While pursuing the Bronco6G forums, we found a thread on a Bronco with 40-inch(!) tires. Normally, we’d mutter something about “modders gonna mod,” and keep scrolling through—but we decided to take a look when we read that it was a 2022 Ford Bronco two door upgraded with a 7-inch lift. Now, we just had to see what this kerfuffle was all about.
Look, this is not the first new Bronco to fit 40-inch tires, as we had seen some at SEMA back in November of 2021, including one on 42s. Nearly all of those Broncos with bigger-than-37-inch tires were four-door models, old full-size Broncos, or a couple of the smaller classics. There are even a few big-tire Broncos in the wild already, built by dedicated owners whose daily lives aren’t inside an off-road shop, but again, they’re usually four-doors with up to 37-inchers like the new 2022 Bronco Raptor. That’s why this stubby two-door caught our eyes.
Do You Even Lift, Brah?
It’s not just that it has 40×13.50R17 Cooper Discoverer STT Pro tires on its 17-inch Fuel Off-Road Wheels Shok D666 wheels—this 2022 Ford Bronco also sits on a seven-inch lift. The thread doesn’t list the lift kit’s sourcing, but the original poster mentions it was built off a five-inch lift and uses a bumper spacer to get the tires to fit.
It doesn’t look like there is much if any cutting done to the body for clearance. This is great, as it makes for a much cleaner look and lends the Bronco a Hot Wheels or Tonka toy-come-to-life vibe, minus the supercharger and hood-exit zoomies. There are, however, a couple of things we’d like to find out.
Is That Stock Gearing?
Besides the obvious speedometer error bigger tires can introduce, we also have to wonder how much extra stress the Bronco’s drivetrain is going through churning those 40-inch tires. Ford makes a Ford Performance front differential as an aftermarket upgrade for the Bronco that fits in the stock location, but with 40-inch tires, who knows if even that beefier part is up to the job long-term. Another thing to consider with a lift this tall are the front CV axles’ angles. If the subframe and differential mounts have been moved as part of the five inch kit used—as many do—then this might not be an issue, as the suspension arms and CVs will stay in a relatively normal relationship with the differential and wheels. It looks as if the lower control arms are relatively level, but it’s hard to tell exactly from the images shared so far.
Steering This Wild Buck
The forum poster also doesn’t mention anything about upgraded tie rods, which are again offered by Ford Performance and various other manufacturers. However, it’s not just the strength that we’re wondering about. With a seven inch lift, what does the new steering geometry look like, and how bad is the potential bump steer if the rack wasn’t relocated to match the lift.
Many of the five-inch kits do offer modified knuckles and drop the front cradle to keep the geometry correct, but that’s only for the initial five inches. This rig has seven.
Then there is the issue of the stock dampers and springs. They’re not exactly made for anything above the 35s that are optional for the 2022 Bronco Sasquatch. You could also argue that using only spacers isn’t great, either, considering the lift you gain doesn’t also gain any travel when you do that. That’s why some five inch lifts do come with taller dampers and springs, that way your lift is even more functional rather than just something for the looks or a way to fit larger tires.
Again, without knowing which five-inch lift kit was used to make this seven-inch lift, it is possible this lift came with upgraded shocks and springs. It’s hard to tell from the images that were shared on the post.
Looks Cool, If You’re Into That Sorta Thing
Either way, this Bronco’s extreme lift and huge tires will accomplish what many other typical 40-inch builds do: Get you to stop, stare, talk about it, and post it on your social media. Heck, it got us to post about it, so it’s mission accomplished, thus far, driveability issues be damned.
Photo credit: Bronco6G
Keyword: 37s Are Child’s Play—How About a 2022 Ford Bronco On 40-Inch Tires?