Please help with my tire problems. - Ford Explorer Ranger Enthusiasts "Serious Explorations"®

Bird283 · 07-01-1999, 11:53 PM

Hey guys, I have a question about upgrading the stock tires on my '95 XLT 4x4. First of all will 31x10.5' fit without any rubbing? Next, will BFG All-Terrain T/A's at that size fit and perform well. Will I experience any major problems like speed or acceleration loss? Finally, on BFG's site they list 31x10.5R15LT/C and 31x10.5/R15. Which off these if not both wil fit and what is the difference. Thanks for any help you can provide.

Gabriel Simpson · 07-02-1999, 09:42 AM

those tires will definitely fit under your vehicle. i have a 95 xlt with 31x1050 and hey dont rub at all, except when landing major air. the bfg/AT is pretty much the best AT you can get, though there are many others that are excellent. i have no idea what the lt/c means, but if they are 31x1050 they will fit. it probably has something to do with tread design or load capacity. the dealer should know or go to tirerack.com they have great info.

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scott · 07-02-1999, 10:16 AM

Concerning the speed/acceleration loss, going from 235/75's to 31x10.5's is like going from 3.73 gears to 3.55 or from 3.55 to 3.27. You will notice it but it won't be too bad, although if you're going to run 31's all the time I would consider a gear change. Which I'm trying to do right now, going from 3.55's to 4.10's. So I can run 31" tires and have a gear ratio comparable to 3.73 with 235/75 tires.

j · 07-02-1999, 03:07 PM

Regearing diffs is expensive...to do it right is about a grand and this is the time to put in lockers due to the high labor cost making it at least 2 grand but more like 3. Ad new tires and you are at 4 grand

If you have 3.73 you can handle 31s OK. On secondary roads at 55mph stay out of OD or 5th...your gas mileage and wear and tear will be better.

If you are going BFG AT, get the KOs. They are considerably better for all-around driving than the older design BFG ATs.

A reasonable substitution is 30x9.50s if your gearing is less than 3.73. Read your door tag, but also crawl under the rear and read the rear axle metal tag. You should be able to decipher the code.

j

Bird283 · 07-02-1999, 04:17 PM

BFG A/T KO's were what I am planning on. I just didn't put in in the original message. I have 3.73 gears but have been looking into 30' tires as well. If I do the majority of my driving on-road during the week but also like to take the truck off-road in moderate conditions will 30's be ok? I have had people tell me that 31's are pretty much the min. for good off-road application.

Bird283 · 07-03-1999, 01:57 AM

Conssidering the gears, who would I contact to do this, generally. How much would they cost(approx.) and what are any positive/negative results of the change. Like I have said before, I don't know a lot about all this performance stuff so any help would be great.

Phil Christensen · 07-03-1999, 04:04 PM

FWIW: '93 EB - I just went to 30x9.5 a couple months ago. Tried 31's at PriceClub (decent prices, no tacked on charges for mount/balancing/road hazard) but they refused to do it because tires weren't the "offical" size for truck.

After that, I got a bit worried about size/rub and as it turned out 31's would have fit just fine and I'm wishing I had gone to 31's instead. Now I have a bunch of expensive rubber to wear out before I'm ready for new shoes again.

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07-01-1999, 11:53 PM	#1
Bird283 Wannabe Elite Explorer Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 33 Vehicle Specs	Hey guys, I have a question about upgrading the stock tires on my '95 XLT 4x4. First of all will 31x10.5' fit without any rubbing? Next, will BFG All-Terrain T/A's at that size fit and perform well. Will I experience any major problems like speed or acceleration loss? Finally, on BFG's site they list 31x10.5R15LT/C and 31x10.5/R15. Which off these if not both wil fit and what is the difference. Thanks for any help you can provide.

07-02-1999, 09:42 AM	#2
Gabriel Simpson Wannabe Elite Explorer Join Date: Jun 1999 Posts: 6 Vehicle Specs	those tires will definitely fit under your vehicle. i have a 95 xlt with 31x1050 and hey dont rub at all, except when landing major air. the bfg/AT is pretty much the best AT you can get, though there are many others that are excellent. i have no idea what the lt/c means, but if they are 31x1050 they will fit. it probably has something to do with tread design or load capacity. the dealer should know or go to tirerack.com they have great info. ------------------ explore more!

07-02-1999, 10:16 AM	#3
scott Wannabe Elite Explorer Join Date: Feb 1999 Posts: 142 Vehicle Specs	Concerning the speed/acceleration loss, going from 235/75's to 31x10.5's is like going from 3.73 gears to 3.55 or from 3.55 to 3.27. You will notice it but it won't be too bad, although if you're going to run 31's all the time I would consider a gear change. Which I'm trying to do right now, going from 3.55's to 4.10's. So I can run 31" tires and have a gear ratio comparable to 3.73 with 235/75 tires.

07-02-1999, 03:07 PM	#4
j Wannabe Elite Explorer Join Date: Feb 1999 Posts: 9 Vehicle Specs	Regearing diffs is expensive...to do it right is about a grand and this is the time to put in lockers due to the high labor cost making it at least 2 grand but more like 3. Ad new tires and you are at 4 grand If you have 3.73 you can handle 31s OK. On secondary roads at 55mph stay out of OD or 5th...your gas mileage and wear and tear will be better. If you are going BFG AT, get the KOs. They are considerably better for all-around driving than the older design BFG ATs. A reasonable substitution is 30x9.50s if your gearing is less than 3.73. Read your door tag, but also crawl under the rear and read the rear axle metal tag. You should be able to decipher the code. j

07-02-1999, 04:17 PM	#5
Bird283 Wannabe Elite Explorer Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 33 Vehicle Specs	BFG A/T KO's were what I am planning on. I just didn't put in in the original message. I have 3.73 gears but have been looking into 30' tires as well. If I do the majority of my driving on-road during the week but also like to take the truck off-road in moderate conditions will 30's be ok? I have had people tell me that 31's are pretty much the min. for good off-road application.

07-03-1999, 01:57 AM	#6
Bird283 Wannabe Elite Explorer Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 33 Vehicle Specs	Conssidering the gears, who would I contact to do this, generally. How much would they cost(approx.) and what are any positive/negative results of the change. Like I have said before, I don't know a lot about all this performance stuff so any help would be great.

07-03-1999, 04:04 PM	#7
Phil Christensen Wannabe Elite Explorer Join Date: Jun 1999 Posts: 14 Vehicle Specs	FWIW: '93 EB - I just went to 30x9.5 a couple months ago. Tried 31's at PriceClub (decent prices, no tacked on charges for mount/balancing/road hazard) but they refused to do it because tires weren't the "offical" size for truck. After that, I got a bit worried about size/rub and as it turned out 31's would have fit just fine and I'm wishing I had gone to 31's instead. Now I have a bunch of expensive rubber to wear out before I'm ready for new shoes again.