Ahh it happened again, I went to Costco to have a flat replaced. When the repair was done the general manager for the tire center told me that I was in great danger having my explorer with BFG 31-10-15 with stock suspension. He said explorers have to have the 235-??-?? what ever you call it. He said that explorers already have high body roll and that I may flip. I told him I have seen many explorers with BFG's and he said that explorers don't weight enough to have them. And he said some thing about a 6 ply tire and the explorers are only to have a 4 ply tires. What should I do ? take it back to DISCOUNT TIRE??

He said stock explorers HAVE TO HAVE THE SIZE ON THE DOOR or you will roll

He's an idiot. My Sport canme from the factory with 255/70R16s. How many people on this board run larger than stock BFGs? There are scores, if not hundreds. He's probably just trying to get you to buy a whole 'nother set of tires.

Something tells me this guy doesnt know the difference between his right hand an his a$$ Cause what he said is a total crock! Man, if people work at a job, the least they could do is know what they're talking about....
Pete

actually, that guy is for the most part right. all vehicles were designed with heir respective tire sixes in mind while the truck was on the drawing board. not sure how many plies the stockers had but the bfgs do have a 6 ply sidewall. this results in more lateral stiffnes and thus transmits more shock to the wheel and then the suspension. for example, you see all those lowered ricers bouncing around because of there huge rims and very lo profile tires. this is why they bounce. this doesnt happen to our cars tho, b/c we have actually travel in the suspension. actually according to ford damage will result if you put on bigger tires that werent available as an option...also at 35 they are really stiff and that is fine. but the rollover thing with the firestones.....was that they would be less prone to roll if you lowered the tire pressure so the sidewalls would be softer...that is why our door stickers used to be at 26 psi. then they resended that because of the tire failure. the harder/ more psi you have the less heat and friction, but the harsher and more prone to roll too....in mostcases though a 31x10.5x15 shouldnt be that much of a problem...as in respect to anything modification comes trade-offs. also the explo manual says dont lift it either as it will be more likely to roll b/c of the higher center of gravity...also my visor has a sticker that says this is a 4x4 truck and shouldnt be handled like a sportscar or a rollover could occur and cause serious injury or death....TRUST ME, I AM AN EX-TIRE GUY FROM AMERICA'S/DISCOUNT TIRE COMPANY.

Ford also says to use only Motercraft products too. Auto markers want you to ONLY use the parts that they had on them in the first place. A truck is designed using parts to work the best, however that's not saying that other parts won't work too. A truck is made with a soft ride and safety in mind(thus not having large tires) that's not to say that if you run larger tires you will flip. It is designed one way.....but can be ran several THOUSAND different way. If it can't.....why have aftermarket parts???

I'd say don't listen to him....he is kinda right saying that there is a larger tires do increase the odds of a roll over...but they won't promise you one.

what leebo, dont listen to me or the tire guy? i agree he is kinda full of crap...but.....he is partially right..good job about ford only saying to use ford replacement parts...yes you COULD increase your chance of a rollover with bigger tireS, BUT IT PROBABLY ISNT VERY LIKELY!!!!!!!!!!!!just like my new flowmaster 40 is less restictive than stock, it could possibly hurt something....will it? i highly doubt it!!!!!

I run 33" BFG Muds on mine and have not rolled yet. I know Tom Davis has 33" BFG All-Terians on his and he has rolled. Gerald Floped his on the side with his BFG All-Terrians too. Hmm... :D

Quick ryan.....things are going to good for you....knock on wood....NOW. Congrats on your new job btw.

Tom...rolling his....when did this happen. HEHEHEHE

Hmmmm... yeah, that's it; it was the tire's fault! Me flipping sideways in a wedgie while trying to go vertical up a cliff didn't have anything to do with it... It had to be those 33" ATs. I'm gonna sue BFG it's their fault http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif

I'll fix that when I go to 35" M/TR's on my next set of tires http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

PS/ congrats on your new job, Ryan. 'Bout time you got responsible and did something with your life.

PPS/ BFGs have 3-ply sidewalls, not 6. They're called TriGuard sidewalls, not SextaGuard http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif

oh yeaH gerald. i should of that of that being an ex tire guy. i think the six is tread plies....duh!!!! bfg triguard sidewalls isnt 6, stupid me!

