A bigger tire changes your overall gear ratio at the wheel. Say you are running 4:10 with the bigger tires the overall ratio is now higher putting more strain on the clutch on take off. That is where the damage occurs on take off; you have to slip the clutch more to take off causing the clutch to heat up. Causing hot spots on the flywheel, disc and pressure plate. Hot spots causing chattering.

I know first hand, I run 4:88 gears with a true 36" tire and if I am in the in two or four high I can feel it in how much I have to slip the clutch for a smooth take off. My only redeeming feature, my truck is a trailer queen and very rarely sees the high range

Another thing is it very rarely sees fifth gear when in the high range.

A good example is land speed cars, them push them up to a certain MPH before the let the clutch out. Reason, they are so high geared that they risk burning the clutch out if they try to take off by themselves from a standing start. The lake car I pitted on had to be up to 30 MPH before the engarged the clutch.

Last edited by OOP'S; 10/06/10 03:12 AM.

David Fritzsche
1990 Ex-Cab V-6,5-speed, with a few mods
04.5 CTD Dodge 2500 Ram--Tow Rig
Roseville, CA

"Serenity through Sobriety"