38's - Are They the New 37?

[TonyT]

I really hadn't heard of them till the Patagonia tires came around and were getting pushed hard. To me it seemed like a new sales tactic or marketing technique at the time. My guess is If I'm standing there with a choice of 37's or 38's and they're priced the same, I'd just go with the 38's.

 

[chili4x4]

Now, I would be the first to admit that I've never really liked 38" tires and mainly because, they were in fact an odd size. For me, I like to run with groups where most everyone is running the same size tire especially being that it's a hell of a lot easier to bum a spare in the event that you blow 2 of your own. But, being that everyone and their mother seems to want to go bigger and bigger, even if it's just by just an inch (because an inch is still an inch), it seems like 38's are finally becoming more of a "normal" size. Certainly, more and more mainstream companies are or will be offering them in the very near future and not just for a 20" wheel.

With that said, I was curious to know what you all thought about 38's? For those of you running 37's now, will you make the 1" jump when it comes time to replace what you have? Will it make a difference who the manufacturer is and what model the tire is in order for you to make the 1" jump? If so, who are you wanting to see make a 38 and for what model tire?

I am still only on 35s! I think if/when I go bigger, it just makes sense to jump up to 40s....but that will require axles ...... here in the east (ohio) I am not rumming rock fields..more mud and well..mud....so I can still have fun on 35s......

 

[BTkillerr]

I'm running 40" Nitto Trail Grapplers and love them. But it's close to the time I need to replace them and have been debating going down to 37s or staying with 40s. 38s might be the perfect compromise. if they came out with a 38 x 12.50 for 17s in the Ridge Grappler I'd go for it...but I'm hoping they do it soon!

 

[wayoflife]

I'm running 40" Nitto Trail Grapplers and love them. But it's close to the time I need to replace them and have been debating going down to 37s or staying with 40s. 38s might be the perfect compromise. if they came out with a 38 x 12.50 for 17s in the Ridge Grappler I'd go for it...but I'm hoping they do it soon!

38x12.50R17 Ridge Grapplers are already being made and should be available to the public very soon.

 

[Jsouder53]

I’d rather just have 37s or get one tons and 40s.

 

[OverlanderJK]

I’ll pass. I voted for the jump to 40’s but honestly 37’s are enough for 99.9% of the people out there and probably 95% of the trails out there.

 

[Sharkey]

Assuming for a minute that a 37 was truly a 37, and a 38 was truly a 38, aren’t you only gaining 1/2 of ground clearance with the bigger tire? That doesn’t seem like a big enough difference to me to matter. I get the jump from OEM 32’s to 35’s, from 35’s to 37’s, and from whatever to 40’s for the hard core people. But I don’t see the benefit of moving from a 37 to a 38.

 

[Desert Rose JK]

Like ‘Sharkey’ says, 37 aren’t quite 37’s…. So I would hope 38’s are close to 38 to be called 38’s. I went from 33’s to 37’s in one step for the clearance and tire diameter advantage over gaps/rocks with the lift kit change from 2.5 to 4 inches and it’s been the best thing ever done for the offroading. I wear out the tires every couple years and naturally have to purchase new ones, so if they were priced the same or close to the 37’s for the same model/quality brand and close in weight then yes I’ll give them a look but 40’s are out when I’m only running 44 axles.

 

[cozdude]

Perfectly happy with 37’s. The extra .25” I would gain once they are mounted isn’t worth it to me. If I need more height then I would go 40’s for sure

 

[BTkillerr]

38x12.50R17 Ridge Grapplers are already being made and should be available to the public very soon.

38x12.50R17 Ridge Grapplers are already being made and should be available to the public very soon.

I'll keep an eye out for their release!

 

[RockinAZJK]

I would definitely go for 38s in a trail grappler. I’m ready to jump up in tire size but 2 years out on a realistic and well built set of 60s. Of course I’ve been pushing my 44s pretty hard so maybe stepping up would be a bad idea

 

[TrailHunter]

35’s are the new 37’s.

 

[Bear_JT]

I’m planning on starting with 37’s on my Gladiator but 38’s might be a nice bridge to 40’s. The 44’s might not like that too much though.

 

[Robar]

They say 37s are the new 35s. When I can go to 37s that is probably where I'll stop.

 

[DLW]

For a JL, I think 38" is right at the point where you don't have to trim sheet metal in the rear. At 39" and up your going to be removing some sheet metal or running a lot of bump. For those not at the point of wanting to do some trimming yet and want the biggest tire, a 38" might have it's place I think, I would use it if it's the right tire.

 

[Colorado4x4]

I had a set of Falken 38” MTs on my old YJ and liked the size for that rig. I had a built HP 44 in front and an 8.8 in the rear and it seemed like a good in between spot between 37s and 40s. I felt like if I was going to 40s on this rig then I would have wanted one tons, but they were just a little bigger than 37s.

 

[wjtstudios]

I had a set of Falken 38” MTs on my old YJ and liked the size for that rig. I had a built HP 44 in front and an 8.8 in the rear and it seemed like a good in between spot between 37s and 40s. I felt like if I was going to 40s on this rig then I would have wanted one tons, but they were just a little bigger than 37s.

That’s a great looking YJ!

 

[Colorado4x4]

That’s a great looking YJ!

Thanks! Wish I didn’t sell it!!!

 

[DirtHeadDavis]

I've just always known what pretty much everyone else has known - 33, 35, 37, 40, 42... 38 is just a weird number to me haha, but in reality I think it's pointless given just how much you really get - or dont get rather - since it's such a small difference. Way better off staying on 37s and saving that dough for wontons and 40s IMO. I actually don't know of anyone that runs 38s personally either, as they think the same.

And I agree with Eddie and think bumming a spare is important to be prepared for if necessary. Maybe they'll catch on.

 

[run2jeepn]

I voted YES. I ran 36's and 38's TSL SX's on my old YJ. But when I ran them really only tire brand anyone ran was TSL's. A few already make 38's Toyo, Geolander, Patagonia......... My Problem is my choices get even slimmer running 18in wheels. Wish I had 17s.