I put on new wheels and tires last week. Black Rhino Moab's with Mickey Thompson ATZ 305/60/18 leveled with Bilstein 5100's.

I had gears slated as my next upgrade, and likely the last thing I do to the truck to get it exactly as I want it. Here's the thing, I don't feel like the truck lost much with the new wheels and tires. I was expecting it to be a dog from different articles I have read, but I'm really not disappointed with the way it feels. Sure, I can feel that the tires are heavier than the stockers, but acceleration isn't bad. I do have a Gryphon programmer with custom tunes, so maybe that is helping, but I'm having a hard time justifying swapping gears now. Living in SoCal, a lot of my miles are 75 mph on the freeway, so 4.10's would probably eat up a little more fuel. I'm sure acceleration is a little better with gears, but I figure it is a truck which is to say I didn't buy it for its 0-60 time. Another thing is I'm afraid the performance to dollar ratio wouldn't be the rocket I hope for if I do swap gears, and I don't want to feel like I just wasted a grand. As far as towing, I only tow a few times a year when we head to the dunes, 24ft enclosed trailer #6K lbs. Not sure the gears would be worth 4-5 tows. Anyways, just thought I'd share my observation. Not sure I'm doing the 4.10's at this juncture.

 

I'm curious too. I think the gear charts are a little wacky. I ran 33/12.5r18 on my Z71 with 3.42 and didn't see much change except bottom end. Now that I have my 5.0 with 3.55 I think I'll be ok.

 

I would get the gears. with the engine under load all the time you will burn more gas. The powerband starts around 2100. with proper gearing keeps you closer to that and reduces load up on the engine. It's like you dragging around an extra 40 lbs. It will also kill the advantage of 4Low when you need it. every little bit helps and no one wants to ask for a ****** strap from a jeep or yota.

 

i too run 33s and most of my driving is at 70 or so mph. the cost of doing gears rarely pays for itself in gas, and in your situation 4.10s do seem a bit much for mainly highway driving and 3.55s to 3.73s is just stupid unless you find them on a part out.

 

I've got 33's as well (though they're a little on the thin side), and the main reason I haven't done gears is that I'm gonna have to do 4.56 or 4.88's and those are way too aggressive for my current set up. There's not way I'd do the 4.10 or 4.30's I want now, only to have to do the higher gears later on. I'm fine with the slight difference between my old and new tires though

 

I plan on going 4.56 with my 33's because my little 4.6 works too hard to do anything. I have 3.73's, so 4.10 would be a waste of $$ and there are no 4.30 for the front.

 

Do it! I was in the same situation and this was exactly my set up. With 33's, going from 3.55 to 4.10 COMPLETELY transformed my truck, and I'm talking about all aspects; acceleration, fun factor, overall driveability, and on and on! Hands down the best money I've ever spent for mods to my truck. In fact, I'll never upgrade to a taller tire again on a future vehicle without budgeting for gears at the same time as tires.

As for the fuel/gas mileage comments--incorrect. 4.10's will improve your fuel economy. With lower gears, you have not increased the load on the engine, you have decreased it. Yes, rpm's have increased for a given speed, but load is reduced. Load is a much bigger fuel economy factor than engine rpm alone. I saw an across-the-board long term avearag fuel economy increase of 2+ mpg's in all driving conditions after going to 4.10's

Your driveability and fuel economy may not be as apparent as mine due to your programmer; true. But search around, a programmer is still a band-aid for proper gearing and will not make up for it.

 

Please explain how changing gears will kill the advantages of 4Low??

The the 4Hi/Low conversion is a ratio performed in the transfer case and is independent and irrelevant of the gears in the axle. The percentage of change to give you 4Low remains unchanged. The gear change in the axle simply changes the ratio applied to the ground, not produced in the transfer case. 4Low remains exactly as it was. In fact, as with all other driving conditions, 4Low is further enhanded by the lower gear ratio of the axle.

 

In my '01 when I changed to 4.56, I never used 4-low again. 1st gear and 4 high were plenty.

 

Galaxy, you responded to a spammer.

 

Ive been in the same predicament for a while now as well. I have a 4.6 with 3:73 gearing and run 33's. I feel as though paying for 4:10's, just one step up wouldnt justify the money and 4:56's would be a bit too steep of a gear for them as well. As mentioned before i didnt get a truck for its 0-60 time. She slowed up a little bit when i put the 33's on but it wasnt horrible. If anything ill probably wait until i get 35's or 36's and then get the 4:56's but until then im doing just fine with my 3:73's. Just my input.

 

who's the spammer??

 

alanajqwv haha. I didn't know it was a spammer either

 

Darn-it!!! I got sucked into that one

I actually agree...with 33's you don't gain enough from 3.73 to 4.10 to make it cost effective. You have a good future plan; stick to it!

 

I have 35s and 3.55s for 115k miles. Just run it if you want. Everyone will say it is the end of the world but most people that don't change gears never post on here anyway. If you tow take it easy or you will toast the trans.