Alright, i know this has been discussed a bunch...but in all the thread searching i find mixed responses over and over again. I read by some its fine and by others its horrible....im looking for the real answer and what to expect. Basically im trying to decide on 31's vs 33's. I have a 22re and will NOT be re-gearing ($$). Here are the facts:

All stock engine/gears/etc.
I drive 80% highway at 65mph no faster (2750-2850rpm), and 20% city below 45mph.
It currently have 30x9.5 and the truck is very slow as it is (to me). I drive it slow, i never usually go above 3-3.5k rpm. I live in the right lane on the highway. I really dont care about having much more power, i knew what i was getting into when i bought it.
I get 21mpg.
I live in florida where it is flat.

I really want 33's but not if its gona be terrible on the highway. I am ok with a little power loss and a little less mpg.

The question:

Is it really that bad? Would you do it? Have you done it?

Thanks!

Here is my truck, ive only had it for 2 months:

 

I run 32s and it does fine on the highway I'm sure the extra inch will slow you down more but I would have to think it wouldnt be that bad

 

I ran 32's on my 22re 4runner and got 20 to 22 on the highway then put 33's on it and the power decrease and wind resistance was pretty noticeable. I then put a header and full exhaust on it and it still seemed slower. I was getting 18 on the Hwy if I was very nice to it. I'd stick with 32's at max unless your ok with the power loss and mpg loss. It definitely looked better with the 33's but without rehearing I'd say don't go that big. Just my opinion though.

 

I'll let ya know in a few days. Maybe even tomorrow or Sunday. 33's going on tomorrow.

 

I had 35s with stock gearing on my old 81 and it wasn't that bad. I could go 68 at max and around town was fine, just stayed in 3rd gear when going 35

 

ive got 35s with stock gears and i can do 65-70 on the highway

 

88 xcab with a rebuilt 22re, lc header, full exhuast, mild cam, stock gears pushes 33 9.50's pretty darn good. Uphill it will slow down some, but not bad at all

 

I felt a huge difference going from stock to 31's

 

Most mods are in my sig but I'm pretty happy with stock gearing on mine. I run 31's and other than the slow take off, it's not too bad. I get 21.8 mpg. Been thinking of going up to 33's as well but I don't want to get below the magical 20 mpg mark. Do some (on the cheaper side) mods like the exhaust, intake, supra swap, header, see what it's like and then go up if you decide to. I think you'll be happier with better pep on the smaller tires, especially with gas going up.

 

1994 toyota pickup with 34x10.50's and i can run 90mph with stock gearing.
I had 33x12.50's on before and it did just fine.
Right now with the 34's i get 15-18 mpg.

I say go for it. You'll notice some difference in power and get up and go...But its worth it in the end for looks and performance offroad.

 

A regear should cost no more then $350. Maybe $400 if you have trouble finding diffs. Get the 33's. Try em out. If the mpg's suffer or it's just intolerably slow, research the gear swap.

Btw, gear link in my sig. It's that easy.

 

I pretty much do everything myself, but the only thing that scares me is the backlash on the gears when changing out gear sets. Never done it myself.
Changing out 3rds if you can find a set of 4.56's or 4.88's is easy though.

Same thing goes for tearing apart a trans and t-case. I will R&R them, but to rebuild them well.

 

Buy the tires and run it.

 

Brandon, you have to remember, most 4.56's and 4.88's came out of 2nd gen 4runners, most of em pushed by a 3.0, chances are they don't have many miles on them.

Most guys around here that run 33x12.5's with 4.88's get in the 16mpg range.

My buddy had a 22re, 4.56's and 32" toyo at's and was pushing 23-24mpg on the hwy. I am hoping for the same when I get my 265/75/16 duratracs.

 

I'm pushing about 20-22ish on the highway with my 31's and 4:10's and the weber'd 22r. Of coarse it's a rebuilt motor with less than 10,000 miles on it as well. Expecting about 15-17 with the 33's.

My reference was to him just changing R & P's if he went that route.

 

I caught what you meant. I could get through it, it would just take me forever.

I still need a hwy reading with the new motor. Hoping it jumps back up for me, I was dropping around 19-20 with the heavy 31's