Spinning out...
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Spinning out...
I have a '93 Ranger XLT, V6 3.0 with a manual transmission. Here is the problem. The tires have plenty of tread on them, but when I'm on even a tiny incline and the road is wet, I feel my tires spinning. I pretty much have no traction while I sit there spinning in place. Eventually, the truck will move, though it is at a snail's pace and while the tires are spinning at an incredible rate. Also, my truck did a sort of fishtail when I was navigating a wide turn and I was shifting from second to third gear. I'm not really a speeder and I don't really release the clutch too hard (that I know of anyway) when I'm on an incline. Could it be that my shocks are not good? I'm not really sure why I would think that, I'm just searching for answers. I really have no idea. By the way, how would I know whether my shocks are good or not and what are end results of having bad shocks? I live in a very hilly area here in Seattle, and for the last two days, it's been raining a lot in the mornings. (Contrary to popular belief, it doesn't ALWAYS rain in Seattle.) 
Any help or passing on of knowledge would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
-Mike-
P.S. Everyone on this site has been totally helpful to the other postings I've put up. This site is great!
Any help or passing on of knowledge would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.-Mike-
P.S. Everyone on this site has been totally helpful to the other postings I've put up. This site is great!
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 216
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From: The first capital of Ohio
Spinning out...
Hi Zack,
I own three Rangers. I suffer with the same spinning problem from time to time. My '91 with the 4.0 gives me more problems than the '84 with a four cylinder automatic and my '85 with a V6 with a 5 speed.
I don't know what the local laws are there in Seattle as far as "loose ballast" weight in the back of a pickup but...
I would suggest some ballast weight "secured tightly" in center of your bed over your drive axle. Be sure to secure it to the bed somehow because you don't want it to shift while you are taking a corner throwing you out of control. Also, Try not to give your truck so much gas when you take off and give it just enough gas to keep it from stalling. Also...Did you buy hard rubber compound tires so you would get more miles out of them? If you did they are more willing to spin than a soft rubber compound.
I hope that this helps.
thomas@horizonview.net
3-RANGERS
I own three Rangers. I suffer with the same spinning problem from time to time. My '91 with the 4.0 gives me more problems than the '84 with a four cylinder automatic and my '85 with a V6 with a 5 speed.
I don't know what the local laws are there in Seattle as far as "loose ballast" weight in the back of a pickup but...
I would suggest some ballast weight "secured tightly" in center of your bed over your drive axle. Be sure to secure it to the bed somehow because you don't want it to shift while you are taking a corner throwing you out of control. Also, Try not to give your truck so much gas when you take off and give it just enough gas to keep it from stalling. Also...Did you buy hard rubber compound tires so you would get more miles out of them? If you did they are more willing to spin than a soft rubber compound.
I hope that this helps.
thomas@horizonview.net
3-RANGERS
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Spinning out...
3 Rangers,
Thanks for the reply. How would I know whether the tires I have are "hard-rubber compound" or "soft-rubber compound?" I talked to a friend of mine today and he said that "hard-rubber" tires are better in hot places, and that "soft-rubber" tires are better in wet places. Do you know anything about this? This is the first time I've ever heard of such a concept. Since it tends to rain a lot during winter in Seattle, I would hate to worry about spinning out all the time. There are some pretty steep hills here!I'll be leaving Seattle in January to move to Vegas so I'm wondering if I should keep the tires I have, (if they're "hard-rubber") and chance spinning out of hills or are there any tires out there that would be good for both climates? Do you have any tire recommendations? Thanks again.
-Mike-
Thanks for the reply. How would I know whether the tires I have are "hard-rubber compound" or "soft-rubber compound?" I talked to a friend of mine today and he said that "hard-rubber" tires are better in hot places, and that "soft-rubber" tires are better in wet places. Do you know anything about this? This is the first time I've ever heard of such a concept. Since it tends to rain a lot during winter in Seattle, I would hate to worry about spinning out all the time. There are some pretty steep hills here!I'll be leaving Seattle in January to move to Vegas so I'm wondering if I should keep the tires I have, (if they're "hard-rubber") and chance spinning out of hills or are there any tires out there that would be good for both climates? Do you have any tire recommendations? Thanks again.
-Mike-
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Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Pacheco, CA
Spinning out...
I had a friend put sandbags in the back of his truck to allay the problem of no traction going up hills (gravel roads usually kick out underneath him). But that was in Oregon and I didn't know it was not legal in other states.
Anyways, maybe soft rubbers are performance tires (i.e. racing, passenger tires), and hard rubbers maybe truck, or service tires? don't know but it's a shot in the dark that might be right...
