Solved Lifts and Max tire sizes

Lift and tire size info for explorers

Lifts and max tire and wheel sizes for explorers
This is a quick reference guide I have put together based on information gathered from the Explorer Forum. Remember this is just a guide. You may have to do some fender trimming to fit these tires on your explorer. Others things can change what size tire you can run on your explorer. Like fiberglass fenders, rim width and rim backspacing.. I figured this would help some of you that were pondering what size lift to run what size tires.If anyone would like to add something go ahead and post it and I will add it to my list. If any of the moderators could make this a sticky that would be great. Hope this helps.

91-94 explorers.
No lift- 31x10.50x15 on 15x8 inch or stock (15x7) rims
1-2 inch suspension lift- 31x10.50x15 - 32x11.50x15 on 15x8 rims/ may require some extensive fender trimming
2-3 inch suspension lift- 32x11.50x15 on 15x8 rims
3-4 inch suspension lift- 32x11.50x15 - 33x12.50x15 on 15x8 rims/ may require fender trimming
4-6 inch suspension lift- 33x12.50x15 - 35x12.50x15 on 15x8 rims/ may require fender trimming
2 inch body lift- 32x11.50x15 on 15x8 rims/ may require fender trimming
3 inch body lift- 33x12.50x15 on 15x8 rims/ may require fender trimming
2 inch body lift and 1-2 inch suspension lift- 32x11.50x15 - 33x12.50x15 on 15x8 rim/ may require fender trimming
2 inch body lift and 2-3 inch suspension lift- 33x12.50x15 on 15x8 inch rim
2 inch body lift and 4-6 inch suspension lift – 35x12.50x15 – 36x12.50x15 on 15x 8 rim/ may require fender trimming
3 inch body lift and 1-2 inch suspension lift – 32x11.50x15 – 33x12.50x15 on 15x8 rim/ may require fender trimming
3 inch body lift and 2-3 inch Suspension Lift – 33x12.50x15 – 35x12.50x15 on 15x8 rim
3 inch body lift and 4-6 inch Suspension lift – 35x12.50x15 – 36x12.50x15 on 15x8 inch rim

95-2001 (including 2dr 95 - present)
No lift- 31x10.50x15 on 15x8 rim or stock (15x7) rim
1-2 inch suspension lift - 32x11.50x15 on 15x8 rim/ may require some extensive fender trimming
4 inch suspension – 33x12.50x15 on 15x8 rim
2 inch body lift – 32x11.50x15 on 15x8 rim
3 inch body lift – 33x12.50x15 on 15x8 rim/ may require fender trimming
2 inch body lift and 1-2 inch suspension lift – 32x11.50x15 – 33x12.50x15 on 15x8 rim/ may require fender trimming
2 inch body lift and 4 inch suspension lift - 33x12.50x15 – 35x12.50x15 on 15x8 rim/ may require fender trimming
3 inch body lift and 1-2 inch suspension lift – 33x12.50x15 on 15x8 rim/ may require fender trimming
3 inch body lift and 4 inch suspension lift – 33x12.50x15 – 35.12.50x15 on 15x8 rim/ may require fender trimming.

You may be able to run 33x10.50x15s inplace of 32x11.50x15s

2002-2005 Ford Explorers
Click here for lift option #1
Click here for lift option #2
No lift - 32x10.50 or equivelent in Metric Measurements on Stock Wheels (265/75/R16 or 265/70/R17) - no modification needed!

Dead Link Removed

 

[Alec]

Get 'em and put them on. If they don't fit, you're only out $100 and an afternoon to put the lift on, + alignment.

 

[White92Sport]

which lift should I use then. Sorry to be a pain in the arse

 

[Nicaraguense]

When I put my 32's or 33's on

When I lift my truck up a bit, and put my 32's or 33's on, ¿Will I notice such a power loss with my 4.0 SOHC that I'm going to think I ain't got nothing more than a pussyfied 4-banger under the hood?

 

[Nicaraguense]

OR

¿Or is it going to feel like going from a 4.0 SOHC to a 4.0 OHV?

