Tire/Lift Advice - 31" or 32" on 3" lift -94 Explorer XLT

94explorerr · 02-23-2004, 03:10 PM

Probably a noob question ... My apologies. I've searched the site.

Wondering what size tires to put on my maroon 94 Explorer XLT. Would 31" tires or 32" tires look better with a 2" or 3" body lift ..... also, would it look bad if I leave stock rims on the explorer?
Any pictures of a 2 or 3 " lift with 31 or 32 tires on a 1st generation Explorer would be great .

If I get 3" body lift with 31" A/T tires, would this look good? And, would I need to change the gears or anything ... what are the pros and cons of getting a body lift and bigger tire? would I lose a ton of acceleration and mpg etc etc. ? Thanks.

*Joey P* · 02-23-2004, 03:19 PM

This is mine with 3" of total lift (1" body and 2" suspension) and with 32's. Here they are mounted on 15x8 rockcrawlers but now I have stock rims back on. I had 32's mounted with only 2" of lift and with stock rims and had no rubbing, but when I went with the wider aftermarket rims I had tons of rubbing and that is why I went with one more inch. I will get a picture later for you of mine now with the stock rims and 32's. Now as far as regearing, it would proably do you some good. Mine is kind of a dog now with 32's. (I have 3.73 gears.)

*TheRookie* · 02-23-2004, 03:54 PM

I would go with 32's for 3 inches lift. 31's just have lots of space

*RFR2212* · 02-23-2004, 04:26 PM

Nother note... dont double post

Con Seann3ry · 02-23-2004, 04:31 PM

how wide are your 32s joey?

*Joey P* · 02-23-2004, 04:39 PM

11.50's. I will post some pice here tonight on how they look with my stock rims.

*AspenX* · 02-23-2004, 06:37 PM

I have 31s and no lift and there just perfect. With a body lift the 32s would be better. You need to find out your rear end ratio before we can let you know about regearing, and seldom mentioned here is the altitude that you live at, thats what gets JoeyP so bad. I have a 3.73 ls. When I'm in Dallas at 600 ft el. I can spin the tires real easy, and the X is pretty quick. When I'm in Aspen at 8000 ft. I feel like I need to get out and push to get it started moving at stop signs. There I cant spin the tires on wet streets.

OC_Explorer · 02-23-2004, 07:48 PM

joey what did you do with your rockcrawlers?

*Joey P* · 02-23-2004, 07:52 PM

Sold the rockcrawlers a while ago, Now to "whore" out my explorer.

From the side.

*Joey P* · 02-23-2004, 07:54 PM

..

*Joey P* · 02-23-2004, 07:56 PM

And how far they stick out from the fenders with the stockers. The only rub I have with this setup is on the radius arms. I hope this gives you an idea on how 32x11.50's look with 3" of total lift. 31's will be just a little smaller so you can imagine what they would look like now, maybe.

94explorerr · 02-24-2004, 02:37 PM

Thanks all for your replies . I really appreciate it.

My rear end ratio is 3.73. And I live in Northeastern Oklahoma, around Tulsa. I'm not sure if I need to change gears then or not. I don't want my acceleration to suck.

After reading all the posts, I'm contemplating if a 2 inch body lift would look/be better with 31 X 10.5 or if I should not even get a body lift.. I don't really want to have 32" tires, because 95% percent of the time I'll be on the road, driving to school and places. And I don't want to mess with a suspension lift because it costs about $200 more I think and I don't really need it or want to spend that much right now.
Nobody said if the biggers tires will affect my MPG any ? I've heard that they will and that they won't.

Thanks to Joey for all the pics, your cardomain site helped me . Also, could you post a picture of your 31s with no lift AspenX ? Or anybody with 31s and no lift. If not, I'm sure I can find a picture somewhere .

Con Seann3ry · 02-24-2004, 05:45 PM

It will affect your mpg, but it's different for everyone. For instance, I have 4.10 gears with stock tires, so acceleration is better and I get more mpg than someone with 3.73 gears in town, but on the freeway they would get better mpg. If i got 33s I would actually get more mpg on the freeway, but have slower acceleration. You would be on the edge of a re-gear with 32s...I was gonna do 32s also, but now I don't think I will, because I only wanted to do 2 inches of lift and joey is getting rub with 3 inches.

