When you want to upgrade your vehicle, one of the fastest and easiest ways to do it is to change your tire size.
For most trucks and SUVs, that means stepping up to a 33-inch tire.
Although that can be a significant change for some vehicles, it isn’t an impossible or expensive modification to manage. You may need up to four inches of lift to accomplish a positive result, but the rest of the work is relatively straightforward.
You’ll need wheels that accommodate the tires, body work to let them turn, and other custom mods that make your vehicle meet your aesthetic expectations.
The Ultimate Setup for 33-Inch Tires
When using 33-inch tires for your vehicle, the more up-travel you can obtain is better. That means some trucks or SUVs need a four-inch suspension lift, followed by an additional inch or two with the body. You must improve the outboard shocks, but the result is a fantastic on- or off-road driving experience.
How you approach a setup with 33-inch tires depends on the aesthetic preferences you have for your vehicle.
If you prefer having the stock fenders and body, it doesn’t make sense to lift anything but the suspension. Once you accomplish that goal, you can throw on some 33-inch tires of up to 12.5 inches in width.
You will need to review your clearances before installing this setup to ensure it works for your make and model. If you own a Jeep, you’re almost guaranteed to experience improvements in driving capability with this option.
Most Jeep TJ owners choose the Dana 35/30 combo with their 33s because anything more significant makes the expense virtually unreasonable.
◼️ Why Is a Proper Tire Necessary for Your Off-Roading Setup?
Whether you go off-roading in the American West or you prefer the solitude of the Appalachian trails, you need a tire that works on the street and the dirt equally well.
What that means for your vehicle depends on where you live or drive.
If you choose narrow-width 33s for your make and model, you’ll have a lighter product that sometimes bites and steers better under challenging conditions.
When you choose something broader for your vehicle, the bigger footprint delivers more stability. A larger tire and wheel combination also produces additional visual aesthetics that might not add value to what you drive, making the overall experience better.
Can You Put 33-Inch Tires on Stock Rims?
You can mount most 33-inch tires on your stock rims without worrying about rubbing problems. If you roll with a 9-inch-wide wheel, it’s almost overkill for those factory rims. Your OEs are 7.5 inches wide while having a little more than six inches of backspacing. They can be 275s or 285s.
OE tires represent the “original equipment” the automaker approved for your specific make and model.
Most manufacturers equip their vehicles with tires made specifically for their brand. These automakers include AMG, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Quattro, and Volkswagen.
Most American automakers don’t take this step unless there is a special-edition vehicle that requires specific specs.
When you want to put 33-inch tires on your Jeep for off-roading, you can include some extra backspacing without causing the vehicle to look like it is squatting. If your rims top out at 8.5 inches with 5.2-inch backspacing, you’ll get the lower center of gravity while maintaining the proper clearance levels.
I’ve always found it to be a little easier to run with a set of take-off wheels and tires for my Jeep. It’s much easier to get the setup I need for each situation that way, and the cost factor isn’t that bad.
I love using the All-Terrain T/A tires from BF Goodrich for that need. It’s a radial design that delivers a bruise-resistant sidewall and split resistance. The product naturally deflects snagging or protruding objects in an off-road environment.
Its tread works well to maximize traction because it bites the edges while keeping a stable surface. They work on snow as well as they do on a dirt trail.
The BF Goodrich tires come with a 6-year, 50,000-mile warranty. They’ll be about 11.5 inches wide, with is even bigger than what comes recommended for most stock wheels.
I love them because they help my Wrangler look aggressive without being over the top about it. If you’ve run 33-inch tires before, you know how some brands can be quite noisy. These are relatively quiet on the road.
How Do I Find Out the Tire Size I Need?
When you purchase a new or used vehicle, it will obviously come equipped with tires already. The trucks or SUVs bought at a dealership come with the stock recommendation from the automaker unless they’re modified for a specific purpose.
That means you can look at the outer or inner sidewall of the tire to determine what size to purchase. If you want to run 33s and your vehicle supports that size, you’ll be getting 275s or 285s.
The first step is to review if your make and model have a brand-specific tire equipped.
When you have OE tires, a specific marking on the tire indicates this fact for you. Here is a review of the current designations.
- * (BMW)
- AO (Audi)
- MO (Mercedes-Benz)
- MO1 (AMG)
- N0-N4 (Porsche)
- RO1 (Quattro)
- VO (Volkswagen)
The * is not a typo for BMW tires. That designation is what you’ll see when it has an OE set equipped.
