Is it ever too soon to add heavier wheels/parts to your JK? Should you break in the engine first or does it not matter?

Today, i'll be picking up my 2016 JK sport with 2 miles on it. I’ve got 16 inch wheels, 35 inch tires and 2.5 TF lift in my garage ready to go. I’m wondering if I should break in the motor first or just move ahead with the mods.

Biggest concerns are of course stressing the motor before it's broken in. Also, I run the risk of finding a factory defect but not having it covered under warranty due to the mods.

Thoughts?

 

Well, my first thought is GEARS! it wont pull 35" tires with 3.21 gears.... I just bought a 16 with 312 miles on it as of today. (had it all week) and I'm in the jeep modifying business... so i'm slowing my roll on this build. I had a 2007 I just sold with 35 and 4.56 gears, and with I had installed 4.88.

You will be very upset with the performance.... Yes it will look good! As the one I just sold was 2.5" Teraflex full lift not the Budget Boost with 35" and it looked good!

Thats just my thoughts on that.

As for your engine break-in period, putting bigger tires on it wont hurt that.... As For Jeep not covering your warranty, highly unlikely, most Jeep Dealers are Mod friendly.

But I will have my warranty Void before this bad boy hits 2000 miles.... Pretty sure I'm doing a full long arm setup on this Jeep.

 

My opinion is to wait at least a year before lifting and adding larger wheels. The thought here is that if you do have any lurking engine, trans, or other problems, those problems will start to show themselves over the course of a year driving. You make it past 1 year with no problems, then you're odds are you'll make it through the usual warranty period. No reason to give FCA any excuses or deal with the headaches of them potentially pointing the blame at the larger tires for a legit problem. There's been too many legit reports of engine, ball joint, and trans problems found within 6 months of ownership. So to me, it isn't worth risking it.

 

I was in the same boat as you 2 years ago. I waited 1,750 miles. The newer the stockers, the more they're worth to sell.

 

I had mine 18 days and it had 255 miles on it when I lifted it and put the 35s on. It took 18 days because I was waiting for parts from Metalcloak. My flares and sliders went on day 1 as my wife stood in the garage shaking her head as I was pulling the OEMs off. Other parts like sPod, bumpers, winch, lighting, safari straps, etc. went on day 2. And on day 18 my wife laid claim to my Moab wheels for her Sahara.



You can see how clean the undercarriage was at the time of install.



They cannot deny a warranty claim unless they can prove what you did caused the failure. If it did then you have to do the repair. But if it didn't, you are still covered.

 

I hear ya and plan to do 4:88 gears shortly ...I want to see how bad it actually is with 3:21 but i'm sure it's bad.

 

Well, mine will bearly pull the factory "31'" tires.... LOL. I called my dealer and said I needed 4.11 due to the tires it came with from the factory... they did not agree!!!

 

Yep...you won't like it. i have a 2012 with 3.21, 2.5 TF lift and 35" tires and automatic trans...OK in town but highway sucks...does look good though. its my DD and i drive 45miles each way for work. i cannot wait to regear to 4:10 or 4:56 gears. not decided which one yet.

 

You were right. 3:21 with 35s is pretty bad. Put the wheels on today. First thought...this isn't so bad. 20 miles of city driving later and I was over it.

The keep is in the shop getting the 2.5 tf lift out on. Thinking about having them do the gears (4:56) while they're at it.

Love the look of it already though

 

>3.73, or wait

I had 35s and 3.73 since mile zero, and broke in this engine the same as every other.