Discount Tire Said No! Why?

[PearlWhiteLTD]

I called discount tire about a 31x10.50x15 BFG Mud Terrain T/A Tire Set up. They said it would work out, and to come down. I got there then they said that the 31x10.50x15 Tire would be to big?
I have a 1999 Ford Explorer LIMITED 4x4. From what I understand from the site, the 31" tire will fit. Is there a reason why they would have turned down a $750 sale? I was getting wheels (15x8) and tires minus one tire that I already owned in that size/style.
Is it the aggressive tire that I chose keeping them from mounting it up? I have 275/45/20 Tires now and they fit well with no rubbing. You would think 20"s are larger in height etc..
Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[gsx220]

yea they didnt want the liability when i ordered my 31's from tirerack they called and told me they had to cancel my order because they dont want to be liable for selling those tires for the truck and made me reorder and refuse to say what truck i had then i got them.

 

[PearlWhiteLTD]

They were perfectly fine with mounting tires of a NON STOCK size. It seems as if they were convinced they would rub. 95% sure he said. What you think?

 

[Dan Whitaker]

It's because it's an Explorer.
You can thank all the sue happy a$$holes for this because of the Firestone fiasco.

Tire dealers are afraid if they don't put the recomended mfg tire on and for some reason if you roll or wreck your Explorer you might sue them.

 

[toypaseo]

Someone suggested taking the off the wheels, going to Discount Tire, say they are for a trailer, get the tires you want mounted and balanced, take then home to mount them on your Explorer yourself

 

[PearlWhiteLTD]

So you all think they would fit. I mean the BFG Mud Terrain is very beefy. Anyone have that set on their stock explorer?

 

[FROADER]

A 31" A/T is the same size as a 31" M/T. They will fit in the rear with no problems at all. You can do a TT up front if needed, but many have fit them with no lift at all.

 

[Jason94sport]

The back should fit, but if you have no lift & yours is a limited so you have the limited trim on the sides & front, The front may rub. Each X is different. It's a trial & error thing. Some fit some don't. It's not a universal yes or no answer.

 

[gsx220]

i have no lift at all i have 31x10.5 general grabber AT2's i bought them from tirerack and had them put on at struass discount auto

 

[PearlWhiteLTD]

The overall diameter can vary from A/t to M/t. Example. The BFG M/T is 30.8" and the Yokohoma Geolander is 30.6" thats why I am semi worried.

 

[PearlWhiteLTD]

Anyone with a 1999-2001 Explorer with 31" Tires on theirs? I do have the running boards etc that the Eddie Bauer would share. Thanks for your help.

 

[DarkStone]

Anyone with a 1999-2001 Explorer with 31" Tires on theirs? I do have the running boards etc that the Eddie Bauer would share. Thanks for your help.

i have an 05 with 265/70/17 and they dont rub at all

 

[little x]

Just get them and if they rub, crank the torsion bars just a hair. Not all the way. Just enough so that they don't rub anymore.

 

[Xpl0rer]

If i was you, I'd go for it but since im not you its really up to you. the worst case scenario you will do a little trimming other than that you should be good to go.
-Troy

 

[Anime]

A 31x10.50x15 is only a few tenths larger than the stock 255/70R16 size. It should fit without rubbing, *IF* the new wheels have the same or less offset/backspacing as the stock wheels, so they don't go IN more and rub on the sway bar or frame when turning. Be sure of the offset of the wheels before buying and especially before having the tires mounted on them. Once a tire is mounted on them, wheels usually can't be returned.

 

[little x]

Is off set the measurement from the inside of the wheel to the hub, or from the outside of the wheel to the hub?

 

[DeRocha]

Is off set the measurement from the inside of the wheel to the hub, or from the outside of the wheel to the hub?

offset is the measurement from the mounting pad to the centerline of the wheel.

 

[little x]

Thanks for the diagram. I had alwayse been curious about offset and backspacing.

 

[evilbar]

i have an 05 with 265/70/17 and they dont rub at all

Darkstone, you said you have a 265/70/17 on your '05 and said it doesn't rub. I took your word for it and I had mine as well yesterday. But I noticed the rubbing when I turn on the front left tire. The rubbing is at this angled joint. But there is no rubbing on the rest of the tires. I don't want to use a spacer or just any modification as much as possible. Any ideas how to fix this?

 

[DeRocha]

Darkstone, you said you have a 265/70/17 on your '05 and said it doesn't rub. I took your word for it and I had mine as well yesterday. But I noticed the rubbing when I turn on the front left tire. The rubbing is at this angled joint. But there is no rubbing on the rest of the tires. I don't want to use a spacer or just any modification as much as possible. Any ideas how to fix this?

When anyone makes a claim that a certain tire wheel combination fits without rubbing it needs to be qualified. By that I mean each vehicle is slightly different (in terms of spring sag, worn shocks etc..). That coupled with 265/70/17 tires from one manufacturer to another are NOT THE SAME. Just like clothes of the same size vary from manufacturer to manufacture so do tires... As such which tires do you have and which onces does Darkstone have?

Regardless of which I would assume you could slightly crank up the torsion bars to give you some more clearance up front.