bigger tires

[93xplorersport]

I'm wanting to put some 31 10.50 15 on the x but since I have just a 3.27 gear ratio I was wondering how bad would it mess with my performance and gas mileage? I get about 18 mpg. Also do i need a steering stabilizer strut with that size tire?

 

[jd4242]

3.27!! would be pretty bad,12-13mpg or lower

 

[safn1949]

Yea that would suck,I have 3.73's and will do that to mine but that would be the lowest gear ratio I would advise unless you had a 5.0.

 

[93xplorersport]

What would be the biggest tire ya'll would put on a 3.27 gear ratio? I have stock tires on it now 235 75 15 would like some bigger tires but I don't want to lose tO much gas mileage

 

[kona_mtb]

I wouldn't go much bigger than stock personally.

 

[FIND]

31" tires aren't much bigger than stock anyways.... a 235/75 is 29.5" overall... I have 3.27s and given the RPMs it runs in down the highway with 235/75r15s on it, I wouldn't want to go to a 31" tire.... You just wouldn't have the power to push your truck down the road well with how much it would lower your cruising RPMs. Honestly, I have considered going to a larger wheel/tire combination (not higher profile, just increasing overall diameter without increasing weight a lot, probably a slightly lower profile like you would see on newer trucks), but I figure if I wanted a 31" tire/wheel combination, my best bet would be 3.73 gearing if I still wanted it to go down the highway well. If I were going for something meaty like a 31 X 10.5 15... I would want taller gears still, just so I'd have the power.

Just find an explorer with 3.73s... they are the most common anyways... or pull a set of junkyard 3.73s. Good excuse to do a rear disc brake conversion.

 

[tgreene92]

i doubt there will be a huge difference if you go from stock size to 31's, if you go with a non aggressive all terrain i really doubt itll kill your mpg by 5. i have 3.55's and from stock to 31's with shackles and tt i lost maybe 1 mpg if that. if your really concerned go with a 30x9.5.

 

[gmanpaint]

If mpg is a concern, I would do what I could to improve those numbers (18) with other performance mods. Bigger tires are always going to cause more friction/drag no matter what gear ratio your running. Upgrading to a lower set of gears to make up for the bigger tire size is ultimately what you would want to do in the long run, but don't let it stop you for this small tire size change.

I ran 31x10.5 with 3.27 gears for a long time. It did no harm to anything whatsoever except make me want to go bigger. No performance change for me, other than a better ride, wider stance and more control on almost all road conditions.

235s are 28.5" BTW. You will need to re-gear the VSS for your speedo & your shift points to be normal. For 31", I changed to the wine 16 tooth right hand gear, bought at the dealer for $3.00. This will help your transmission.

You will be fine. For more power on low end, the 3.73 or 4.10 would be the way to go, but the rig will do great on the HWY. I could run 70-75 mph at 1900-2000 rpms in OD all day long with ease.

As for the steering stabilizer, You wont need one. They are really just a band aid for other problems such as a bad ball joint, tie rod end or both. They help eliminate a shimmy/shake. Just make sure your suspension parts are in good working order and nice & tight.

I say go for it, but this is just one persons opinion, its ultimately up to you

 

[Hossexplorer]

I have 3.27 gears in a 93,... with 31" tires and no lift I would get 17-18mpg on the highway. Now I have 32's and 1.5" leveling springs and get about 16mpg with a very noticeable power decrease, but well worth the performance off-road! I would recomend running 31's, you won't see much mpg decline if your truck is in good running order.

 

[Baddecision93]

I have the 3.27s with 31s.

She's no speed demon and I can't get a lot of wheel speed up but my mileage is fine. About 17 highway, and honestly not much worse than 14 or 15 in town.

Better than my old Mountaineer w/the 5.0.

To be fair, she's ridiculously, pathetically slow but that's the only problem.

 

[93xplorersport]

Thanks everyone. As far as the truck being in good working order the only thing wrong with it is a oil leak and I need shocks. I have a high flow cone filter and a 40 series flow with no cats and 2 1/4 inch piping with a turn down just above the rear leaf spring. And the slower the truck is the better on my wallet and tires I can tear my tires up now on wet pavement if I don't push the gas with my toes ill spin till i let off lol. Thanks again everyone any more info is much appreciated

 

[mr cribb]

I have 30x9.5 on mine with the 3.27's and a 5 speed. My speedo is off by about 5mph according to my gps (45 on speedometer is really 50). As far as gas mpg I get 15 in town and 20 on highway. My rpm's are 1300 or so in 5th @ 55-60.

 

[awdsixbolt]

i have very crappy gears in my x according to the door sticker, something like 2.27 or something like that, i have a 4 in sus lift 31x10.50s 5 speed and i get up to speed just fine, course i bought the x with 200000 miles on it so no telling what someone else did. get close to 20mpg as well

 

[jd4242]

2.27 no way think you decoded it wrong!!

 

[awdsixbolt]

lemme go look again, had a few beers so screen could be fuzzy but i remember i was pretty disappoionted when i read it

 

[awdsixbolt]

yep found it 3.27 open carrier my bad, must have pulled up a bad site

 

[93xplorersport]

I have noticed that all the 31s ive looked at actually measure between 30.5 and 30.8 is that right? I just wanting to make sure I'm lookin up everything right. And how is trail riding and mudding with a 31 inch tire and a 3.27 gear ratio in 4wd

 

[rhauf]

run the 31's. you'll love them

4.0's are torquey engines. its the trans i'd be concerned with, be sure you have a good transmission cooler, as your trans will spend more time "in the converter" when accelerating from a stand still.

 

[Flip4ford]

I highly recomend a fan on your tranny cooler -- when wheelin it pushes more air when you are running 5 mph.

 

[93xplorersport]

what size and cfm fan do you recomend? and i have wondered about puttin a elec fan on my radiator but what cfm do i need?