# Tire Size and Transmission Issues

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-size-and-transmission-issues/77577>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** liberty, jeep\
**Created:** [February 24, 2013, 4:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-size-and-transmission-issues/77577 "2013-02-24T04:15:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mexiconina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@Mexiconina](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mexiconina)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 4:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-size-and-transmission-issues/77577/1 "2013-02-24T04:15:46Z")

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In March 2012 we bought a 2003 Jeep Liberty Ltd Ed as a tow vehicle for a motorhome. It had 225/70 tires on it even though the car’s specification is for 235/70s. We’ve had problems on and off with the 4-wheel drive, and I’m wondering if it could possibly be related to the tire size.

Would appreciate any comments.

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**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 4:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-size-and-transmission-issues/77577/2 "2013-02-24T04:18:37Z")

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Not if they are all the same diameter.

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**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 4:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-size-and-transmission-issues/77577/3 "2013-02-24T04:26:55Z")

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A Jeep Liberty is not really a recommended tow vehicle, except for a small trailer. Read the manual for “maximum towing capacity”, and you may find you have been overtaxing the drivetrain. The tire size in this case is of no consequence, unless you mix different sizes.

What size motorhome do you tow?

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**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 4:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-size-and-transmission-issues/77577/4 "2013-02-24T04:46:34Z")

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Do you tow your Jeep behind the motorhome? If you do then you need to read the Jeep owner’s manual carefully. Most Jeep 4WD’s can be towed safely with all 4 wheels on the ground and never on a tow dolly with both front wheels up. This can cause transmission damage according to my Jeep owning friends who are avid RVers.

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**Author:** ![EllyEllis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f14d63/32.png) [@EllyEllis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/EllyEllis)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 5:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-size-and-transmission-issues/77577/5 "2013-02-24T05:05:48Z")

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Now let me get this straight, you tow amotorhome with a Jeep Liberty. The smallet diameter tires should do better.

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**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 6:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-size-and-transmission-issues/77577/6 "2013-02-24T06:00:39Z")

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My read is that the Jeep is towed behind an RV, The 10 MM difference in tire size would not cause any problems.

It’s a 10 year old Jeep so who knows what kind of tires were on it previously, how it was driven and maintained, etc, so it could be an inherited driveline problem.