Can I change...
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New User
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Buffalo, NY
Can I change tires?
I have a set of XTC P235 70R15 tires(really aggerssive tread) almost brand new and this coming winter i'm going to need a set of tires. I have 16 in. tires on now. What i need to know is there a way to convert these 16's to 15's so I can use these tires. Someone told me to try out universal rims to get them on but I need advice before I got buying the rims for this idea. I bought them for a 86' Bronco 2 but that had to be scrapped because of age and body deterioration. These tires are brand new(the bluing on the letters isn't even off of them yet) and i'd really like to put these on the Explorer if I can. Any suggestions?
Last edited by Subzero870; Mar 10, 2009 at 01:45 AM. Reason: didn't like title
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Joined: Dec 2008
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From: defiance, oh
if you get a set of 15" rims. depending on the difference in overall tire diameter. i think the 235/75r15 you want to put on are 28" diameter tires. measure you existing tire's diameter and see if they are close. if they are between 27" and 28.5" you should be fine. if not, performance will be affected and also fuel mileage. your speedometer would also be off. this can be corrected with a ring and pinion swap. the choice is yours, but they will definately fit.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,742
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From: UT
So you are thinking of buying a set of rims that were used on a BII, is that right?
FWIW, I used to swap wheels back and forth between my Explorer and my BII all the time. You don't say what year Explorer you have, but it will certainly work just fine if you have a 1st gen Explorer. I'm almost certain it will work for a 2nd gen, because I don't think they changed anything (except for rear disk brakes) on the 2nd gen. I have no idea what they did for the 3rd gen Explorers, whether they used the same bolt pattern or if they made the brakes big enough that a 15 inch wheel won't fit over them.
FWIW, I used to swap wheels back and forth between my Explorer and my BII all the time. You don't say what year Explorer you have, but it will certainly work just fine if you have a 1st gen Explorer. I'm almost certain it will work for a 2nd gen, because I don't think they changed anything (except for rear disk brakes) on the 2nd gen. I have no idea what they did for the 3rd gen Explorers, whether they used the same bolt pattern or if they made the brakes big enough that a 15 inch wheel won't fit over them.
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Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Buffalo, NY
Ok. I was thinking that the rims and the brakes would rub against each other as the rims onthe explorer are 16 now and I wanted to put 15 in rims on. I have been thinking about this and started wondering how smaller tires would look on it. They would probably look pretty funny, like one of those monster trucks you see on the road with way smaller tires. I think i'm just gonna sell them and try to get bigger tires for the explorer. Thanks guys for all your help.
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Joined: Sep 2003
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From: NJ
What year explorer do you have? I have a 99, and the stock size is 235/75/15.... with and optional 255/70/16 (for the eb and limiteds) so it depends on what year you have.
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I have an 04 XLT. Sounds like putting training wheels on a truck instead of making it look cool it's gonna look silly. What do you guys think?
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New User
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From: Buffalo, NY
The tires it came with are P235/70R16. The tires I have are P235/70R15. So, it's gonna have smaller tires on it than it does now. Might just be better off selling them and buying the bigger tires like I want.