combining your lift kit – which will need to be at least 2.5” to accommodate tires this size – with larger tires is going to alter your vehicle’s center of gravity. This change, in tandem with the beefier sidewalls of your new tires, is going to give you a stiffer ride over bumps and a floaty feeling on the highway if you don’t dial in your setup properly.
Fortunately, you can usually counteract the changes of your new ride height and massive tires by further augmenting your suspension system. If you get a quality premium lift kit, you might not need additional upgrades. If you don’t, however, you’re going to want to pair your 37s with upgraded shocks, high-quality control arms and proper alignment geometry.
Fuel Efficiency: Effects On MPG
It probably won’t come as a surprise, but your fuel economy ratings are going to take a hit by adding 37s to the mix. With heavier tires, more rolling resistance and altered gear ratios, the engine of your lifted Jeep is going to have to work a lot harder to keep those 37” tires moving. You can likely expect a drop of anywhere from 3 to 5 miles per gallon, depending on your driving habits and how aggressively your Jeep has been re-geared.
You can counteract these effects a bit by re-gearing your axles – typically to 4.88 or 5.13 for most setups – to restore some performance and prevent your transmission from constantly hunting for the right gear. Plus, keeping your 37” tires at the right pressure will not only help reduce wear and tear but can also have a positive effect on fuel efficiency.
Parking Drama: Effects On Maneuverability
The thing about equipping your Jeep with a lift kit and 37” tires is that it’s not just making it taller, it typically makes your Jeep wider as well. You're going to have trouble far more often squeezing into tight parking structures or backing into parking lot spots. The drama doesn’t always end there, as for some reason you’ll often deal with other customers angry – we think – about just how awesome your vehicle is.
Parking isn’t the only thing affected either, as your overall maneuverability will become quite different with big tires. Tight turns might require the three-point approach more often than not, and your new height can make it more difficult to see low curbs or parking bollards. If you haven’t already, you should consider adding extended side mirrors and always utilize your backup camera to its fullest extent.
PRO TIP: Park further away when you can, as you’ll have plenty of space to pull in and out, you’ll be able to enter and exit much more easily and you’ll experience far fewer door dings.
We hope that you can overlook these negative side effects and work to correct them with our different tips and tricks, as there’s no greater feeling than daily driving your lifted Jeep… even if it has 37” tires! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us right here at LiftedJeeps.com.