The rig needs new tires and I'm up in the air about size.  Here's the situation.  88 Sami, 1.3, presumably 4.57:1 gears.  Now I was all set on 33/12.5's, but there on international backorder.  I can have 32/11.5's now.  I was gonna wait for 33's but last night I was wheelin' behind Real_Red_Sammi on a tight trail for probably the first time since he installed his 35's.  He got those meats hung up on some stuff.  Now I'm thinking about just getting the 32's for maximum maneuverability.....Open to suggestions

The rig needs new tires and I'm up in the air about size.  Here's the situation.  88 Sami, 1.3, presumably 4.57:1 gears.  Now I was all set on 33/12.5's, but there on international backorder.  I can have 32/11.5's now.  I was gonna wait for 33's but last night I was wheelin' behind Real_Red_Sammi on a tight trail for probably the first time since he installed his 35's.  He got those meats hung up on some stuff.  Now I'm thinking about just getting the 32's for maximum maneuverability.....Open to suggestions

How much lift do you have and what terrain are you most on? For me, I like to put as much tire as I can on a vehicle while keeping it as low to the ground as possible. It seems like I'm always in off-camber situations and the lower CG always helps and larger tire diameters always seems to roll over obsticles better...

Another thought is check on that backorder. What tire are you talking about? MT/R? I've heard about this backorder 'stuff' before and it has been bunk. Maybe try a new dealer?

The stock gearing on a Samurai is 3.73 If it's got Sidekick gears it could be 4.63 or 5.12

My $.02

Good Luck, Eric

I've been told the gears are 4.57's, but the previous owner put 'em in so there's no way to tell for sure.  The lift is a 5" SPOA with Teraflex shackles.  The terrain is varied.  Alot of mud pits or small quad trails, but some hill climbin' and creekin' too.  The tires gotta be Dunlop Mud Rovers.  They're the officail tire of Lakeview Motor Sports.  My tire guy's prices can't be beat and no-one else can get 'em any how.  I got about two more weeks till 33's are in.

I've been told the gears are 4.57's, but the previous owner put 'em in so there's no way to tell for sure.  The lift is a 5" SPOA with Teraflex shackles.  The terrain is varied.  Alot of mud pits or small quad trails, but some hill climbin' and creekin' too.  The tires gotta be Dunlop Mud Rovers.  They're the officail tire of Lakeview Motor Sports.  My tire guy's prices can't be beat and no-one else can get 'em any how.  I got about two more weeks till 33's are in.

4.57.... I think that's a Richmond Gear ratio for Samurai... Right???

-Eric

Your guess is as good as mine.  The gears were inherited from the original owners.  I don't think I'm precise enough to spin the driveshaft and count 4.57 tire turns.  So we're left guessing.  I do know that with some worn down 31/10.5's I top out at 65 on a flat highway in 4th.  5th just slows me down.  I don't know the revs because I haven't gotten around to hooking the MSD box up to my tach yet.

if u wanted to try the tire thing..just count if it is 4 or 5 spins..ull be able to see if it falls just short of 5..simply put a chalk mark on the ground and tire then turn =)

yea, I ought to get around to that and quit guessing

try this mark your tire and the drive shaft turn the tire and count the revolutions of the drive and you'll get a good idea of your axle ratio

Oh crap, did I have the ratio thing backwards :-/

you should probably run the biggest tire you can. If you had a 1.6 like me, gears wouldn't matter. But whatever you do be extra carful on the trail you don't know in the dark.  Night Muddin' !!!