Anyways, maybe soft rubbers are performance tires (i.e. racing, passenger tires), and hard rubbers maybe truck, or service tires? don't know but it's a shot in the dark that might be right...
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Spinning out...
Fyrelyter,
Sandbags huh? 3 Rangers had mentioned legality in an earlier reply and now you've mentioned it. I didn't know that there were laws in some states regarding... well, actually I don't know how to describe it. Would it be laws concerning the weight of the truck? I'd never heard of any type of law until it was mentioned my you two. Also, 3 Rangers and mentioned that I could add some ballast to my truck. Sandbags sound like a good idea. Where could I get some? Also, would one be sufficient or do I need more than one? Thanks.
-Mike-
Sandbags huh? 3 Rangers had mentioned legality in an earlier reply and now you've mentioned it. I didn't know that there were laws in some states regarding... well, actually I don't know how to describe it. Would it be laws concerning the weight of the truck? I'd never heard of any type of law until it was mentioned my you two. Also, 3 Rangers and mentioned that I could add some ballast to my truck. Sandbags sound like a good idea. Where could I get some? Also, would one be sufficient or do I need more than one? Thanks.
-Mike-
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 216
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From: The first capital of Ohio
Spinning out...
How to read a tire:
265/70R16 111S Treadwear 320
Traction A Temperature A Max. pressure: 44 psi.
265 = Tire width in millimeters. If you stand at the front or rear of the vehicle and look at the tires, the width of tire you see there is the tire width.
70 = Sidewall ratio. This is the height of the tire from the side view, shown as a percentage of the tire width. In this example 70% of 265mm is 185.5mm. 185.5mm is the height between the top of your rim/wheel and the top of your tire. This is also sometimes referred to as the "tire profile".
R = Radial Construction (most common).
16 = Rim or wheel size/width in inches. The steel or aluminum rim you see (possibly with a hubcap over it) also has a size and it's measured in inches.
100 = Load index. It indicates the maximum load that can be put on the one tire at maximum psi. For a car or truck, you take and multiply the value by 4 (tires). Keep in mind that the max load shown is if the tires are at maximum psi., which isn't normally the case.
265/70R16 111S Treadwear 320
Traction A Temperature A Max. pressure: 44 psi.
265 = Tire width in millimeters. If you stand at the front or rear of the vehicle and look at the tires, the width of tire you see there is the tire width.
70 = Sidewall ratio. This is the height of the tire from the side view, shown as a percentage of the tire width. In this example 70% of 265mm is 185.5mm. 185.5mm is the height between the top of your rim/wheel and the top of your tire. This is also sometimes referred to as the "tire profile".
R = Radial Construction (most common).
16 = Rim or wheel size/width in inches. The steel or aluminum rim you see (possibly with a hubcap over it) also has a size and it's measured in inches.
100 = Load index. It indicates the maximum load that can be put on the one tire at maximum psi. For a car or truck, you take and multiply the value by 4 (tires). Keep in mind that the max load shown is if the tires are at maximum psi., which isn't normally the case.
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Spinning out...
Other things to check, if your tires are weather checked they have lost half of the wet road grip, regardless of how much tread is left. Some tires just grip better than others. Check out tirerack.com for tire reviews. I have had to replace tires with good tread left on them because they hydoplaned in the ran, at 50 mph. these tires had closed shoulders, no place for the water to go.
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Pacheco, CA
Spinning out...
I think you can get sandbags at your local hardware store... and I also think that my friend had a couple on each side behind the wheel humps in the rear...
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From: Big Lake , MN.
Spinning out...
If your tires are good may your front brake calipers aren't releasing all the way which may be causeing your loss of traction on take off . If all is good then maybe try starting out in 2nd gear . This of course depends on the grade of the incline and how fast you want to wear out the clutch. Good Luck.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 203
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From: Virginia
Spinning out...
the whole problem is the fact that this trucks are so light in the front and heavy in the back. on mine i removed the spare tire anyway and put it on the bed and added ballast where it mounted previously. made a big help. worst thing is its more weight to carry and worse fuel milage also harder on the clutch and tranny but witht the bigger motor u have it shouldnt be a problem
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 14,413
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From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!
Spinning out...
It's the Ford power. You have NO control over it! It controls you! If you don't like it, BUY A DODGE! 
Then you will never spin your tires, EVER! Even if you try your hardest! And on ice!!
-Matt
Then you will never spin your tires, EVER! Even if you try your hardest! And on ice!!-Matt
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