31x10.5 on a 97

Ok. I know there are people that have them and that they fit. But today I was talking to the guy a the tire shop and he told me that.
First -they are to big for it.
Second - every time i hit A bump or turn the wheel they are going to rub.
Third - The front end isnt going to stay aligned and the tires will wear bad.

Does any of this sound true.
He told me I should get p265 70 r15
Thanx for your help.
Keith

How about some first hand help? I have a '96 Explorer and had 30x9.5 A/T's on it since new. Now I have 31x10.5 A/T's on it for the past 8 months so I can answer your concerns.
First - [bulls&^t] The 31s look great.
Second - [bulls&^t] Turn the wheel all the way, no rub. Only will rub during full compression while off roading. (Minor scuffs in rear is all I've got, no damage)
Third - [BULLS&^T] I just lifted mine 2" and had an alignment done yesterday. Let me stress I haven't done an alignment in the 3 years I've owned it. The shop yesterday told me the truck was still in PERFECT alignment! I was shocked, but then again I've never had a tire wear or drifting problem.

Tell you tire guy thanks for his recommendations, but if he doesn't want to sell you the tires you want, you'll go elsewhere!

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Cheers,

Andrew B.
1996 Ford Explorer 4x4 (slightly modified)
BC, Canada

bachelor25 - How were you able to lift your '96 2"? I am thinking about lifting my '95 E.B.

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erx,

Goto the "Shocks, suspension, lift kits" message board and read the thread on "Torsion bar lift for IFS" You will find more information there, and can email me if you have any other questions.

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Cheers,

Andrew B.
1996 Ford Explorer 4x4 (slightly modified)
BC, Canada

So the same thing happeded to me when i went to Town Fair only they told me i would def hert my gas milage big time..since then i have asked around and it seems that they can be liable if they put tires on that arent the size that were on there from the factory..this could be the reason for the BS

Sorry for the delayed response, but the BS factor from that tire shop is off the scale.

I can only guess they don't know that a 31x10.5 R15 is a metric 265/75R15. Additionally, if you look at bfgoodrichtires.com or somewhere like that, the spec sheets are very illuminating.
To wit:

Size Diam. Width Mfg.
31x10.5r15 30.7 8.5 BFG
265/70r16 30.7 8.7 BFG
265/75r15 30.7 8.1 FIRESTONE
265/75r16 31.7 7.8 FIRESTONE
31x10.5r15 30.5 8.1 FIRESTONE

Sounds like he really wants to sell you a tire/wheel package with 16" rims (it won't look good without bigger rims! Yeah, that's it!!) instead of a set of tires by themselves.

Roughly, 235's are 29's, 245's are 30's and 265's are 31's, metric to normal. Check the mfg's specs for actual measurement (still only nominal).

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Brian in CA

Help!!! Please Help!!!! I've got a '96 Explorer XLT manual tran, all stock...I want to get it a little higher but not drive the wife crazy...A lift would be great..but there aren't any...

Can I really run a 265 and not mess anything up...I'm not the handiest guy in the world, but I love to drive, I love to 4 wheel and I love my wife....Can these forces come together harmoniously??????

I put the 31X10.5 Bfg at's on about a week or so ago and I love them. They are no problems.

I have been running 31x10.5's bridgestones for the last 2 years on my 91 XLT and i haven't had any problem with them rubbing on any part of my Explorer on or off the road. They fit fine and look a hell of a lot better than the stock size that came on it when i bought it. My dealer also told me they would not fit but since i work for Michelin Tire and we make tires i told him he was the one that didn't know what he was talking about, went to a dealer that would sell them to me and showed up at the previous dealer and showed him his lost $600.00. Try them out and you'll be surprised. richard----

[blk98Mountaineer]

so 31s fit with no problem with out any lifts or anything

[410Fortune]

Awesome work! You dug up a 8 year old thread!!

Now that's searching at its finest, something that is really appriciated around here

[Heath]

And yet you still didn't answer his question... Sorry Jamie I couldn't help myself...

I have a 96 5.0L V8 and I had a 2" BL and shackles and a TT lift to fit my 31's... Some people say they can fit 33" tires that way, but mine wouldn't clear...

[Ray Lobato]

Hi and welcome to the site.
The answer to your question is yes in most cases 31X10.5's will run just fine on a stock 97.

[DeRocha]

Originally Posted by Ray Lobato

...The answer to your question is yes in most cases 31X10.5's will run just fine on a stock 97.

Welcome to the site blk98Mountaineer and Kudos for searching!... As Ray indicated 31s will will fit in most cases.. The reason for "most cases" is that
1) All 31x10.5's are not all 31" tall. (They can vary +/- 1/2").
2) Each vehicle is slightly different: Spring sag, worn bushings/shocks. etc..

IMO 31s will fit perfectly fine, and any problem would be related to slight rubbing at extreme steering angles or wheel stuff when off-road.