Tire choices.........? - Ford Explorer Ranger Enthusiasts "Serious Explorations"®

Derrick C. · 05-08-2001, 07:12 PM

I have 36x12.50 TSL radials on my rig now and I'm in a solid axle and atlas II swap right now. I'm curious what you all think of what tires I should run. 33x14.00 Boggers, 35x16.00 Boggers,35x15.50 Baja Claws or 36x14.50 TSL radials. I'll be slightly taller then I am now and it wil no longer be a daily driver. Any comments welcome.

riffman · 05-08-2001, 07:28 PM

well....i got the 36x12.50 Bias Susper Swampers....there are a few things that have been brought to my attention that i really am kind of not likeing about them....with bias ply (boggers are bias) you get flat spots. if the tires sit for a while, they kind of get stuck like that...untill they warm up...also, with the bias...to get sidewall flex, i had to air down to 8 PSI to get anywhere....then when i dumped it on its side, 2 beads broke loose during the recovery....so that was a pain....they also say that bias don't ride as well on the road...but i can't say that for sure...cause im used to the ride of a 1 ton dodge as my daily driver.....i think for a trailer queen, bias are gonna be ok....but perhaps a good investment would be beadlocks.....

as far as tire choice goes...i LOVE my swampers...the bias swampers have a little more aggressive tread than the radials do, and boy oh boy do they rock!! when i saw ricks truck run with the baja claws....he couldn't air all the way down with no bead locks...so i wasn't really happy how they did for him...personally, in my opinion, they aren't really doin it for me..ya know? boggers would be nice, but i have never driven on them.....but just from the design, it doesn't seem that they're lateral traction is the greatest...same with the claws....

so what i would probably do is the bias 36's or 38 in the superswamper...or if you stick with the radial...maybe cut the center tread a little to widen the gap in there, know what i mean??

tdavis · 05-08-2001, 08:37 PM

I'd stay away from the Baja Claws myself.. Like riff said, plus they aren't truly 35's (they are barely 33's!)

I love my MT/R's, esp. since I still drive on the street. If the navajo was a trailer queen, I'd probably change to some form of Swamper..

Also, as the tire gets wider, you'll probably have to get wider rims. If your running 8" rims, most shops won't mount the 14, 15.5, or 16" tires on them.

riffman · 05-08-2001, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tdavis
I'd probably change to some form of Swamper..

YES!!! We have it on record now!!!! MUWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

tdavis · 05-08-2001, 09:10 PM

I never said "SWAMPERS TOTALLY SUCK".

I just won't drive them on the street. They will *NOT* last that way. Talk about a waste of money...

91'explorer 2wd · 05-10-2001, 10:56 AM

i'd totally go with 35x16.00's on the boggers, wider is better, besides that is my fav tire. what size rims do u have. just my 2 cents

Derrick C. · 05-10-2001, 05:41 PM

I'm thinkin of the new Trail Ready bead locks. Probably 15x12s depending on the tire I choose to run. Thanks for the comments guys!!

Kampy · 05-10-2001, 06:56 PM

Well, heres my .02, I'd run 37x12.50x15 SSR's. I know they weren't on the list but I like them better than the others.

Oknut · 05-19-2001, 04:40 PM

This is what I would do if I were you, I would get some 39.5 boggers. and a dana 60 front end. that would really rock your world. Are you planning on doing an engine upgrade also ? Something else to consider is leaf springs in the front, so much easier to lift and they flex just fine.

I bought some lighter leafs for the front they are narrow and pretty long. and I flex better with those then I did with my coils. donw the road i'm gonna do a buggy leaf. I think I spelled that right ?

Man your expo would look sweet with some 18 inch wide boggers. Afterall your not gonna be driving it on the road.

If it was me I would go with te 44" boggers but I know you don't wanna be the BIG dog. HEHE just kidding..

05-08-2001, 07:12 PM	#1
Derrick C. Moderator Drinkin Corona Twin Falls, Idaho---------B.F.E. 91 XLT, 92 XL Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 2,252 Vehicle Specs	Tire choices.........? I have 36x12.50 TSL radials on my rig now and I'm in a solid axle and atlas II swap right now. I'm curious what you all think of what tires I should run. 33x14.00 Boggers, 35x16.00 Boggers,35x15.50 Baja Claws or 36x14.50 TSL radials. I'll be slightly taller then I am now and it wil no longer be a daily driver. Any comments welcome. __________________ Whoops king.....thats why I moderate it. PLAY WITH THE BIG DAWGS?.......... HELL, I AM THE BIG DAWG!!!!

