Leilene

“Now we need to relate all this specifically to tire selection,” Spiegel says, continuing our conversation.
Tire upgrades are one of the most common changes a truck owner makes. But plenty of hunters and fishermen complain about poor performance after they install larger tires. Here again, gear ratios make an impact.
“As your deer-hunting friend learned the hard way, tire size can actually decrease the performance of the vehicleT Spiegel says. “A larger tire looks good, and it certainly has more flotation area and a greater gripping surface. Going to a wider tire isn’t a problem, but if you change the diameter of the tire, you are, in effect, altering the final drive ratio.You’ll need to change the gear in direct proportion to the tire size change. If the tire size goes up 10 percent, then you need to change the gear ratio by 10 percent.This way, you’ll maintain the same power of the vehicle. “So moving up to larger tires really does require a change in gears?” I ask.
“Absolutely. Going to a large tire is like trying to pull a boat up the ramp while in high gear. Putting on those large tires essentially has taken away low gear.”
Spiegel pauses, hoping no doubt to catch some small indication that I’ve grasped the basics of what he’s talking about.
“So, my buddy’s truck probably was geared too high for the kind of offmad driving he was doing,” I say. “And going to larger tires only made the problem worse. It’s like a double whammy.”
Spiegel beams. “Exactly”
“But the problem is also money, isn’t it? Gear changes aren’t cheap, and they really aren’t do-it-yourself jobs.”
“No on both counts;’ he says.
In fact, depending on exactly what is done, expect to pay between $1,000 to $2,000 for a gear change.That may be one reason why so many of us run for cover when we’re told the truck needs a gear change.
And, truth be told, we’re probably also prey to the Steak and Sizzle Paradox.We gladly pay for sizzle (macho tires), which can be seen by everyone, but foolishly draw the line at steak (the gears), which are tucked away out of sight.
Well, Spiegel showed me the liglmYou, too, If you want maximum performance out of your 4×4, pay for the steak as well as the sizzle.

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