*AspenX* · 02-24-2004, 08:25 PM

Sorry I dont have a d cam or computer knowledge to put up a pic. There is a thread going around about pics of 31s and no lift, try a search for that. If you have stock size tires and go to 31s with a 3.73, you will probably get better milage on the highway. Mine went up a little from my old 30' tires. You wont really have to lift for 31s,
but some need a little extra room. You could do shackels and coil spacers, its cheaper and easier than body or other suspension lifts. Good luck
David

02-23-2004, 03:10 PM	#1
94explorerr Wannabe Elite Explorer Owasso, Ok '94 XLT Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 4 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Tire/Lift Advice - 31" or 32" on 3" lift -94 Explorer XLT Probably a noob question ... My apologies. I've searched the site. Wondering what size tires to put on my maroon 94 Explorer XLT. Would 31" tires or 32" tires look better with a 2" or 3" body lift ..... also, would it look bad if I leave stock rims on the explorer? Any pictures of a 2 or 3 " lift with 31 or 32 tires on a 1st generation Explorer would be great . If I get 3" body lift with 31" A/T tires, would this look good? And, would I need to change the gears or anything ... what are the pros and cons of getting a body lift and bigger tire? would I lose a ton of acceleration and mpg etc etc. ? Thanks.

02-23-2004, 03:19 PM	#2
Joey P On my 5th Explorer Lakewood, CO 1999 Ford Explorer EB 5.0 Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,782 Vehicle Specs	This is mine with 3" of total lift (1" body and 2" suspension) and with 32's. Here they are mounted on 15x8 rockcrawlers but now I have stock rims back on. I had 32's mounted with only 2" of lift and with stock rims and had no rubbing, but when I went with the wider aftermarket rims I had tons of rubbing and that is why I went with one more inch. I will get a picture later for you of mine now with the stock rims and 32's. Now as far as regearing, it would proably do you some good. Mine is kind of a dog now with 32's. (I have 3.73 gears.) Attached Images __________________ There are two types of people in this world: 1.Those who get lemons and make lemonade. 2.Those who get lemons and squirt the juice in their eyes. Updated Mug shot 2/12/09

02-23-2004, 03:54 PM	#3
TheRookie Traveling SAS guru West Chester PA 91 explorer xlt Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 2,465 Vehicle Specs	I would go with 32's for 3 inches lift. 31's just have lots of space __________________ Then: 91 XLT on currie 9's, lots of mods Now: 01 TJ 5.3 swap in progress 02 GMC duramax with basic stuff

02-23-2004, 04:26 PM	#4
RFR2212 Typing Police In the mug by Chitown 95 JEEP Wrangler Join Date: Apr 2000 Posts: 5,358 Vehicle Specs	Nother note... dont double post __________________ My Truck Registry For those who can't spell, click HERE!!

02-23-2004, 04:39 PM	#6
Joey P On my 5th Explorer Lakewood, CO 1999 Ford Explorer EB 5.0 Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,782 Vehicle Specs	11.50's. I will post some pice here tonight on how they look with my stock rims. __________________ There are two types of people in this world: 1.Those who get lemons and make lemonade. 2.Those who get lemons and squirt the juice in their eyes. Updated Mug shot 2/12/09

02-23-2004, 04:31 PM	#5
Con Seann3ry Wannabe Elite Explorer Eugene, Oregon 94 XLT Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 552 Vehicle Specs	how wide are your 32s joey?

02-23-2004, 06:37 PM	#7
AspenX Elite Explorer Garland, TX Aspen,Co '96 Sport 4x4 Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,230 Vehicle Specs	32s I have 31s and no lift and there just perfect. With a body lift the 32s would be better. You need to find out your rear end ratio before we can let you know about regearing, and seldom mentioned here is the altitude that you live at, thats what gets JoeyP so bad. I have a 3.73 ls. When I'm in Dallas at 600 ft el. I can spin the tires real easy, and the X is pretty quick. When I'm in Aspen at 8000 ft. I feel like I need to get out and push to get it started moving at stop signs. There I cant spin the tires on wet streets.

