Do I dare ask...(transmission and gearing)

I’ve been reading the 4.88 and 5.29 stickies and go ahead and name call if I don’t read through the entire threads, and dare to ask in a more direct way, for Trying to confirm what I think Ive learned thus far...
People are changing their gearing so their transmission can safely handle and output more low end torque while their off roading...bigger tires and off roading go hand in hand obviously but (this is finally where my real question is sorry for the roundabout nature)does adding bigger tires which adds more weight and more strain on the transmission(mines an AT) also motivate people to change their gearing for the sake of the transmission?
Ill even settle for someone to point me to the right thread or post where I can read for myself it would be much appreciated.
Thanks and sorry if this question is repetitive

 

The trans isn't strained so much as just shift like crap. It already struggles being stock with the 265s tires, adding bigger tires doesn't strain the transmission so much as just make the trans hunt for gears more so than it would normally. If you put larger tires on, the truck tends to feel more sluggish because your gear ratio is too tall for the weight and size of the tire. Changing your gear ratio will bring the truck back into a more acceptable and comfortable range. The trans will be fine regardless, but by jumping up to a 4.88 or 5.29 you get to enjoy a little more pep than you would with stock gearing. But like I said, the trans itself is in no danger, its just about torque to the wheels and how enjoyable the truck is to drive.

 

Let me gently correct you on a few points...
Your engine and transmission are happily putting out the same torque and horsepower regardless of the gear ratio. This does not change.
What does change during regear is the final drive ratio. People do this usually after adding big ol tires and a crap ton of weight. They do the gear swap to bring the final drive ratio back to what it was before the larger tires were installed.

If you change the gears and keep stock tires and weight, your truck would then effectively have more torque going to the ground. However, because of physics, nothing is free so you pay a penalty in efficiency. In order to run, say, 70 mph with your new gears, your engine rpm is going to be higher to go the same speed as before and it will suffer in the mpg department.

Now, many people are now going to lie to you and say "I regeared and put big tires and half of my house in the bed and I get 20 mpg!" Um, they would be lying assholes because again.... physics. You cannot break those laws.

 

I recommend you change your thread title to get more knowledgeable responses.

 

The auto transmission struggles with the stock tires?

C’mon now, you can’t be serious.

 

I really appreciate the info you provided, thank you

 

Bluntly speaking, no. People regear for various reasons but rarely if ever for the sake of general strain on the drivetrain.

 

Before you go changing gears, I would start by upgrading your tune, such as KDMax6. I just did mine a few days ago, and it drives like a totally different truck.

 

Second getting a tune first if you are considering gears. I was certain that I needed to regear, but a tune got me where I wanted to be and I can still get 21+mpg fully loaded with a RTT (on 32's, small lift, no armor)

 

It does.. that’s why I traded mine off..

Im sure it’s better but it couldn’t have gotten much worse than the early builds. I think my 6th gear was practically brand new, it was always dancing 3/4/5

 

I’m definitely not going to change anything yet I don’t want to void any warranty. I’m guessing retuning would do that...

 

I drove quite a few 3rd gen autos and they all drove just fine to me, the oldest one was 2018. I drove highway and city. I can see how earlier calibrations were shitty but the newer models shouldn’t have any issues. My buddy’s 19 OR on 265/70/17 C loads is actually quite fast.

 

I know it couldn’t be a more vague thread title but I had a notion I was asking something either stupid or obvious but nonetheless something I couldn’t quite figure out and my past experience with other truck forums there were a lot of guys just waiting to make you feel like an idiot for asking anything but the best questions...

 

No.

There are many motivations, but that's not one of them. Well, for at least 99.478% of the 1% of Taco owners who regear.

 

Yeah, understood. You’ll probably get a bit of grief and nonsense no matter what, so you might as well try to get the most help with an accurate title. Good luck with whatever you end up doing.

 

Good luck OP. FWIW. I just did a tune. Wow what a difference. Definitely noticeable. Shifting is nice little extra pick up is not bad as well. Good luck

 

As stated above, regearing puts the engine in it's power band, makes it easier to accelerate and hold a hi way speed.

 

This should be a locked sticky that everyone must read, and no one can comment on. Maybe even add it to the banner at the top of the page.

 

I thought you were being sarcastic at first, I had a 2016 that I bought in Sept of 2016. I drove it exactly 6k miles and dumped it. I would be driving down a surface street and it was hunting through gears like no other. the thing jumped all over the place. I went back to a Tacoma for 2021 and it is better, still not great but definitely better than it was. Still shifts A LOT more than I would like in normal driving it feels like its racing to get to the tallest gear it can in the shortest distance.

 

I was serious yes ha!

The oldest AT taco I drove was 2018, I have not driven a 16. I can see how some of the earlier calibrations were shitty. It’s programmed for fuel efficiency, yes.

When city driving you can always lock out overdrive gear/gears and your truck will drive much better. You dont need 5th and 6th unless you are on the highway.