05-08-2001, 07:28 PM	#2
riffman Wannabe Elite Explorer Bloomington, IL '92 XLT Join Date: Sep 1999 Posts: 1,416 Vehicle Specs	well....i got the 36x12.50 Bias Susper Swampers....there are a few things that have been brought to my attention that i really am kind of not likeing about them....with bias ply (boggers are bias) you get flat spots. if the tires sit for a while, they kind of get stuck like that...untill they warm up...also, with the bias...to get sidewall flex, i had to air down to 8 PSI to get anywhere....then when i dumped it on its side, 2 beads broke loose during the recovery....so that was a pain....they also say that bias don't ride as well on the road...but i can't say that for sure...cause im used to the ride of a 1 ton dodge as my daily driver.....i think for a trailer queen, bias are gonna be ok....but perhaps a good investment would be beadlocks..... as far as tire choice goes...i LOVE my swampers...the bias swampers have a little more aggressive tread than the radials do, and boy oh boy do they rock!! when i saw ricks truck run with the baja claws....he couldn't air all the way down with no bead locks...so i wasn't really happy how they did for him...personally, in my opinion, they aren't really doin it for me..ya know? boggers would be nice, but i have never driven on them.....but just from the design, it doesn't seem that they're lateral traction is the greatest...same with the claws.... so what i would probably do is the bias 36's or 38 in the superswamper...or if you stick with the radial...maybe cut the center tread a little to widen the gap in there, know what i mean?? __________________ COMING SOON: Some witty comment!

05-08-2001, 08:37 PM	#3
tdavis Linux Guru Jack of All Trades Pinole, CA 2001 F250/XLT Superduty Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 5,267 Vehicle Specs	I'd stay away from the Baja Claws myself.. Like riff said, plus they aren't truly 35's (they are barely 33's!) I love my MT/R's, esp. since I still drive on the street. If the navajo was a trailer queen, I'd probably change to some form of Swamper.. Also, as the tire gets wider, you'll probably have to get wider rims. If your running 8" rims, most shops won't mount the 14, 15.5, or 16" tires on them. __________________ Thomas Davis Chased vehicle -> Honda VFR800 Tow vehicle -> Ford F250 Superduty Frankenstein Rock Crawler - > Suzuki Samurai (sold, onto the next project..)

05-08-2001, 09:10 PM	#5
tdavis Linux Guru Jack of All Trades Pinole, CA 2001 F250/XLT Superduty Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 5,267 Vehicle Specs	I never said "SWAMPERS TOTALLY SUCK". I just won't drive them on the street. They will NOT last that way. Talk about a waste of money... __________________ Thomas Davis Chased vehicle -> Honda VFR800 Tow vehicle -> Ford F250 Superduty Frankenstein Rock Crawler - > Suzuki Samurai (sold, onto the next project..)

05-10-2001, 10:56 AM	#6
91'explorer 2wd Wannabe Elite Explorer McAllen, TX '92 XLT 4x4 Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 227 Vehicle Specs	35x16.00 Boogers i'd totally go with 35x16.00's on the boggers, wider is better, besides that is my fav tire. what size rims do u have. just my 2 cents __________________ '02 x rims 3 chamber flows w/no cat k&n filter that's worthless 33" wrangler at/s b/lift, still working on her...slowly but surely

05-10-2001, 05:41 PM	#7
Derrick C. Moderator Drinkin Corona Twin Falls, Idaho---------B.F.E. 91 XLT, 92 XL Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 2,252 Vehicle Specs	I'm thinkin of the new Trail Ready bead locks. Probably 15x12s depending on the tire I choose to run. Thanks for the comments guys!! __________________ Whoops king.....thats why I moderate it. PLAY WITH THE BIG DAWGS?.......... HELL, I AM THE BIG DAWG!!!!

05-10-2001, 06:56 PM	#8
Kampy Wannabe Elite Explorer Rio Rancho, NM 90 Ranger Join Date: Feb 1999 Posts: 347 Vehicle Specs	Well, heres my .02, I'd run 37x12.50x15 SSR's. I know they weren't on the list but I like them better than the others. __________________ Kampy

05-19-2001, 04:40 PM	#9
Oknut Wannabe Elite Explorer Sequim, WA '91 xl Join Date: Nov 1999 Posts: 259 Vehicle Specs	This is what I would do if I were you, I would get some 39.5 boggers. and a dana 60 front end. that would really rock your world. Are you planning on doing an engine upgrade also ? Something else to consider is leaf springs in the front, so much easier to lift and they flex just fine. I bought some lighter leafs for the front they are narrow and pretty long. and I flex better with those then I did with my coils. donw the road i'm gonna do a buggy leaf. I think I spelled that right ? Man your expo would look sweet with some 18 inch wide boggers. Afterall your not gonna be driving it on the road. If it was me I would go with te 44" boggers but I know you don't wanna be the BIG dog. HEHE just kidding.. __________________ 1969,70,77,79,86 and 91 EXPO Slightly modified v8 conversion - built 306 Straight axle convert, leaf sprung Dana 60 rear, locked up 16" lift with 42" swampers 115" wheelbase Rocking sound system