Another Tire Post
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 820
Likes: 11
Another Tire Post
First, I did search this forum and found a lot of info, but a lot of it contradict itself. I would like to get some fresh input from you guys. I have a 98 reg cab short box Ranger. It’s a bottom of the line model, 4 wheel, with a 3.0L. I’m going to put some oversized tires on it to get the RPMs down on the highway. It's a daily driver that will rarely go offroad but...when it does hit the dirt it gets wheeled hard, so it has to have good clearance with NO rubbing. I’m thinking 31s; can I go bigger? I’ve priced Firestone Destinations ATs in 31/10.50 and planned on mounting them on American Racing 767s in 15x8. Their website list them with -12mm Offset and 4” backspacing. They suggest a 7’ rim with no offset and the same backspacing but I’d like an 8’ with this wide of a tire. I’m not worry if the stick out a little but will they fit without rubbing? What if I went with 16s instead? All thoughts will be appreciated.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 893
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From: Lawrenceburg, TN
i ran 31x10.50 BFG AT KO's on my 2000 4x4 on the stock wheels with no problems at all. at one time i had 31x12.50 pro comp all terrains on 10's and only the rears would rub a little. they would catch the tops of the rear bedsides when i flexed it alot.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
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Yep, you can go up to a 32" tire on there. If you have the torsion bar front suspension on there and you should on a 98 4x4, then you can crank the t-bars to level the truck and actually get 33's to fit without rubbing.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 820
Likes: 11
Thanks guys, I would like to try 32s or 33s but I think I’ll play it safe right now and stick with the 31s. With all my Jeep buddies back home I should be able to find a set of larger used tires to mount and run before spending a bunch of money on something new that might not fit like I want. It’s just I’m pretty far from home right now and I’m going to need tires before heading back. (I live in FL and I’m in TX for a few weeks)
So what about my wheels. Is the 4” backspacing what I need? Will I have a problem with a 12mm offset the 8” wheels? I have factory flares that will hopefully cover the tires. I also the torsion bar suspension. I will crank them if I need to, but I’d like to keep the half shafts as level as possible.
So what about my wheels. Is the 4” backspacing what I need? Will I have a problem with a 12mm offset the 8” wheels? I have factory flares that will hopefully cover the tires. I also the torsion bar suspension. I will crank them if I need to, but I’d like to keep the half shafts as level as possible.
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 72
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the only thing i can tell about is the tire itself. i've had those tires on my 2000 ranger 4x4 3.0 for just over a year and i like them a lot. i got a better price at firestone than i could at tirerack. i usually can do better at tirerack but not this time. i think is was around $550 for 4 tires with an alignment.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,873
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From: St. Peter
Yeah. I work at a tires plus (same as firestone) and we sell the destiation a/t's. They are nice tires, I think the best fit for the rangers.
BFgoodrich makes a great a/t tire too however. But it seems everybody has those.
If you want the best then the dueler a/t revo's are supposed to be better off-road than the bfgoodrich's and be quieter on the highway. They are pretty expensive though.
I would go with 31's, they are a good balance of size and money.
BFgoodrich makes a great a/t tire too however. But it seems everybody has those.
If you want the best then the dueler a/t revo's are supposed to be better off-road than the bfgoodrich's and be quieter on the highway. They are pretty expensive though.
I would go with 31's, they are a good balance of size and money.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
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I don't know the science behind the back spacing, I let the tire shop figure that out. I did put 31.s on my stock rims of my 96 4x4 with out a problem, you should be fine with 31's.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 820
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FYI
I got the wheels and tires and they work great. The wheels fit perfect, and I have room to spare between the tires and body/chassis. Even with the offset there isn't a problem and the factory flares covers the tires nicely.
One problem I did run into is with my JET Programmer. I bought this a few months ago so that when I did upgrade my tires I could recalibrate my speedo. It wouldn't work with my truck even though Summit said it would. It did everything except reprogram my speedometer. According to JETs website it will only do it for 99 and newer Rangers. So does anybody know if 98 Rangers where still mechanical speedo or if I can take it to the Ford dealership and have it recalibrated? And if they can’t do it has anybody used one of the aftermarket calibraters from JET or Superlift? Is there anything else out there that would work that I haven‘t found yet?
I got the wheels and tires and they work great. The wheels fit perfect, and I have room to spare between the tires and body/chassis. Even with the offset there isn't a problem and the factory flares covers the tires nicely.
One problem I did run into is with my JET Programmer. I bought this a few months ago so that when I did upgrade my tires I could recalibrate my speedo. It wouldn't work with my truck even though Summit said it would. It did everything except reprogram my speedometer. According to JETs website it will only do it for 99 and newer Rangers. So does anybody know if 98 Rangers where still mechanical speedo or if I can take it to the Ford dealership and have it recalibrated? And if they can’t do it has anybody used one of the aftermarket calibraters from JET or Superlift? Is there anything else out there that would work that I haven‘t found yet?
New User
Joined: Nov 2007
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i gots a 92 ranger an i gots p235 75 r15 on it an the guy told me that was as big as i can get on the stock rims (so i spent 800 dollars on tires) is this true or can i get bigger i did some measurements an i think i can get 31s on it because i have a lxt it comes with a slight raise on it but i wanna put a 3 inch lift on it an i want oversize tires on it but im wonderin if i need to buy aftermarket rims for it or not
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 820
Likes: 11
I don't know if you can fit 31s on your truck or not. I just put them on my 98 but I have a different suspension and I think there is some sheet metal changes that year. I'm sure somebody on here has asked this question before so do a search and see what comes up. You shouldn't have a problem finding a lift as just about everybody that makes them has a kit for your year truck (2 and 4wd, you didn't say which you have). Just remember you get what you pay for and don’t use too big of a block in the back. As for the wheels I wouldn't want to put too big of a tire on stockers. I think factory rims should have been 15x6. Although some people do use stock wheels, I wouldn't put a 31x10.50 on anytime less than a 7" wide rim and I'd prefer an 8". Good luck.