Is Bigger Better???

[Pedar]

I am going to purchase new tires next week for my 2003 stock Explorer. I don't drive off road but I do challenge Canada's ski country roads fairly regularly. I am planning to purchase Michelin LTX M/S, this would be a good time to let me know if this is a good idea or not. I have been quite happy with the stock Michelin Cross Terrains that have taken me 90,000 KMs so far.

Until reading these forums today I was planning on replacing my tires with the stock 235/70/16 size. However after reading these forums, I understand that I can get away with a 265/75/16. My understanding is that my speedometer/odometer might be out a little bit if I do this. The larger wheel is esthetically pleasing to me. My question is whether or not I would notice a difference in cornering/handling etc with the larger tire? Would I be gaining, giving up, or keeping my existing performance? What about traction?

I am going to buy my tires at Costco. Do tires shops have any issues with installing larger than stock tires?

Thanks for any input...

 

[Dan Whitaker]

It's quite possible that COSTCO will ony put the 235/16/70 on your Explorer.

I know Sam's club will only put the recomnded manufactures tire on

The taller tire will not corner as well as it will have more lean but after all it's an Explorer not a sports car.

Oh yea, Welcome to the site.

 

[slravene]

Cotsco wont put larger tires on a car/truck than the ones that come stock. That being said...i got my 33s mounted and balanced at costco, as well as my 31s, and my friends 36s. I have just taken the wheels off and dropped them off....no questions asked. From what the guy told me (he knows i wheel obviously, since ive bought 3 sets of wheeling tires there) that if the rig is lifted (professionally) they will put tires on that the lift manufacturer specifies. Thats not really the case with yours as its not lifted...and even if it was, it wouldnt be a lift "kit". Ive had luck getting Costco to sell to me...but others i know havent. i dunno.

 

[IZwack]

I am going to purchase new tires next week for my 2003 stock Explorer. I don't drive off road but I do challenge Canada's ski country roads fairly regularly. I am planning to purchase Michelin LTX M/S, this would be a good time to let me know if this is a good idea or not

In normal snow conditions (not extreme off road), tire siping is key. Learn more about siping here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siping


However, with that in mind, the LTX/MS looks like it will perform about just as well as your Cross Terrains as both have about the same siping pattern. The LTX does have a more agressive tire edge which, depending on the extent of sidewall compression, helps during turns.

 

[EMG7895]

The ltx is an excellent tire, I had the a/t and I never got stuck, and never had any problems. They have great tread life, I got over 75k of abusive driving out of mine.

 

[JDraper]

With the larger tire, you will be giving up acceleration, a little bit of road handling, and gas mileage. The bigger the tire, the more intertial mass the truck has to move...more inertial mass=less acceleration. Going to a taller sidewall (75 series vs. 70 series) will give you more "sway" from sidewall movement when cornering. Gas mileage will decrease because it will take more power to move a larger tire.

For the purposes you mentioned, traction may actually be a little worse. Wider tires have a tendency to "float" more on snow than narrower tires. If you don't need larger tires for ground clearance, I wouldn't put them on.

 

[Pedar]

Thanks for the info guys. This is a great site... can't believe it took me this long to discover it!!