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

 

[dmathews]

Well Im not wanting to trim anything. I was told that I could fit 265/75/R16 with out a life or trimming so I didnt know if I could fit any wider with the small lift or not.

 

[TheEnforcer98]

To my understanding, 265/75/16 is 31.7" (give or take) which is as close as you'll get to 32" without going over. According to the charts, largest you can fit on a stock suspension is 31", which equates to a 265/70/16.

In my situation, I will probably even need to trim a little bit, and I have a TT and F-150 Leaves in the back.

Go HERE:
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

That calc will help you figure out what tire sizes relate to overall inches, then use the chart Dead Link Removed to find out what sizes will fit.

Hope that helps, took me a while to figure out what i needed too.

 

[elenamichelle]

i'm new to this site so bare with me please.
i have a '93 ford explorer. stock everything. ever since i got it i've just wanted to fix
it up. i want new tires and possibly a different set of rims.
they don't have to be new rims just better looking ones.
how would i got about figuring out what size rims and what size tires
would be best? (i'm new to all this and having a hard time understanding everything, so sorry if i sound dumb, lol.)

 

[red.EDDIE.4x4]

it says you can go with a 31 inch tire max.
that being said, you can keep a stock size wheel which is 15 inches tall by 7 inches wide or even move to a 15 x 8 inch wheel.
while keeping the samelug nut pattern of 5 x 4 1/2
now get searchin!

 

[xochipilli]

i have a 1992 ford explorer XLT 2wd. i will like give a nice off-road look! what tire size will be good and cheap???

 

[jgraf18]

sweet thanks, lookin at puttin some 265 70 R16 BFG A/Ts on my 02 xplorer XLT

 

[rts3633]

Anybody know what the max backspace for the explorer is? I bought some wide rims and they have a 6 inch backspace. the stock has a 4.5" (i think). do i need 1.5" spacers?

Thanks,
Ryan

 

[Divemaster191307]

Anybody know what the max backspace for the explorer is? I bought some wide rims and they have a 6 inch backspace. the stock has a 4.5" (i think). do i need 1.5" spacers?

How wide are the rims? My stock '07 were 7.5" wide, with a 44mm offset, which should equate to a hair under 6" backspace.

 

[rts3633]

They are actually 7.5" wide and i believe they are +45 offset.. but i have a '97 explorer. Stock it has 4.5" backspace and +12 offset

 

[Divemaster191307]

Someone with that gen Ex will have to chime in to make sure, but the numbers do indicate that you'll need to put at least a 1" spacer, 1.5" to be safe (depending on the actual width of the tires you'll be putting on and what the existing clearance is).

 

[dbush72]

up & coming!

02 ex xlt, 2.5" home made "RB" lift spacers, MAXXISS 255/85/16 only rub on full lock.can any one suggest wheel spacers, or steel wheels as the best choice for moving track width out??

 

[Semaj2263]

this helped alot, thanks!

 

[2001 Xploda]

New here. Purchased a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport, and it's time for some new tires, and I wanna go bigger. Im working on a budget, so I cannot afford a lift at this time. What is the biggest size tire I can squeeze under my X. Currently I have 255/70R16, and they are a bit too small for my taste. Also, I dont like how the tires are almost 'tucked' in, any advice on buying what I think are called Spacers... so my tires are sticking out a little bit, and not tucked in!?

Thanks!

 

[steelo1]

New here. Purchased a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport, and it's time for some new tires, and I wanna go bigger. Im working on a budget, so I cannot afford a lift at this time. What is the biggest size tire I can squeeze under my X. Currently I have 255/70R16, and they are a bit too small for my taste. Also, I dont like how the tires are almost 'tucked' in, any advice on buying what I think are called Spacers... so my tires are sticking out a little bit, and not tucked in!?

Thanks!

Without a lift I had 265/70/16 Pathfinder A/T's, but if your doing any, shall we say bumpy (almost air-born) 4wding, you need to wind the t/bars up & for a budget lift in the back just some extended shackles (depends on your set-up of course). Easy & cheap to do, a mate just done this to his 98 (30mm front & back) then got some zero off-set 15" Sunraysia rims with 31/10.5/15" Maxxis Bighorns & it looks great.

 

[2001 Xploda]

Thanks for the insight steelo1!! Also, does anyone know of a good website to get dependable spacers? If so, can you reccomend a company/style/ size?

Thanks!

 

[stsmoker]

Okay so im about to go crazy lookin for this stuff so im just goin to ask lol. 2005 Ex with a bod lift (rancho quick lifts soon to the front) can i run 285/65's 18's?

 

[nugs]

i have 30 9.50 15 destination mts on my stock 92 i dont know the offset of my rims they are negative offset and the stock rims look like they r either positive or 0. The only rubbing i had was in the drivers wheelwell. I had to screw the fender liner back. I almost put 31s on my truck, but i know they would have rubbed bad. I had found a guide that looked a lot like this 1. :smoke:

 

[nugs]

Ok i have a Stock 92 Explorer Sport will 31 x 10.5 - 15 fit on my truck without any trimming or anything. Thanks

i also have stock hight 92 and 30\9.50 is the biggest i can run. i still had a little rubbing, but it depends on how deep of a tread tire u r looking at as well. i have mts that came with 20\32's new. if u r looking more at's they usualy only have 12 or 13 32's new so that can make a hugh difference.

 

[NHarris]

Got a question...could I fit some 245/75/16's under my 05 explorer riding at stock hieght?

Edit: already found answer

 

[willr84]

Hey guys I'm new to this, but I've got an 04 explorer-essentially all stock-and I'm looking to put bigger tires on on it. I was wondering if 15 inch rims off of a jeep wrangler and 31x10.5x15 tires would fit. I believe the bolt pattern is the same but the guy with the wheels can't tell me for sure. Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you