5.5" Superlift and stock 235 BFG's - Ford Explorer Ranger Enthusiasts "Serious Explorations"®

4x4Hunter · 01-09-2002, 12:31 AM

I'm running my 33X12.5 Mud Terrains right now, but the weather up in northern New York causes certain problems. The major one is that without the sipes in the tires, on the mudder's, i end up sliding around alot. So i'm thinking that maybe I should put my 235s back on, but i'm worried about the stability of the truck with the lift and the smaller tires. Any thoughts or suggestions for the winter months? My other thought was maybe buying some 31 X 10.5" All Terrain's and putting the mud terrains away until i get another set of rims. I'd really rather just go with the 235's if its safe enough though.

*Jason_25* · 01-09-2002, 12:44 AM

I beleive there are tire shops that will "sipe" your tires for you.

*jimbo74* · 01-09-2002, 01:05 AM

235 should be fine as long as you dont hodtrod the truck all the time...it will just look dorky.... Americas tire's company will sipe your tires...(well, some of them)

4x4Hunter · 01-09-2002, 02:35 PM

Well its done, the stock tires are back on for the winter.. I think next year i'm going to save up for a set of rims and maybe some 31 X 10's so that it doesnt look so odd. Anyway, the traction and handling in the snow is 100X better than with the mud tires. Good enough for now i guess. I think I'm giong to go with dedicated winter tires come next year, maybe the new BFG AT Ko"s ... have to wait and see what the prices are looking like as well as my wallet

THanks for the suggestions/comments.

CADDYBILL · 01-09-2002, 02:42 PM

What's "sipe" ?????

4x4Hunter · 01-09-2002, 06:09 PM

Sipes are the lil grooves that you see in the tires on most tires. Generally speaking Maximum Traction tires = MT will not have those grooves. These provide traction on heavy packed snow and ice. Check a tire store to see more...sears have them on the walls too.

Van I. · 01-17-2002, 10:22 AM

Did you need to get an alignment after you switched back to your stock tires? Any problems with steering?

The reason I asked is that I need to get a safety inspection and my tires stick out, so it will not pass. I was thinking of just putting my stock wheels and tires back on just for the inspection and then switch them back.

4x4Hunter · 01-18-2002, 10:48 AM

No problems with the steering or alignment. I may be getting some excess tire wear but i'm not sure. Even so, I dont plan on having those tires on the truck that long. Next year I'm planning on getting the Winter Dueler's to run int he winter.. I found out that i can get 31 X 10.5" WD DM Z2's for the truck!! I found out the hard way that MT's are crappy in the snow....

01-09-2002, 12:31 AM	#1
4x4Hunter Wannabe Elite Explorer Watertown, NY '91 XLT Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 210 Vehicle Specs	5.5" Superlift and stock 235 BFG's I'm running my 33X12.5 Mud Terrains right now, but the weather up in northern New York causes certain problems. The major one is that without the sipes in the tires, on the mudder's, i end up sliding around alot. So i'm thinking that maybe I should put my 235s back on, but i'm worried about the stability of the truck with the lift and the smaller tires. Any thoughts or suggestions for the winter months? My other thought was maybe buying some 31 X 10.5" All Terrain's and putting the mud terrains away until i get another set of rims. I'd really rather just go with the 235's if its safe enough though. __________________ -4x4Hunter MSN Handle = hunter@oswego.edu Superlift 5.5" lift Rancho RS 9000 shocks http://shadoebox.mine.nu/hunter

01-09-2002, 12:44 AM	#2
Jason_25 Elite Explorer ECX Member New Bern, NC '95 Explorer "Expedition" Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 5,349 Vehicle Specs	I beleive there are tire shops that will "sipe" your tires for you. __________________ 1995 Explorer "Expedition" 4.0 4x4 1987 Bronco II XLT 2.9 4x4 1988 Bronco II XLT 2.9 4x2 1997 Explorer XLT 5.0 4x2 My Truck

01-09-2002, 01:05 AM	#3
jimbo74 Elite Ranger NorCal 98 XLT Supercab 4x2 Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 17,627 Vehicle Specs*	235 should be fine as long as you dont hodtrod the truck all the time...it will just look dorky.... Americas tire's company will sipe your tires...(well, some of them) __________________ My Truck

01-09-2002, 02:35 PM	#4
4x4Hunter Wannabe Elite Explorer Watertown, NY '91 XLT Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 210 Vehicle Specs	235's back Well its done, the stock tires are back on for the winter.. I think next year i'm going to save up for a set of rims and maybe some 31 X 10's so that it doesnt look so odd. Anyway, the traction and handling in the snow is 100X better than with the mud tires. Good enough for now i guess. I think I'm giong to go with dedicated winter tires come next year, maybe the new BFG AT Ko"s ... have to wait and see what the prices are looking like as well as my wallet THanks for the suggestions/comments. __________________ -4x4Hunter MSN Handle = hunter@oswego.edu Superlift 5.5" lift Rancho RS 9000 shocks http://shadoebox.mine.nu/hunter

01-09-2002, 02:42 PM	#5
CADDYBILL Wannabe Elite Explorer Broad Channel Queens NY '94 EDDIE BAUER/ sold Join Date: Aug 2000 Posts: 653 Vehicle Specs	What's "sipe" ????? __________________ Caddybill '94 EDDIE BAUER K&N, AutoZone Shackles, Skyjacker 2inch Lift, 31's (SOLD) Long Island Dreamboats

01-09-2002, 06:09 PM	#6
4x4Hunter Wannabe Elite Explorer Watertown, NY '91 XLT Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 210 Vehicle Specs	Sipe Sipes are the lil grooves that you see in the tires on most tires. Generally speaking Maximum Traction tires = MT will not have those grooves. These provide traction on heavy packed snow and ice. Check a tire store to see more...sears have them on the walls too. __________________ -4x4Hunter MSN Handle = hunter@oswego.edu Superlift 5.5" lift Rancho RS 9000 shocks http://shadoebox.mine.nu/hunter

01-17-2002, 10:22 AM	#7
Van I. Wannabe Elite Explorer Maui to Keizer, OR '91 4dr 4x4, 04 xlt 4.6 Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 184 Vehicle Specs	Did you need to get an alignment after you switched back to your stock tires? Any problems with steering? The reason I asked is that I need to get a safety inspection and my tires stick out, so it will not pass. I was thinking of just putting my stock wheels and tires back on just for the inspection and then switch them back. __________________ 5-speed,stock manual hubs,Apten Chip,KKM,Cold Air intake,Granatelli Mass Sensor,Flow-master 40 delta,clear fronts and Alteeza rears , 2" bl,5.5" Superlift,33X12.5X15 Xterrains,Optima yellow top

01-18-2002, 10:48 AM	#8
4x4Hunter Wannabe Elite Explorer Watertown, NY '91 XLT Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 210 Vehicle Specs	No problems with the steering or alignment. I may be getting some excess tire wear but i'm not sure. Even so, I dont plan on having those tires on the truck that long. Next year I'm planning on getting the Winter Dueler's to run int he winter.. I found out that i can get 31 X 10.5" WD DM Z2's for the truck!! I found out the hard way that MT's are crappy in the snow.... __________________ -4x4Hunter MSN Handle = hunter@oswego.edu Superlift 5.5" lift Rancho RS 9000 shocks http://shadoebox.mine.nu/hunter