ok i decided to get 3" BL 4:88 gears now what is a good tire size to go with. 86 toy xcab. i know the ifs is weaker than sas. from what i read here. and i found a good deal on some 35s our off roading is mostly in the mud. i do not want to put so much stress on the frontend that i have to replace all that at this time. thanks.mark

For mud you prolly want to go as big as you can. IFS will handle 35's fine, especially if you're not doing any hardcore crawling. You may have to crank the torsion bars a little and put some shackles or add-a-leaves in the back, but the 35's should fit pretty well. I little fender trimming/pounding may be in order too, but that you can do when the time comes.

Another thing, some people may tell you that 35's are too tall for 4.88 gears. I'm running 33's and 4.88's and I almost wish I had bigger tires. My engine screams at 80 on the interstate with the 4.88's, I think 34's or 35's would give me perfect gearing. All just a matter of taste I guess.

thanks DOK i allready have 2" shackel an torsion bar turned up so i think i'll go for it wish i could do it all at once but i should have it complete in a couple wks.
mark <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

This is definitely a matter of taste and I will offer a counterpoint. I run 5.29s with 33s (even lower gearing, same size tire) and I LOVE it. Around town it puts the 22RE right in its power range. On the freeway I am doing 3,200rpm at 70 in 5th, which a lot of people don't really like, but I love it; I can actually power over hills and pass people without downshifting. Offroad the crawl ratio is a lot better and high range is killer.

I also ran the 33s with 4.10s and hated every minute of it. Around town, on the freeway, and offroad it was an absolute slug with no torque to speak of.

For 35s people usually recommend 5.29s. Personally I wouldn't do 4.88s on 35s, but it's all a matter of taste. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" />

I do like the power of the 33's and 4.88's, but I can't stand having to go under 80mph on the interstate to keep my mpg above 14 <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> If I stay at 70-75 I get like 18-20mpg, so I was thinking 34's would put me at about the same rpm at 80mph. I ran 33's and 4.10's for a week and it really did suck. Also ran 225's and 4.88's for about 15min, that was nuts (the only time I've ever been able to do a burnout in my truck). Just my $.02 though.

i agree with DOK my truck screams at 80 with 4:88's go with 33's the gears turn them for nothing at all

Fuel mileage is more a function of frontal area and speed than it is engine RPM.
Taller truck with wider tires = more frontal area = more wind drag = worse mileage.
Speed is even worse because it is squared. For example crusing at 80 requires 30% more power than crusing at 70.
Combine both of these and you will take a truck that out of the box did high teens and you should not be surprised by a truck that will do mid teens.
One more thing. Maximizing mileage will minimize performance. I am a big fan of low gears and would put money on that fact that it has less effect on mileage than people give it credit for.

i run 35" with a 3" body lift and t-bars cranked 1.5". i also have a v6 with 4.88 which runs fine in the flat lands of Va. Where in Va do you live?

i run 35's with a 4in sus lift and 4.88 gears. i am planning on setting up a dual transfer case since i went with the 4.88 gears for a much better crawl ratio. i am planning on a sas sometime in the future (after the the dual transfer cases) even after i do the sas and have the dt i wont be running anything larger than 35's.

35's 5.29s plus locked up ifs. Easy on the skinny pedal. I have had no issues even with rockcrawling. No torsion bar crankage. 4" lift with 2" BL. Get's up and moves....