Tires? WEight, size and a 10bolt

[badmix]

Okay, here me out. I had a long drive and got to thinking. I have 33 x 12.5 x 15s on my truck now with 2" lift and 4:10s. I dont plan to change out the 10bolt any time soon. Ive always feared going bigger on the tires. I was just curious the weaknesses associated with bigger tires is the weight of the tires? The power and gearing to turn them? or what. Here was my thinking.

Would a 35 x 10.5 x 15 be the same weight as what I have on there now? The 35s are skinner but taller, so would that offset my shorter but wider tires I have now? Or does not work that way. I have no idea, like I said, long drive and boredom gets my mind wondering. lol.

 

[dyeager535]

I think the MAIN weakness associated with the 10 bolt is due to the Gov-lock. People do break 10 bolt axleshafts, which is almost unheard of in 14SF or SF axles, but realistically, the major failures you hear are the carrier splitting in gov-lock 10 bolts, not the axleshafts.

There are quite a few on here who wheel the heck out of their 10 bolts with little to no problem.

Weight of the vehicle is the issue, not really the tires IMO. When you get off camber you are putting a lot of weight on the (smaller) axles/bearings/housings of the 10 bolt. The 8.5" ten bolt is considered a stellar axle when installed in the lighter G-body cars, even when running 12 seconds or less...and that's a fair load on an axle assembly.

 

[big dan]

the problem with bigger tires is not just a weight issue, they add more leverage to the axle. its the same principle as using a longer wrench to break a bolt loose.

but personally I think you will be fine with 35s as long as you dont have the gov-lock and the internals are in good condition. I ran ten bolts in my truck with 35s and a very strong motor and never broke anything. I only swapped to a 14b cause I had one with the same gears and my 10b was very worn out.

 

[pauly383]

Just run the 35's and don't worry about it . 4.10's are fine too , although lower is better ( i ain't going back to anything lower than 4.56 , love these gears ) . I broke one shaft so far in the front ( long side ) in the two years I have been wheeling on 35's .

No gov Loc , beefy cover , and a locker work well .

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Its both weight and leverage.

The 35's will be harder on the axle even if they are the same weight as your 33's.

Many people run 35's on half tons, I wouldn't hesitate to do it.

 

[sope]

I'd stick with 33's on the 10 bolt. Wheeled it pretty hard with a front locker and no problems. Switched to 35's and broke a couple of shafts on mebe 4 good runs.

 

[roadnotca]

Hey badmix. I'm running 10Bs under the '85 Burb with 3.90s, 35s and PowerTrax NoSlip in the rear and LockRight in the front. I don't "get air" and I don't blast down the trail, just easy going and it's fine.