[p0isonra1n]

Is it possible to run 33's on a 1.6L Vitara on stock axles? If not is it possible to get stronger axles and CVs or is it not worth it?

[VitNick]

CV's and front stock diff will go bang well before axles. Lux CV's and steel housing would fix that. But 33's are not going to clear without some cutting/ bashing. Starting to get into the more pain then gain area tho. Also still stuck with high range gearing that is pretty bad, again getting into the area where mods are more expensive/ difficult just to run the tyre size.
Can't comment too much on rear axle strength, never broken one but twisted the splines a touch on 30's. Know that a few of the GV owners are breaking rear axles tho.
Someone was talking about floaters for a Vit, but can't remember who, I'm sure some one elses memory is better then mine.

[J--A--C--K]

On the floater front , there's quite a few vit based floaters in sierras so no doubt it's not new ground to make a vit floater.
Gwagon has a thread In good tech about making a bit based floater.

[Gwagensteve]

How are you going to gear the car for high range?

[VitNick]

^x2, only thing that would work would be Sierra t-case and play with diff ratios to get it close. Vit based floaters are for a Sierra rear housing. Are you going to SAS it too now? The mods required quickly snowball once you start to plan it, and are not really worth the money/ effort required.

[christover1]

Worth noting the LWB runs thicker axles, but thins down at the diff end.
More for extra load carrying, rather than heavy duty, but could help?
I have twisted one axle spline with 31's and auto locker, but never broke one on my LWB.

[Gwagensteve]

Nope. All splined axles will fail at the thinnest point- the spline. This is especially true for semifloat axles.

Axle could be a metre in diameter- but if it necks down to 26 spline at the axle that's where it's going to fail.

[christover1]

Note. I also ran SWB axles for 2 years with no problems.

[Zook_Fan]

Are the SWB axles the same diameter the whole way along the shaft? The way the LWB axles step up after the spline is counterintuitive to axle design, it focusses all of the twist of the axle on the spline rather than along the axle.

[christover1]

Zook_Fan wrote:

Are the SWB axles the same diameter the whole way along the shaft? The way the LWB axles step up after the spline is counterintuitive to axle design, it focusses all of the twist of the axle on the spline rather than along the axle.

Yes, and I agree. Though I have no engineering background.
That is why I said I think they are thicker for weight carrying, not to combat the torque twist.
But I have not broke any of them, and my twisted one may have been that way when I got the car?
The tapering down, rather than stepping down possibly spreads the load?

[tanshi]

strong floater in the back and hilux cvs in the front. should run 33s ok. but gearing will be your issue

[vet 180]

Tbh a very commonly overlooked tyre that great on the vitara is the metric 265/75r16. Measures in at 31.6inches by 10.4inches. Problem with most 33's is they are 12.5 inch wide and it's a lot of extra weight for the little vit and also makes it harder to get a good foot print due to the width

[Gwagensteve]

265 75 16's do fit well on a Vitara but they are really just a slightly taller 31 10.5, normally with a very high load rating.
BFG also make 33 10.5 and 255 85 16 which are narrower 33's.

33 12.5's are a terrible size on any car.

[vet 180]

Gwagensteve wrote:

265 75 16's do fit well on a Vitara but they are really just a slightly taller 31 10.5, normally with a very high load rating.
BFG also make 33 10.5 and 255 85 16 which are narrower 33's.

33 12.5's are a terrible size on any car.

Agree about having to be carefull of the load range, but plenty come in lower load ranges.

I guess most that have gone 33's have regretted it. Everyone loves 31x10.5 on vit's and it's a great tyre on and off road, but most people that step up to the 33 are not happy. The metric 32 looks to hit that sweet spot of just being a little bigger without too much compromise.

To the OP if you do go 33's get the 33 x 10.5 or the more rare 255 85 16