Are 4.56 Gears Enough?

[Agar426]

Looking to join the fold at some point in 2026, and if it were up to me, I would have ordered a Final Edition with the 4.88 gears. However, it is not an option on the Moab edition, and it's not that obvious without clicking on each individual vehicle to see if any of the leftover FEs were ordered with the 4.88 ratio. I plan on running 37s, leaving the T-Case alone, and when problems arise, Atlas. Keep in mind that I live at 7,400 feet. I'm thinking the 4.56 wouldn't be ideal, but good enough considering the cost of a gear change. There are those that tell me I'm crazy for wanting the 4.88s, but I'm not going to lie, I think the 4.88s should be an option, with 5.13s being the "should I" ratio. Any thoughts?

 

[Warped]

A lot of posts on gearing already. 37s on 4.56 works well for me. I do not believe that there is a large enough difference between 4.56 and 4.88 to make a gear change worth the cost. As far as the Atlas, haven't heard many issues in 2024 and later T-Cases.

 

[Agar426]

A lot of posts on gearing already. 37s on 4.56 works well for me. I do not believe that there is a large enough difference between 4.56 and 4.88 to make a gear change worth the cost. As far as the Atlas, haven't heard many issues in 2024 and later T-Cases.

This is consistent with what I've read as well. Thank you!

 

[Twisted10]

4.56's work fine w/ 38's.

 

[AUSTX]

FWIW, I have 37s and went to 4.88s from 4.56. I live in a hilly area and much prefer the 4.88s. So for me the expense is definitely worth it. I hate giving up gears. My gf has a '24 JLRU 3.6L with 35s and factory 4.88s and it's great imo.

 

[3TV]

I don't think gearing makes as much difference with the 392 as it does with other Jeeps. A 392 makes so much torque that it doesn't really care what gearing you have. My 2022 392 XR came with 4.56 gears, which worked good with the stock 35s. They also worked good with 37s. And they are currently working good with 40s. On road there isn't a problem, and it still climbs the steepest grades in the Rocky Mountains effortlessly. Off road it also seems about the same as before. On the really technical obstacles it would be nice to have lower gearing, but changing from 4.56 to 4.88 isn't enough to make much difference. I'll just keep the 4.56 gears.

 

[dgerb]

I don't think gearing makes as much difference with the 392 as it does with other Jeeps. A 392 makes so much torque that it doesn't really care what gearing you have. My 2022 392 XR came with 4.56 gears, which worked good with the stock 35s. They also worked good with 37s. And they are currently working good with 40s. On road there isn't a problem, and it still climbs the steepest grades in the Rocky Mountains effortlessly. Off road it also seems about the same as before. On the really technical obstacles it would be nice to have lower gearing, but changing from 4.56 to 4.88 isn't enough to make much difference. I'll just keep the 4.56 gears.

Like you said it has so much torque it doesn't care....I have a '21 non-xr, been running 37's for almost 5 years. If I switch to rear wheel drive, via tazer, it will lay a patch of rubber....

 

[Agar426]

FWIW, I have 37s and went to 4.88s from 4.56. I live in a hilly area and much prefer the 4.88s. So for me the expense is definitely worth it. I hate giving up gears. My gf has a '24 JLRU 3.6L with 35s and factory 4.88s and it's great imo.

I live at 7,400 ft, and it's very hilly. both below and above me. Once I get down to ~5,000 ft, so I-25 around Albuquerque, or I-40, it flattens out a lot, but here in the mountains, it's twisty and hilly.

 

[Agar426]

I don't think gearing makes as much difference with the 392 as it does with other Jeeps. A 392 makes so much torque that it doesn't really care what gearing you have. My 2022 392 XR came with 4.56 gears, which worked good with the stock 35s. They also worked good with 37s. And they are currently working good with 40s. On road there isn't a problem, and it still climbs the steepest grades in the Rocky Mountains effortlessly. Off road it also seems about the same as before. On the really technical obstacles it would be nice to have lower gearing, but changing from 4.56 to 4.88 isn't enough to make much difference. I'll just keep the 4.56 gears.

I agree. I like the 4:1 in my TJ Rubicon not because of torque multiplication (although that's nice), but because of the low speed control in technical terrain and descents. I'm pretty easy on the throttle off-road, unless I'm on a steep climb, deep mud, etc.

 

[Agar426]

Like you said it has so much torque it doesn't care....I have a '21 non-xr, been running 37's for almost 5 years. If I switch to rear wheel drive, via tazer, it will lay a patch of rubber....

Nothing more American than that! Stoplight grand prix alive and well in 2026.....

 

[3TV]

I live at 7,400 ft, and it's very hilly. both below and above me. Once I get down to ~5,000 ft, so I-25 around Albuquerque, or I-40, it flattens out a lot, but here in the mountains, it's twisty and hilly.

My house is at 6,000 ft elevation and I frequently cross a mountain pass of nearly 11,000 ft elevation, so I understand the effect of altitude on decreasing power from an ICE.

 

[3TV]

I agree. I like the 4:1 in my TJ Rubicon not because of torque multiplication (although that's nice), but because of the low speed control in technical terrain and descents. I'm pretty easy on the throttle off-road, unless I'm on a steep climb, deep mud, etc.

I have the 392 with a 2.72:1 T-case and 4.56 gears with 40" tires, and a JLR with a 4.0:1 T-case and 4.88 gears with 39" tires. So, the JLR is geared much lower in low range. I have found that the 392 needs to be driven differently in difficult rock crawling situations. With the 392 I need to drive with one foot on the gas to make it climb a big ledge (5') and the other foot on the brake to keep it from getting away from me. In technical but less difficult terrain the 392 makes enough torque that it can pretty much idle along, using the paddle shifters to either increase or decrease speed. I almost never need to give it throttle. It does rock crawling just fine once you learn how to drive it.

 

[EBYCREEK]

I have the factory 3:73 gears on my 2021 392 Wrangler running 37” tires. I had the front clutches start slipping on the transfer case so I installed the 3:8.1 Atlas. For rock crawling the 3:8.1 Atlas is awesome. It would be nice to change gears to 4:56 or 4:88 but my biggest gripe was the 4Lo not being low enough to provide engine breaking or for rock crawling.