98 Explorer Tires
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Tuned
Joined: May 2015
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From: Baltimore
98 Explorer Tires
I have 98 Explorer with Goodyear Wrangler tires. The ride is absolutely horrible. And yes, the shocks have been replaced. I also have an 86 F150 that had a terrible ride and tires that had a very aggressive tread. I guess the previous owner thought he'd take it off road even though it's only 2 wheel drive. I switched those tires for plain all seasons and the difference in ride is like night and day. Feels like a different truck, ride is very smooth. I'm thinking of doing the same thing on the Explorer. I don't have to worry about driving in snow and have no intension of taking it off road. My question is can I expect to get the same results that I got on the F150? I know the wheel base is different. I still have good tread on these tires and don't want to waste the money if it won't help.
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What kind of shocks did you put on, and how long ago?
I had a '98, have a '99. Ride was/is acceptable with OEM Firestones, Goodyear replacements, 16" Dunlop Grandtrek AT20s off my Tacoma (245-75x16 on Exlplorer 16" aluminum wheels), and Michelin LTX load range C 235-75x15s,
Acceptable, not great.
Have you fiddled with tire pressure? 28 to 35 would be the range I would try unless you have E rated tires. If you have E rated tires, that's your problem, and was no doubt the issue with the F150.
It won't ride as smooth as the longer, heavier F150.
I had a '98, have a '99. Ride was/is acceptable with OEM Firestones, Goodyear replacements, 16" Dunlop Grandtrek AT20s off my Tacoma (245-75x16 on Exlplorer 16" aluminum wheels), and Michelin LTX load range C 235-75x15s,
Acceptable, not great.
Have you fiddled with tire pressure? 28 to 35 would be the range I would try unless you have E rated tires. If you have E rated tires, that's your problem, and was no doubt the issue with the F150.
It won't ride as smooth as the longer, heavier F150.
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Tires would say "P235-75x15" or "LT235-75x15" or similar if you have a different size. P rides smooth, LT not so much.
Beyond that, unless you have suspension parts binding I'm not sure there's anywhere else to go. You have good tread, but how old are those tires? Do they have checking and cracking?
Getting hard and starting to crack is a Wrangler feature, as well as some other brands.
Beyond that, unless you have suspension parts binding I'm not sure there's anywhere else to go. You have good tread, but how old are those tires? Do they have checking and cracking?
Getting hard and starting to crack is a Wrangler feature, as well as some other brands.
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Tuned
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 318
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From: Baltimore
Got rid of the Goodyear wranglers and put a set of Hankook Kinergy ST735. The tires have a less aggressive tread and the ride is much smoother now. Running the same PSI as before and I notice a big difference. I wonder what percent of SUVs are just used as the family wagon and never see deep snow or go off road but are running all terrain tires?
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glemon
Explorer, Sport Trac, Mountaineer & Aviator
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Feb 13, 2011 08:47 PM
