Customizing My Jeep: Why I Love 35-Inch Tires
I love customizing my Jeep to reflect my personal style and preferences. One of my favorite upgrades is adding 35-inch tires—a popular modification within the Jeep community.
If you’re thinking about upgrading to 35-inch tires on your Jeep, here are a few things to consider:
1. Install a Lift Kit for Larger Tires To fit 35-inch tires properly, I recommend installing a 3.5-inch lift. It not only looks great but also enhances performance without making the tires seem crammed into the wheel wells.
Some might argue that this much lift is unnecessary and more suited for 37-inch tires. While technically true, if you research and check how it looks, you’ll see that without the lift, the tires can seem too stuffed and may not be safe for off-roading.
2. Can You Run 35s Without a Lift? Yes, you’ll see some stock Jeeps running 35-inch tires without a lift. While it’s technically possible for street driving, off-roading is a different story. The tires will be extremely tight without any clearance, which is why I highly recommend at least a 2.5-inch lift if you’re planning on hitting the trails.
3. The Bottom Line on Lifting Installing a lift is the smart move. It improves your off-road capability and gives your Jeep a more aggressive look.
What are the best 35 tires for Jeep?
ANow that we’ve covered the lift, let’s look at three of the best 35-inch tires for the Jeep Wrangler, Gladiator, and other models.
These are extremely popular choices among Jeep owners, with options ranging from all-terrain to mud-terrain tires—perfectly suited to whatever adventure you have in mind.
1- BFGoodrich All Terrain T/A KO2
BFGoodrich ALL-TERRAIN T/A KO2 Tire: A Closer Look
The BFGoodrich ALL-TERRAIN T/A KO2 in the 35-inch size is a standout option, especially for Jeep Wranglers. These tires are lighter than many other all-terrain options, though the weight may vary depending on the rim size.
When it comes to performance, I can’t believe how quiet they are. Not only do they excel off-road, but they also deliver impressive on-road comfort.
Whether you’re mostly driving on pavement or tackling aggressive trails, these tires are a perfect fit for every situation. They’ve never let me down, no matter the conditions.
The BFGoodrich KO2 features an aggressive tread pattern that grips well in wet, snowy, and muddy terrains. The large tread lugs are tightly grouped, which not only helps with traction but also provides a surprisingly quiet and comfortable ride, improving overall handling on the road.
Despite its rugged design, the BFGoodrich KO2 remains much quieter than other aggressive tires, thanks to its full-depth sipes and thoughtful aerodynamic design.
Many tires start quiet but become noisy after about 17,000 to 18,000 miles as the tread wears down and sipes disappear. That’s what makes full-depth sipes so valuable—they maintain their grip even after 20,000 miles, ensuring the tire doesn’t turn into a noisy nuisance.
The tread pattern is perfect for both mud and snow, and the tire is M+S (Mud + Snow) and 3PSMF (Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake) rated, meaning it’s designed to handle severe weather conditions.
The zig-zag circumferential grooves help resist hydroplaning and promote self-cleaning in mud and clay, while the large tread blocks act like shovels, digging into the terrain for added traction.
One of the most important features of the BFGoodrich KO2 is its 3-ply sidewalls, offering superior strength compared to most off-road tires that only have 2-ply sidewalls. This is critical when navigating through rough terrain, such as rocks, gravel, or wilderness with sharp sticks and brush.
The BFGoodrich KO2 comes with a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty, but even with heavy off-roading, you can expect to have about 7/32″ of tread depth left. If you primarily stick to on-road driving, these tires can easily last beyond 70,000 miles.
So that’s why the BFGoodrich ALL-TERRAIN T/A KO2 is our top choice for 35-inch all-terrain tires for Jeep Wranglers. Now, let’s shift gears and talk about the best 35-inch mud-terrain tires for 4×4 driving.
2- Toyo open country mt
Many Jeep owners prefer mud-terrain tires over all-terrain options because of their excellent performance on off-road and wet surfaces.
However, mud tires tend to generate more noise on pavement compared to all-terrain tires, which is why I was specifically looking for a quieter mud tire for my Jeep.
That’s when I came across the Toyo Open Country MT, which has received numerous positive reviews for being one of the quieter mud tires available.
One of the best features of mud tires is their exceptional tread life.
Even though all-terrain and all-season tires are popular, mud tires like the Toyo Open Country MT stand out for their longevity. If you’re using these primarily for on-road driving or general off-road trails, you can expect an impressive wear life—potentially more than 100,000 miles. Just be sure to rotate the tires every 5,000 miles to maintain even wear.
