The best reason to use 33s with your vehicle instead of those stock tires is to get some ground clearance. With the larger sidewalls, you get extra safety and comfort when driving in virtually any conditions.
Once the 33s are installed correctly, the noise that you hear in the cabin reduces significantly. Although the tires still sing at high speeds on pavement, you won’t get those deafening sounds that interfere with the experience.
The 33s deliver a minimal loss to your fuel economy, and most drivers experience no change in that dynamic. You also get the same performance with these tires.
There’s only one catch. Some makes and models need a 3-inch lift to generate enough space for the 33s to provide this advantage.
33s with a 3-Inch Lift
The problem with running a 3-inch lift with 33s is that most models don’t have enough clearance to create a desirable outcome. Most models need some extra help with trimming and bump-stopping to ensure you’re not rubbing. If you decide to do some trim work, you’ll need to cover the sharp edge to prevent damage.
Most drivers encounter the problem of spacing when rolling with 33s and a 3-inch lift. Although you can take a Jeep and potentially run 35s without any lift, it usually takes some modification work to make the vehicle usable.
Using a Jeep as an example, you’ll need to take the following steps to avoid cutting your tired badly with this setup.
- Cut and fold the rear fenders to provide enough space for the 33s.
- Trim the front fenders to make the vehicle wheelable.
- Use a length of door edge trimming to cover the sharp edges after completing the work.
As for the bump-stopping that needs to happen when rolling with 33s and a 3-inch lift, you’ll discover that operating a low-COG setup isn’t as straightforward as it seems. You can’t just throw a large-diameter tire onto a low-lift rig.
You’ll need to account for the uptravel, droop, and how that action relates to your shocks.
That’s why it is often a good idea to use limiting straps with this setup. It’ll keep the axle from dropping too far to overextend the shocks. Progressive bumpstops are another investment worth considering, especially since you can trim them to match your rig.
Before you get started, you’ll want to verify that your final setup is legal. You’re not allowed to remove fender flares or have the tires stick outside of them in some states. That makes it much harder to fit larger wheels on low cog rigs.
Why Should I Equip 33s and a 3-Inch Lift to My Vehicle?
Everyone has their own reasons for deciding to equip 33s with a 3-inch lift. The primary benefit is that you’ll end up getting more consistency with your ride, especially when the road or trail you’re navigating delivers unexpected experiences.
You can handle the various inconsistencies without as much disruption in the cabin with this setup.
The disadvantage of using 33s with a 3-inch lift is that you can lose some torque during standard operations. Generally, you can lose about 3.5% for every inch over the stock diameter you run.
Here are some of the other pros and cons to consider when deciding to use this setup for your vehicle.
| List of the Pros of Equipping 33s | List of the Cons of Equipping 33s |
| • They often make your vehicle look better. Instead of having a forward slope to it, the result is something closer to a level appearance. • The larger footprint from the 33s with the 3-inch lift allows for extra floatation on softer driving surfaces. • Since you have a more significant footprint, the risk of experiencing a flat then declines significantly. • The taller sidewalls offer improvements to ride comfort. • With a wider tire comes extra tread, ensuring that you have enough traction to navigate the road or trail in front of you. • Having a taller sidewall provides more cushioning between the rim and potential rocks or other hazards that are out there on off-road trails. | • The taller tires with a 3-inch lift can sometimes create performance losses in unexpected areas. This potential disadvantage depends on the make and model you modify. • Larger tires can sometimes have a negative influence on the overall stopping power you get from the vehicle. • Some 33s are significantly heavier than stock tires, creating more weight that can decrease cabin comfort levels. This issue is especially prevalent when the shocks get overextended. • Wider tires can sometimes lead to losses in steering accuracy or speed recognition. You might need to refer to your owner’s manual to see what changes to your speedometer might be necessary. • Tires with extra width can increase the car’s rolling resistance, resulting in higher fuel consumption scenarios for some drivers. |
What Are the Best 33-Inch Tires to Purchase?
When I want to outfit my truck with 33s, I appreciate the all-season tread design that comes with the Cooper Evolution M/T.
The tread pattern might look like a standard all-season design at first, but it delivers a lot of help in slick or muddy conditions. I don’t need to worry about the rain hitting the road after a prolonged heatwave with these on because it handles the initial oil release successfully.
Although they aren’t super helpful in deep snow, I just throw on the chains for the most challenging climbs and descents when traveling.
I also love how they’re studdable for extra traction. If you don’t want to deal with chains, you can throw on the points that give you that control boost when it’s needed the most.
Here are the four primary benefits I’ve discovered when using these tires on my truck.
| Earth-Based Traction: | The tires do an excellent job of tackling slick or tricky terrain. Its tread uses a combination of large blocks with mud scoopers that dig down into harsh conditions until you can grab some traction and start going. |
| Trail Grip Sidewalls: | If you like to do lots of off-road climbing, these tires deliver plenty of power. When you add a three-inch lift to the 33s, you can grab onto sticks, rocks, or whatever is up ahead to get a strong resistance to rubbing. |
| Trench Control: | The Cooper Evolution M/T tires can grab traction from sloppy trenches because the tread pattern does an excellent job of clearing the thick mud from the tires. It’s a continuous process that slicks material away to ensure that you’re not stuck in the middle of nowhere. |
| Stone Protection: | These tires feature ridges that protect them against the sharp damage that sometimes occurs when facing sharp rocks, or the tread expels lodged stones when off-roading. |
Cooper Tires come with a free 45-day test drive and the company’s standard limited warranty.
If you don’t want to install the tires yourself, one of the best options available today is to select a service provider through Amazon. When you log into your profile, you’ll see the available locations and the rate charged per tire to complete the work.
The professional installation for the Cooper Evolution M/T tires also comes backed by Amazon’s “Happiness Guarantee.” The manufacturer makes the tires in the United States, and they are a white letter product.
A Final Thought About Putting 33s with a 3-Inch Lift
Although having 33s on your truck, Jeep, or another vehicle is helpful, it’s not the only consideration to review during the installation process. You must also review the pros and cons of having a lift kit. Ride changes can occur when installing lift kits on my various vehicles over the years, they’re not made for that specific change.
I’ve found that it’s an affordable way to improve the suspension without actually changing the shocks if you do it right.
The problem you’ll encounter is that a 3-inch lift might be above what is considered a stock or “vanilla” installation that doesn’t require additional modifications.
Some vehicles that would benefit from having 33s installed might need a custom lift kit to hit the three inches. You might need to add spacers, change springs, or create body mods to make the investment work.
If you only do a body lift, you’ll need to take the time to bolt it back into place. The frame becomes more visible with this work, delivering more visual awareness to the potential gaps found there.
It might be better to invest in a suspension kit. This option can push you as high as you want without the 3-inch restriction. That means you can go to whatever level that makes you feel comfortable, making the driving experience more articulate.
I highly recommend using the Cooper Evolution M/T tires for the 3-inch lift to ensure you get the traction control desired with your driving needs. It’s a relatively small investment for the massive dividends this sequence provides when you’re behind the wheel.