Considering that the largest tire size that you could get from the factory on a stock Explorer is equal to 30" your tire guy is on crack if he thinks that a 31" tire that make your Explorer sit 1/2" higher off the ground is going to cause you to roll over. Tires don't cause rollovers and niether does suspension. It is the driver that causes rollovers. Older cars and trucks had way more body roll than any of the new trucks do and you don't hear anyone saying that they are a roll over risk. Some people need to stop blindly believing everything they see on tv or read in the newspapers or magazines.

I love them and it handles better than stock!

Nick, it sounds like costco is giving you a hard time. First with the air pressure then the size. I would just go back to Discount Tire. Discount tire has always been good to us and IMO they know what they are doing and are the best.

My Explorer actually handles BETTER with the 31" BFGs on it. The stiffer sidewalls don't let it lean as much in the turns. Just don't get too cocky with them and go faster since it isn't leaning as much...

Now you've all figured out my secret..

I guess that means BFG AT/ko's cause rollovers, and Goodyear MT/R's are safe, and don't cause rollerovers.

Yea.

Right.

I have land in Florida for sale cheap, and I know of bridge looking for a buyer...

I used to run 33" BFG's, and I ROLLED. Then I switched to 35" BFG's, and I ROLLED AGAIN. Now I run 37" Coyotes and I HAVE NOT ROLLED.

HOW MUCH PROOF DO YOU NEED? Sheeesh.

Paul Gagnon did you say BFG's 31-15-15's would not fit on my explorer. I'm confused ??

Brain> I know... Costco always has a problem with my truck

Originally posted by Nick K
Paul Gagnon did you say BFG's 31-15-15's would not fit on my explorer. I'm confused ??




No Whats he is saying is that Ford will only put 30" tires, which are really only 29" tires on Explorers. If you were to want 31" tires on your new Explorer Ford, they would not do it for you.

Ohh alright thanks

My take on this guys....


After 3 sets of those stupid Firestone tires and the a$$hole at the Ford dealership telling me that they were the one and only tire that can be fitted on the truck...(he told me there was absolutely nothing else that would fit...no other options whatsoever) after them telling me that the treadwear on the tires were "the way I drove"...."something wrong with my suspension" (even though they checked the suspension the week before)... I believe absolutely nothing anyone tells me..... I always ask for a "poll" now......I question everything that some idiot behind the counter tries to sell me. I spent good $$$ on those "deathstones" and was only reimbursed for one set..... I vowed this will never happen again.... with anything I buy....I now have whatever they say put inot writing....I just stand there act dumb...and tell them to write it down for me ...as well as their name... I save that slip of paper.....If I'm ripped off... I have it in their writing...they can't deny it....

Karol

Karol, what you need is one of them business cards that say 'I am Deaf', and pad of paper.

Make them write everything down, and NEVER SAY A WORD. ok, grunt and squeal every once in a while.. but make damn sure NOT TO SPEAK, until you've got it all down in writing.. Then say 'Thanks!'.

Heheheheheeee.. That will get their goat!

I know I got some idiot at the Radio Shack I hate it that everytime I go in there looking for something , they come out and say "we don't carry that anymore" ...before you can get a sentence out..... they just want to sell you a computer or a cell phone or that godalful Satalite Dish kit..... they don't even want to speak to anyone who wants anything else.... So I stood there while he wrote down that he didn't have it....I made it seem like my husband never believes me and stuff.......then I called the manager the next day and asked he seemed puzzled..... They did in fact had what I needed...... I just told him the "salesmans" name and included that there were about 8 different customers in line behind me.... I just didn't seem worth his time since my item was only about $10...as opposed to a potential $1500-2000 customer ..."We got questions....they got answers" all right....and the answer is...."We don't carry stuff like that anymore!!! andd guess what....Karol don't shop there anymore....

Karol

I called the local Sears store here in Littelton (Southwest Plaza) and the guy told me the same thing. I asked specifically fro 31 x 10.5 x 15 and the guy quotes me Sears policy about the Explorer is speced for "P" sized tires for a passenger car. The ONLY way he would install those tires is if I was running a suspension system from a Ranger! So, I told him I'd take my $500 and go someplace else. He did mention the dreaded ROLLOVER risk. And the sidewall being stiffer in a "Truck" tire causing the rollover. Oh well, I never liked Sears in the first place...

Weird...because when I went tire shopping last August (in the midst of the Firestone "fiasco"), the Sears guy was all about me buying oversize tires.

Well, now that I think about it, this is Alabama...http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

I was born in montgomery a while back.

Who knows how consistant the Sears corporate message is. Maybe I was just "Lucky" that I was able to get this guy to set me straight...lol