Mountaineer Firestone Winterforce 265/70/17

[JR4815D2]

After searching the forum what is the biggest tire you can install without any body lifts or shock lift, I decided to get new tires. I purchased Firestone Winterforce 265/70/17. I had these tires on my Chevy S10 2WD, and they handle the snow so good. I was able to go 6 to 8 inches without a problems.
I got them installed in my Mountaineer and I am bit concern that the tires are a bit too close to the spindles. I was thinking of getting 3/8 spacers, but I am not a fan of the spacers. I was looking for some input to see if this is ok, or if I should be concern. I am replacing the shocks tomorrow and getting a wheel alignment next week. Will this help in anyway? I was also told by the wheel shop that going a bigger tire on AWD will damage my transfer case and transmission. Not sure how true that is, but any info will help as well.

Top View - you could see how much space I have. The rubber spikes gives a good measurement.

Side View

Overall look

 

[obie]

Going to bigger tires on an AWD won't hurt anything but your gas mileage, so long as all four tires are the same. As far as the rub, I don't know. Never owned anything that's 2WD.

 

[BigRondo]

__________________
Explorer lover US Marine veteran and all about American made

Semper Fi

Sorry for the hijack of the thread JR4815D2.

 

[JR4815D2]

Ok, so not all 265/70/17 tires fit on stock. I will get 1/4 spacers and see how that goes.

Got wheel alignment, new shocks, and replaced the wheel hubs for the second time this past weekend. The ride is much better , except when I am pulling out of a home depot parking lots.:thumbdwn: I get the tire rubbing with the control arm.