33 Tires – Things You Need To Know About Buying 33 Inch Tires

Before running out and buying a set of 33 tires there are a few things you need to consider. Other wise you could end up buying the wrong set of tires as well as spend much more money than you had initially planned on.

First and foremost, what will the tires be used for?

Do you do a lot of off roading or is the rig strictly for off roading? If that is the case then a set of tires designed specifically for this task would be a good idea. The problem with buying these types of tires is that they have very aggressive tread which means that driving them on the pavement will eat up this tread quickly. Your truck, Jeep or Land Cruiser is not going to handle well on the street with these types of tires.

Do you spend more time in the streets than off road? If that is the case then you should seriously consider going with a set of 33 tires that are designed for all terrain. That is what I run on my Toyota truck. I love being up in the hills and off roading but I don’t get to do it as much as I would like. But with the all terrain tires I know I still have the traction and tread I need when I get out there.

If you hardly ever get to go off road but just like the look and height of a 33 inch tire you can go with a highway tire.

Secondly, you may need to get a leveling kit so the tires fit under your rig. More than likely you will not need to go any higher than a 2 inch lift to make the tires fit.

The fact of the matter is that your 33 in tires will probably fit but with out the lift it is not ideal. The tires will fill up your wheel well which can cause driving problems and you definitely do not want to go off road with your tires like that. You will have turning and rubbing problems.

Leveling kits can cost between $100 to $200. Installation will run you anywhere between another $150 to $250, unless you do it yourself.

What’s your rim size?

The majority of tires in this size are designed for 15 inch rims which are commonly found in older trucks, Jeeps, and other SUV’s. But they are also available in 16 inch, 16.5 inch, 17 inch and 18 inch wheels.

Will your wheel well need to be cut?

In older trucks, Jeeps, etc. you may need to have the wheel well cut internally to fit the tires and allow for the turning radius. New trucks and other off road rigs will more than likely not require this.

As far as cost for 33 tires here is a general break down:

15 inch wheels: Prices between $125 -$200 each tire.

16 inch wheels: Prices between $170 - $250 each tire.

17 inch wheels: Prices between $200 - $300 each tire

18 inch wheels: Prices between $280 to $400 each tire.

As far as brands it really depends on what you are planning on using the tires for. But what we can tell you is that it is better to stick with tires you have heard of before. There are a lot of new brands out there that are dirt cheap. Most of these are coming from China. Check out some forums and tire review sites to get a better idea as to what makes sense for you and your rig when it comes to your new set of 33 tires.