When you encounter this situation, the best practice is to replace those tires with another set that contains the necessary OE marking. If you decide to use 33s or make other changes, you could end up voiding your vehicle’s warranty.
Your owner’s manual will let you know what tire and wheel size to purchase.
If you want to use 33-inch tires, you should know that almost all IFS vehicles need at least 2.5 inches of lift to achieve the results you want. It is also necessary to trim the body mount and fender liners to accommodate that size.
It’s usually easier to install 33s on vehicles with solid front axle design since fewer modifications are necessary.
Here are the other considerations to factor in when considering 33-inch tires for your vehicle.
1. How much modification is necessary?
Most of today’s 4WD trucks and SUVs have numerous safety features incorporated into their chassis. That means you can run into some complications when installing 33-inch wheels and tires.
The third-generation Toyota Tacoma trucks provide an excellent example of this potential problem. Since the body mount protrudes extensively, you’re restricted from fitting an oversized tire without buying an aftermarket mount or performing extensive work.
You’d need to cut, weld, and paint the existing one to handle the upgrade.
2. Is fender and arch trimming necessary?
Fender trimming is almost always part of the process when you work with backspacing and the wheel offset. You’ll need to do this work more often if you use wider versions of the 33s.
If you stick with the 9.5-inch track, there isn’t as much arch clearance to create for the extra flex and movement needed in off-road situations.
The inside fender typically needs some trimming if you squeeze those 33-inch tires into a wheel arch without lifting the vehicle. There is some arch plastic in there to address to ensure there’s enough space to complete a turn.
3. Can your vehicle support the size?
Even if you use a lift kit and make other modifications, some vehicles cannot handle running 33-inch tires. The only way you can get away with this upgrade is if you use spacers that take the wheel outside the frame, and that work isn’t always considered street legal.
◼️ Why Are Jeeps Often Modified to Run with 33s?
When you look for 33-inch tires, you’ll find that most Jeep owners like to use this sizing option. That’s because many of the stock wheels are 35s. By taking them down a couple of inches, the boxy feel of some models gets reduced while eliminating the looseness from the backend that comes.
A Jeep will treat you right if you can get used to the ride and handling of 35s. You can easily reach 90 miles per hour on an open highway, even with ECM limits.
Should you opt for 33s if you don’t like driving 35s? If you make this modification, it’ll give you an extra inch of up-travel. The change also gives up an inch at the differentials and the belly skid. If you have rutted trails, you need the additional clearance for your off-roading adventures.
Many Jeeps require minimal (or zero) modification to run with 33s. The only issue involves your wheel size. If you have 35s that won’t work, stepping down to 33-inch rims can be a bit tricky.
There are plenty of them out there, but the bolt pattern isn’t always available. That market is geared more toward trucks and SUVs than Jeeps.
What Would I Do About Outfitting 33s?
There aren’t many rutty trails near where I live, which means I can get away with 33s without much difficulty. I throw on the All-Terrain T/A tires from BF Goodrich and tackle a dusty trail.
I’ve got three reasons why that setup works for me.
- When I get out of the city, the rural roads are typically groomed with gravel. They don’t have that center rut where your tire tracks are automatically fed.
- Several formal off-road trails are within a few miles of my home, providing a firm-ground driving experience that doesn’t develop much mud.
- Hard-packed sand trails along the shoreline allow me to get more traction with the 33s than the 35s.
That’s not to say I never get stuck running with my 33s. It’s happened more than once! You must be prepared for those muddy, snowy, or wet sand circumstances that prevent your tires from getting traction.
That’s why I carry traction boards with me wherever I go.
My favorite ones are the X-Bull Recovery Traction Tracks. I know they’re a little more expensive than other products out there, but they’re designed to create friction. The structure delivers emergency grip in harsh environments so that you’re not stuck spinning your tires.
When you grab the combo back, you’ll get a carrying bag for the traction tracks and mounting brackets to make the installation more stable.
I also love how the product comes with a safety guarantee. If something happens, the manufacturer replaces the product or accepts a return within 12 months of purchase. The pair weighs 11 pounds, but it can handle up to 10 tons of load capacity when used on flat ground.
If you love exploring, it helps to think about the ultimate setup for 33-inch tires. When you don’t need to do any body mods and have OE wheels to use, you’ve got an affordable way to improve the overall driving experience.