 

[Alec]

F150 coil spacers in front and WAR153 shackles in rear for a 91-94.

32s or 33s with 3.73s does feel a bit anemic IMO.

 

[White92Sport]

sorry one more question where can i find the spacers and shackles

 

[Alec]

Have you tried using the search feature?

I don't know the exact year/model # of the spacers, but you get them from Ford. The shackles you get from 4 Wheel Parts.

 

[Nicaraguense]

Like a what

¿Like a made in Japan 4 cylinder? Or more like a 4.0 without the SOHC? Or are we talking get a 5.0 AWD and 4.10s? Would just upgrading to 4.10's a good exhaust and K&N (or KKM whatever) intake make up for that aneimicness and put it back where it should be?

 

[Alec]

Not worth it just to go 4.10 IMO, though that would put you closer to your stock RPMs. And 4.56 would give you more power than now, but your highway RPMs would be about 300 higher than yours now.

Intake, exhaust, and chip will more than make up for the power loss from the tires, and you'll get good mileage on the highway with 32s or 33s and 3.73s.

 

[hardazz04]

I dont know if this helps you, but i have a 97 sport w/ the soch and i recently put a 3 in bl +2 in shackles and 2 in tt also running 35's mt---I have a little lag at low rpms, little more than usual, but when i get my rpms up it picks up like normal!!! i cant really notice too much power loss---also im running stock gears..

 

[91ExploGriff]

Has anybody actually fit 31x10.50's under an unlifted explorer?? I really doubt that they would fit...but I could be wrong. If anything, I figured that 29x.10.50's would be a tight squeeze, but 31's seem a little outrageous for a stock explorer.

 

[Robb]

LOTS of people have fit that tire with no lift, some experienced a little rubbing.

It isn't outrageous to think that 31s would fit. Sports and XEBs with 16" wheels came stock with 30s.

 

[91ExploGriff]

Alright. Thats all I needed to hear. Thanks man. Hey..would you happen to know how much a set of 31's would run approx.?

 

[dougiu]

Largest tire for '94 XLT

New to the site....excellent info !
Just bought a '94 XLT and it needs tires.
It appears that the largest that will fit on a stock is 31x10.50s.
I want the biggest I can get without rubbing anything.
I do moderate off-roading (get to the fishin' hole type)
Is this correct ?
Thanks, Doug

 

[Alec]

Get the 31s. If you rub, trim a bit or add the spacer/shackle lift.

 

[STEVE-O]

I had 31X10.5s on my stock 92 and there were no problems with rubbing. The only time it actually rubbed was when i was jumping it, then the tires would rub the top of the fender yea, but thats probably why the X died. also the 94 shouldnt have quite as much sag in the springs as mine did so your probably better off than mine. The X had around 160,000 miles so it was pretty bad. hope this all helps.
Steve

 

[Nate1]

If I do a 2" BL the way Digger did it (he seemed to net 2.5" of lift or so) and shackles, 4 dr leafs, and a TT do you think I could fit 285/75/R16s on my sport with little to no trimming on stock rims?

I dont have the balls to do the 3" BL, it has to many fuzzy 'could be' problems

 

[Alec]

33x11.5? Need at least 4" of lift, closer to 5" on most.

 

[STEVE-O]

Originally posted by Alec
33x11.5? Need at least 4" of lift, closer to 5" on most.

If what Mr weibley here says is true then he should have around 4" of lift in the front if he does a 2" TT. (Digger Body lift way would equal 4.5" of lift in the front if thats true) the rear is 2" body, shackles which may be 1.5-2 and a 4 door leaf pack would be maybe an inch or a 1.5" increase so thats around 4.5 in the rear using the lower numbers as long as they are around somewhat correct. i would think that is plenty to run thoes tires. hell in my ranger i only need 3" of lift to run 33X12.5s, but thats a different story. If you do need to trim after all of that lift it should be rather minor. probably just plastic trim. im hoping im right. Alec?

 

[Alec]

I don't know about this 2" > 2.5" BL mod, but anything is doable with the sawzall!