Jeep Finally Sells the Gladiator With 35-Inch Tires From the Factory

Jeep has started taking orders for the 2027 Gladiator 35-inch Tire Launch Edition, the first Gladiator to leave the Toledo plant on 35-inch tires without a dealer or an aftermarket shop touching it. The limited-run package is offered on the Willys, Rubicon, and Rubicon X, and it arrives in the same week as the 2027 Wrangler's own model-year update.

The headline number is 12.9 inches of ground clearance. Jeep also quotes a 46.7-degree approach angle, 23.3 degrees of breakover, and 26.7 degrees of departure, and the truck keeps its Trail Rated badge with the package fitted.

What the package actually changes

This is more than a tire swap. Alongside the 35-inch all-terrain tires on bronze-painted 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, Jeep fits a 1-inch factory suspension lift, 4.56 axle gears, heavy-duty Dana axles, a full-time 4:1 transfer case, and upgraded brakes. Highline fender flares and flare extensions cover the extra rubber, and the Rubicon and Rubicon X get a performance hood.

The styling follows the hardware: bronze Jeep badges and tow hooks, plus exclusive graphics on the hood, body sides, and tailgate. The Rubicon X adds its own door graphic and a hood decal.

Against the 2026 Gladiator Rubicon's official spec sheet (11.6 inches of clearance, 44.7-degree approach, 20.9-degree breakover, 25.5-degree departure), the Launch Edition picks up 1.3 inches of clearance and improves every angle, with breakover gaining the most at 2.4 degrees. Jeep's 2027 Gladiator overview also lists a maximum crawl ratio of 86:1, up from 77:1 last year, and water fording of up to 34 inches versus 31.5, both consistent with the taller tires and shorter gearing.

How it stacks up against the ZR2 Bison

The obvious benchmark is the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison, which has sold 35-inch mud-terrains on AEV beadlock-capable wheels straight from the factory since the 2024 model year. By GM's own numbers, the Bison sits at 12.2 inches of clearance with a 38.2-degree approach, 26.9-degree breakover, and 26-degree departure angle.

So the Jeep clears the Chevy by 0.7 inch and beats it by 8.5 degrees on approach, a direct result of the Gladiator's short front overhang. The Bison wins breakover by 3.6 degrees, which matters on the Gladiator's long 137.3-inch wheelbase, and it carries Multimatic DSSV dampers that Jeep's package doesn't answer. Where the Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter fits in, we covered in our midsize truck buying guide.

Why Jeep is doing this now

Jeep CEO Branden Coté said in the announcement that 35-inch tires have consistently ranked among the most popular Gladiator modifications. The factory version solves the problems owners run into when they do it themselves: speedometer and gearing calibration, rubbing flares, and arguments about what a warranty will cover after a lift.

The timing also fits a broader 2027 refresh. The Sahara now comes standard with a vented power dome hood and side steps, with a new 20-inch machined wheel package that bundles all-terrain tires, Dana 44 axles, and a Trac-Lok limited-slip rear differential. The entry Sport S gains a 7-inch color cluster, passive entry, all-terrain tires, and 17-inch machined wheels, while the Rubicon and Mojave add heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and embedded navigation as standard. The only engine remains the 285-hp, 260-lb-ft 3.6-liter V6 with the eight-speed automatic, mirrored in how the 2027 Wrangler lines up against the Bronco.

What Jeep hasn't said

There is no price. Jeep hasn't announced 2027 Gladiator MSRPs at all, let alone what the 35-inch Tire Launch Edition will add over a standard Willys, Rubicon, or Rubicon X, and the announcement doesn't put a number on the production run or say when the first trucks reach dealers. Order books are open in North America now, and with the SEMA Show opening in Las Vegas on November 3, a Mopar-dressed example on the Stellantis stand would be no surprise.