Maximum Tire with 2" suspension lift

[Riggs]

Now that Ford is being so kind to give me cash for my Flinstones -- What is the biggest tire that will fit on my stock 15's with a 2" warrior-T/T lift? I have no body lift.

Bfg 33x10.5/15's look nice! Will they work?

98 xlt

Peter

 

[SplashMan]

33s may be pushing it. I know when I had my 2" Body Lift and 1" TT and 1" Warrior shackles that 31" BFG M/Ts fit perfect. You could more than likely put 32s on with out too much rubbing. This is just my opinion based an my 99XLT. I ended up taking the 2" off and just going for the 3". It saved me alot of headaches and I am now running 33s with no problems.

 

[BarryM]

on my 93xlt 31's are the max. I think you could fit 32's under there but you'd have to do some modification to the radius arms.

 

[Riggs]

Experience with 32's

Does anybody have experience fitting 32 x ? tires on a torsion lifted explorer. Most people are saying, "I think they might fit. I have 31's on mine." I want some real world info. Do they rub, etc...

What width would be good? 32x11.5x15, or 32x10.5x15

peter

 

[Robert]

My '97 Sport came with 255 70R16 (30.1"). I put 265 75R16 (31.7") which are the metric equivalent to 32x10.5. The only place they caused a problem was at the back of the front wheel molding. That was easily fixed. Follow the thread Dead Link Removed for details and pictures. They do tend to polish my swaybar when at full lock but you can't see any signs on the tire. They also touch the top of my wheel well liner when bouncing through the rocks. My stock tires even did that and it is plastic and doen't seem to be a problem. The 32s fit before I did my torsion lift, I only did the lift for the added ground clearance. It didn't change where the tires touched. Go to the link and if you have the larger wheel moldings, cut off the piece of plastic I cut off in the picture and you shouldn't have any problems with 32s.

 

[Riggs]

It seems that BFG doesn't make a 32x10.5x15, so my only options are the 31x10.5x15's or the 32x11.5x15's.

Anybody tried the 32x11.5x15's with just the 2" shackle/torsion lift?

peter

 

[Robert]

Height won't be a problem, but I'd bet that you will hit the swaybar harder and more often than the 10.5" tires would. That could probably be aleviated by getting new wheels with less backspacing.

 

[JDraper]

I think which tire will fit is year dependent. I have a 2" TT & Shackles in my 01, and my 31x10.5's rub slightly on the sway bar at full lock. Another person I know with a 96 EB X has 32's and no rub. Best advice is find a tire dealer that will let you try putting a 32 on your rim and see if it rubs. If it does, and you still want 32's, change your rims to ones with less backspacing.

 

[2001ExpSport]

31x10.5 is the biggest you can go with STOCK rims without a headache on your 98 w/torsion twist and shackles. If you are willing to trim, you can fit the 32x11.5's as a max size. We had a guy here in our club purchase the 32's with the shackles/twist and couldn't leave the tire shop because they rubbed so badly. The rear of the front wheel well is the main cause of the problem.

 

[Riggs]

Matt

Where did the 32x11.5's rub and was the club member able to fit them with some trimming?

If so, where did he trim to make them fit ... just the plastic inside the wheel well or cutting fenders? Do the running boards have to be removed?

peter

 

[yob_yeknom]

You'll need wider wheels if you go with the 32's. BFG recommends no smaller than a 7" wide rim with a 10.5" wide tire.

How bad do you want the 32's and how much money are you willing to spend? The problem is more the tire width than the height. I'm sure new wheels with less backspacing, the TT and shackles, and an inch or two body lift will clear them. It'll cost you more time and money though. Seems more than it's worth for just an extra 1/2" of ground clearance. You might be able to fit 33x10.50's under there then though. (probably with a little trimming)

 

[2001ExpSport]

He had to trim the rear of the front fender well and some off of the bumper valence. After that he was ok.

 

[ExplorGM]

95 with 32s

My first lift on my 95 (2 door) was the torsion twist/upgrade, and shackles. I put Mickey Thompson Baja Belted 32x11.5/16s on my stock 16x7 wheels and only had rubbing on the sway bars at full lock in front, and slight rubbing on the inside of the fender wells at full compression in the rear.
Now I have an additional 2" from a body lift and run 285x75/R16s on the stock 16x7 rims also.

With most 95 and up Explorers I'd recommend the twist, and at least a 1"-2" body lift in order to go 32" with 11.5 or wider tires.
Rick