Since mud tires are designed for off-road conditions, the Toyo Open Country MT truly shines in these environments.
However, it’s important to note that mud tires typically aren’t great for fuel economy, and the Open Country MT is no exception. Based on my experience with a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, you can expect a slight drop in fuel efficiency—about 1 to 2 MPG. Results may vary slightly depending on the specific vehicle model.
For Jeep enthusiasts who prefer mud-terrain tires, the Toyo Open Country MT is an incredibly reliable choice. It’s arguably one of the best tires for off-roading, with an aggressive tread pattern that not only looks great but also performs well.
The wide, open lugs help clear mud and clay from the tread, improving traction in tough conditions. These same wide lugs also make the tire highly resistant to aquaplaning by preventing water buildup on the tread surface.
However, like most mud tires, the Toyo Open Country MT doesn’t perform particularly well on snow and ice.
While it may work fine when new, performance tends to diminish over time on these surfaces. So if you’re driving in snowy or icy conditions, this tire may not be the best choice.
Mud tires are built with hard compounds and stiff sidewalls to handle rugged off-road terrain, which gives them their long tread life. But this also makes them stiffer and less comfortable for on-road use.
That said, I’ve found the Toyo Open Country MT to be more comfortable than other mud tires I’ve used. However, if on-road comfort is a top priority for you, an all-terrain tire might be a better option. The BFGoodrich KO2, for example, is an M+S-rated tire that performs well on both roads and muddy trails.
In conclusion, the Toyo Open Country MT is an excellent mud tire for Jeep owners, particularly those who frequently take their vehicles off-road. It performs well on highways and various challenging terrains, with minimal noise, though you might feel a bit of feedback through the steering at low speeds.
Its aggressive design not only delivers great performance but also looks fantastic—especially on Jeep models like the Wrangler Rubicon, which is built for off-roading.
Overall, the Toyo Open Country MT is one of the most popular and best-selling mud tires for Jeeps, making it a top contender in the mud tire category.
3- NITTO Ridge Grappler All-Terrain Tire
When comparing the BFGoodrich KO2 to the NITTO Ridge Grappler, it’s clear that the Ridge Grappler has its drawbacks in many areas.
However, when it comes to choosing the best 35-inch tire for a Jeep, the NITTO Ridge Grappler holds its own on several fronts!
For many Jeep owners, the Ridge Grappler is the only 35-inch tire they trust.
One of the reasons for its popularity is that it fits easily onto the Jeep, especially the Wrangler. While it’s technically possible to install a 35-inch tire without a lift, I wouldn’t recommend it. Still, for those who prefer not to lift their Jeep at all, the Ridge Grappler offers a viable option.
Another appealing feature of the NITTO Ridge Grappler is its aggressive appearance. The tire’s asymmetrical tread design features distinct patterns on each side, giving it a unique and bold look. This striking design not only enhances its aesthetics but also serves specific functions.
However, it’s worth noting that this extra-aggressive look comes at a cost: the Ridge Grappler tends to be noisier than the BFGoodrich KO2. If you’re someone who prioritizes a quieter and more comfortable ride on the highway along with off-road capabilities, I lean toward recommending the BFGoodrich KO2.
In terms of durability, I have my doubts about the NITTO Ridge Grappler’s tread life; it may not have much tread left after 45,000 miles. In contrast, the BFGoodrich KO2 consistently delivers over 50,000 miles of tread wear.
Both the NITTO Ridge Grappler and the BFGoodrich KO2 are solid tires, but the key difference becomes evident once the tread wears down to 50%. The BFGoodrich KO2 maintains its performance even after significant wear, thanks to its full-depth sipes, which don’t wear away until the tread blocks are nearly gone.
While the NITTO Ridge Grappler performs better in sandy conditions, both tires have impressively strong and durable sidewalls. Anyone who drives a Jeep on challenging terrains understands the importance of having robust sidewalls.
The Ridge Grappler’s sidewalls provide excellent grip in mud and off-road scenarios, particularly when the tire pressure is lowered. Its hybrid tread pattern offers strong traction and grip, though it may result in increased vibration, making it suitable for dirt roads and rocky trails.
I would recommend the NITTO Ridge Grappler for driving on dirt roads and rocky terrains.
In wet, snow, dry, and muddy conditions, the NITTO Ridge Grappler performs comparably to the BFGoodrich KO2 across the board. It offers great handling, grip, and comfort on the highway while also performing well off-road. However, if you’re looking for longer tread life, the BFGoodrich KO2 is the better choice.
Although the NITTO Ridge Grappler wears out relatively quickly, it fits well and balances easily on a Jeep for some reason.