31x11.5 or 32x11.5? advice?

Im going with the 2 inch suspension lift and possible a 1 inch body lift only if too much hacking is needed, i expect some and am cool with that.
I frequently run in sand so I think I want a wider tire. Plus they look groovy.
I had settled on the Kuhmo Mud tires in 31x11.5 as it seemed that would work great with my 3.73 gears but I noticed alot of 32 inch tires are only 31.4 inches tall anyway. Since they are only slightly bigger, should I just go with the smallest 32s I can find? It would open up my tire brand choices considerably and shouldnt perform too much differently, power milage wise that the wide 31. Especially since I could get an A/T for the highway, or is an MT better in sand? will do some easy trails too.
As a note, i can fit toyo 31s with no lift and no rubbing but I think they are a partically small 31.
Its a 91 explorer. I will use 15x8 rims either way, is it standard backspacing I want or Medium?

Thanks

 

[LBarr2002]

mud tires are not very good in the sand. They dig too fast and will have you sitting on your differentials real quick.

 

[mitch]

i havnt had any experence with sand but a bigger print like a mud terrain i would think would work best, as for size i am aways going to say go bigger so 32x11.5

 

[mysticclam]

Ok, so i will go with 32x11.5 and that should give me a good selection of AT tires.
I assumed mud tires were good in the sand because they could dig, didnt think about them digging down.
Thanks

 

[slravene]

look into BFG ATs, i absloultley love mine and they have yet to leave me stranded anywhere. They look pretty badass (much more agressive than other ATs) and they come in the size you want. (But get what you want, im obviously biased towards BFGs )

 

[timmac06]

I know each truck is different. but I have a 3" bl 2" t/t and 32x11.5's and they rubbed quite a bit. Had to do some trimming.

 

[timmac06]

by the way mine are bfg m/t's

 

[Xplorer12686]

i love my BFG All-Terrains in the sand. My buddy with a lifted wrangler on 33 Super Swampers even complemented me, and was suprised, on how well the tires threw mud.

 

[Creager]

Kumho MT's are actually designed to work more with sand, then mud.

3.73 with 31's wont be bad. Save your money for when you can get gears. BIG TIRE + littegear = BAD Gas mileage.

 

[slravene]

im the king of bad gas mileage

 

[mysticclam]

The Kumhos are pretty inexpensive and look good, Ill check into it some more but if the MTs are ok in sand then I will get them in the 31x11.5. Its almost half inch narrower than the 32 and an entire inch shorter so should fit easier. Its actually closer to 30 inch tall! Otherwise Ill get a narrower 32 tire and run ATs, gas milage doesnt matter too much as I have a car I drive to work and stuff. Also we have an extra ford escort we are keeping in case gas goes too high. Also, I still have plenty of tread left on the stock tires. I suppose I could always use them to get to the far away places and swap tires once there. (For those 300 mile round trips it might be worth the hassle.)

 

[B-Liner]

I ran 31" BFG AT with a 4" Susp. lift, this setup worked alright. I do now have 32x11.5 Goodyear Mtr which perform much better in sand and loose dirt situations. The 3.73 rear end seems to push the rubber okay, but I would highly recommend running some 4.11s if you got the 32s instead.

 

[mysticclam]

ok, Im getting the 31x11.5 Kumho MT
Its better with my gears for mileage and power,
Its shorter but still almost as wide for traction and an easier fit without as much lift.
It is close in aspect to a 33x12.5 so I think it will look nice.
It weighs less so should ultimatly be a bit easier on the wear and tear.
I cant see getting the 32s for that half inch extra clearance on the diffs When I dont plan on crawling over boulters or the slightly cooler look.
So when i buy my 15x8s, I want 3.75 backspacing?
It was a tough choice but I gotta go with what will work better over what might look better as the tirebreaker, especially when I think the look was pretty close anyway.
Thanks for the feedback, i cant wait to get these on.

 

[Kinserin]

I've stuffed 33x9.5s on my truck stock.. With my mini 2" lift and 1.5" body lift I can clear some 33x12.5s, let alone 31s. Although, the tread on the 9.5s was a little low, but it still counts.

-Edit-

I guess I should have added that they didnt rub even with my brother in law ramming the crap outta any hole he could find with stock suspension.

 

[Mcane6]

i love my 32x11.50 BFG MT and i have no rubbing with just a 3" BL

 

[mysticclam]

How are the 32s working out with with the 3.73s?
I thought before I commited the cash I wanted to know if Id be happy on the 31s. I had a used set of 31x10.5 All season (blech) radials put on to test.
This is what I found out.
1. They still look small but the stock ones really looked wrong after looking at all the trucks on this site
2. I can fit 31 10.5s with no rub stock. Whooo Hoooo.
3. As much as I would love 32s and I bet I could get them on with a small lift and trimming, It might be too much for my gears
Its hilly in western washington. We went to the Puyallup fair this weekend and I always park at this lot that is basically a big hill. Thought I might have to put it in 4 low to get up it. On the highway and in the 35 mphish range it feels better than stock and acceleration is about the same, it just feels kind of like im starting in second gear. If I give it more gas than I used to before letting out the clutch its fine UNLESS Im starting on a hill. Then I feel like im really straining it. If I have to do gears I may sell my camaro and just go all out and do the truck up with a 4 or 5.5 lift and bigger tires and gears etc.

On the plus side, I picked up at least 2 mpg on my first tank. 19.5 mixed hwy and city. Previously was getting 17 So that is cool.

 

[Hartman]

I know each truck is different. but I have a 3" bl 2" t/t and 32x11.5's and they rubbed quite a bit. Had to do some trimming.

Further proving the theory that each truck is different, I run 32x11.5s with just a TT/shackles with very little rubbing.

 

[Eurobro]

I am in the same predicament as this guy. I have a 98 w/TT, AAL + Shackles. The 3.73's have me debating on 31's and leave the lift I got alone or go with the 32's and throw 2 in PA Bl on it. Another big factor is towing. Twice a month I will be towing my 14' trailer with a total of 1,300 pounds on it. Wondering if with just my OHV if I could pull it no prob without being floored 24/7 to keep up with traffic or hold a steady pace on the highway.

 

[stretch]

With only a TT and 2" lift leaf springs I am running 32X11.50 with very minimal rubbing at full lock only. I also have 3.73's and have not noticed a decrease in MPG (just did a 1300 road trip and got the same mileage as I did with my old 31's). There was no loss of performance either, but I do have the V8 so maybe that would make a difference.

 

[mysticclam]

yeah, I think I would be ok if the V6 made as much off idle torque as the V8. I cant think of mods that would make too much difference there, maybe a cam but does anyone make them? Most of the basic bolt ons are hp related arent they? Snap, supercharger, yeah thats the ticket. Oh wait gears are cheaper by a lot Still when my clutch goes im going heavy duty.