hmmm sounds like some fish storries I have heard of, but ok if you say so -

 

I have a 96 4x2 bone stock, except for the stock 84 15x7s and I run 235/75 15s, and regularly pulled 4x4s out of holes. Also have 84 ranger 4x4, bone stock. Never had trouble with either!

 

I have a 98 ranger xlt 4X4 offroad it had 16" by10" wide american racing rims with 245/70 16 and they fit perfect with no rubbing! I recently put a 3" body lift and went to a 285/70 16 and I have a about a 1.5" of clearance from the mud flaps when the wheel is turned all the way! I was told by my local tire shop that 305/75 would fit but I had them put one on the front and it was a little to close to rubbing so I went with the 285's and they fit perfect!

 

I've got 31x9.5s on my '98 Ranger and it just barely rubs when you turn all the way, but you have to really push it. Everything is stock and its just a RWD...so its not jacked up at all. I've had these on for about 2 years and had no troubles except replacing brake pads every 6 months.

 

ive got a 2000 ext cab 2wd coil spring suspension. Front has been lifted with a 3 inch spindle and blocks iin the rear. wheels are 15x8 with 3.75 backspacing. Tires are 31x10.50x15. No rubbing. I've been playing with the idea to put on extended fenders and run wider tires but not sure yet. I can\'t go with a taller tire because its only a 2.5 engine and i don't want to regear the rearend

 

when i went to bigger tires my break replacement never changed. every 30 to 40,000 for new pads and there is still alot of pad left. The only reason i replace them is because i don't want to damage the disc so i never have it resurfaced. i'm cheap that way

 

The wider tires might rub on the inner fender, lower corners or lower corner of your spoiler, one of those things that you just have to put them on and check and see. It might just require a little trimming with a saw on some of the plastic (like the spoiler corners) to fix that. The one thing you will notice with wider, like going to a 12" wide tire, is you will have more drag, from the wind reistance of the wider tire, and will tend to slide around a little more in the rain, but you will also notice your truck will be lighter off road......the extra width will help spread the weight of your truck out a little more.

 

Not sure if its bigger tires or not, but my most recent brake job, done by a highly reputable shop, lasted all of 16K miles on the front. I went from 235/70/16 to 255/70/16 right aabout the same time. Previous brakes had lasted 35K or so...

 

I just bought my son a 98 SC 4x4 and it has 33x12 mud tires on it. The tires will be the first thing to go as the tires rub anytime the wheels are turned and we go down anything as small as a gutter.

Maybe its time to lift it... geez, had it one day and we are already thinking lift kits.

 

I have a 98 ranger with the off road package that came with 16 stock rims. Are 31x10.5-16's the largest tire and can get without a rub?
Thanks,
the mutt

 

I would think a 31x10.5 should work real good. Double check that rim size... I thought the Rangers came stock with 15". I could be wrong though.

 

I think the ORP came with 16's that year. You should be able to fit a 265/75/16. Equivalent to a 32x10.50, shouldn't rub, especially if you crank the torsion bars just a little. Or you can get a 255/70/16 that will fit fine, for sure.

 

So is it safe to assume with a 3" body lift on that vehicle, I should be able to fit 285/75-16's? Or is that too wide for the stock rim?

Neil

 

I have a 98 ranger supercab xlt 4X4 offroad with a 3" body lift and I have 285/75-16's and they fit perfect no rubbing so they should fit the stock rims!!

 

Wouldn't the stock rim width be a problem with 285/75-16's?