02-23-2004, 07:48 PM	#8
OC_Explorer Wannabe Elite Explorer Mission Viejo, California '92 XLT Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 74 Vehicle Specs	joey what did you do with your rockcrawlers? __________________ My Baby

02-23-2004, 07:52 PM	#9
Joey P On my 5th Explorer Lakewood, CO 1999 Ford Explorer EB 5.0 Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,782 Vehicle Specs	Sold the rockcrawlers a while ago, Now to "whore" out my explorer. From the side. Attached Images __________________ There are two types of people in this world: 1.Those who get lemons and make lemonade. 2.Those who get lemons and squirt the juice in their eyes. Updated Mug shot 2/12/09

02-23-2004, 07:54 PM	#10
Joey P On my 5th Explorer Lakewood, CO 1999 Ford Explorer EB 5.0 Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,782 Vehicle Specs	.. Attached Images __________________ There are two types of people in this world: 1.Those who get lemons and make lemonade. 2.Those who get lemons and squirt the juice in their eyes. Updated Mug shot 2/12/09

02-23-2004, 07:56 PM	#11
Joey P On my 5th Explorer Lakewood, CO 1999 Ford Explorer EB 5.0 Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,782 Vehicle Specs	And how far they stick out from the fenders with the stockers. The only rub I have with this setup is on the radius arms. I hope this gives you an idea on how 32x11.50's look with 3" of total lift. 31's will be just a little smaller so you can imagine what they would look like now, maybe. Attached Images __________________ There are two types of people in this world: 1.Those who get lemons and make lemonade. 2.Those who get lemons and squirt the juice in their eyes. Updated Mug shot 2/12/09

02-24-2004, 02:37 PM	#12
94explorerr Wannabe Elite Explorer Owasso, Ok '94 XLT Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 4 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Thanks all for your replies . I really appreciate it. My rear end ratio is 3.73. And I live in Northeastern Oklahoma, around Tulsa. I'm not sure if I need to change gears then or not. I don't want my acceleration to suck. After reading all the posts, I'm contemplating if a 2 inch body lift would look/be better with 31 X 10.5 or if I should not even get a body lift.. I don't really want to have 32" tires, because 95% percent of the time I'll be on the road, driving to school and places. And I don't want to mess with a suspension lift because it costs about $200 more I think and I don't really need it or want to spend that much right now. Nobody said if the biggers tires will affect my MPG any ? I've heard that they will and that they won't. Thanks to Joey for all the pics, your cardomain site helped me . Also, could you post a picture of your 31s with no lift AspenX ? Or anybody with 31s and no lift. If not, I'm sure I can find a picture somewhere .

02-24-2004, 05:45 PM	#13
Con Seann3ry Wannabe Elite Explorer Eugene, Oregon 94 XLT Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 552 Vehicle Specs	It will affect your mpg, but it's different for everyone. For instance, I have 4.10 gears with stock tires, so acceleration is better and I get more mpg than someone with 3.73 gears in town, but on the freeway they would get better mpg. If i got 33s I would actually get more mpg on the freeway, but have slower acceleration. You would be on the edge of a re-gear with 32s...I was gonna do 32s also, but now I don't think I will, because I only wanted to do 2 inches of lift and joey is getting rub with 3 inches.

02-24-2004, 08:25 PM	#14
AspenX Elite Explorer Garland, TX Aspen,Co '96 Sport 4x4 Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,230 Vehicle Specs	Sorry I dont have a d cam or computer knowledge to put up a pic. There is a thread going around about pics of 31s and no lift, try a search for that. If you have stock size tires and go to 31s with a 3.73, you will probably get better milage on the highway. Mine went up a little from my old 30' tires. You wont really have to lift for 31s, but some need a little extra room. You could do shackels and coil spacers, its cheaper and easier than body or other suspension lifts. Good luck David