new here!! with some questions...

[drbalazo]

I just bought this 2004 ST 2WD XLT for my wife and just ordered a 3" BL from Performance Accsessories. Now, I wast informed that I can put some 33" mud terrain tires with that lift, is that right? Will my stock gears be fine for this? I want some Pro Comp X-Terrain tires. Which ones will fit with NO or minor rubbing issues:

285/75R16
305/70R16
315/75R16

what is the after market wheel spacing and combination required for these trucks?

any other info would be appreciated, thanx!

 

[manaen]

look at the thread on tire fitment, and we cannot offer an opinion on the gear if you don't tell us what you have stock...

you also need to provide what size tires you have stock. then I can calculate your effective gear ratio after the 33" tires

 

[manaen]

here I will make it easy for you go to this thread

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67200

 

[drbalazo]

here I will make it easy for you go to this thread

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67200

Thanx for the llink. I have 265/75/R16 with the stock wheel but want to put after market wheels. So what tires whould be ok with the 3" BL and what wheel specs? TIA

 

[manaen]

hmmm, interesting those tire are not the stock size someone put larger ones on there.

Those 265/75R16 are like 31.5" x 10.5" tire the stock size is 255/70r16


Anyway going from 31.5" to a 33" would reduce your effective gear ratio by about 4.5% nothing you will probably notice.

 

[brianjwilson]

I just bought this 2004 ST 2WD XLT for my wife and just ordered a 3" BL from Performance Accsessories. Now, I wast informed that I can put some 33" mud terrain tires with that lift, is that right? Will my stock gears be fine for this? I want some Pro Comp X-Terrain tires. Which ones will fit with NO or minor rubbing issues:

285/75R16
305/70R16
315/75R16

what is the after market wheel spacing and combination required for these trucks?

any other info would be appreciated, thanx!

I wouldn't go with 33's unless you have 4.10 gears. If you have 3.73's it will be a dog.
33's fit my sport trac but I had to trim a little plastic in the front wheel well, I can take pictures if you'd like. I switch to 15x8 wheels, and would recommend the same since 15" tires are MUCH less expensive than 16" tires. Some 15" wheels won't clear the calipers up front so you might have to have your tire shop test fit them. I don't know the backspacing on my wheels.
If you stick with 16" wheels, go with 16x8's. 285's should be the easiest fit, 305's would be the max.

 

[drbalazo]

All very good info. Yeah, i want to stick to the 16" wheel and tire. Can you post pics of yours, please? So 32s would be better? or 31s? I dont want for it to have a big gap between the tire and fender. I dont want it to look too stuffed either.

 

[brianjwilson]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=195855
Here's mine with 33x12.50's.
I'll get pictures tomorrow (hopefully) of the plastic trimming. Although I just found out a few minutes ago that there is a small amount of tire rub on the body while turning and the suspension compressed hard. I plan to trim a little metal , but it won't be visible unless you stick your head in the wheel well. 32s' should be an easy fit without trimming, I think.

 

[brianjwilson]

32s should be an easy fit. I'll try to post pictures of the trimming I did tomorrow. Looks like I'll have to remove a little metal also though.

 

[drbalazo]

nice ST man. I still want to know what back spacing and what bolt pattern my new wheels should have...any info?

 

[JohnnyO]

With 4.10's you could live with it, 4.56's would be better in either case though.
A lot of 16" wheels have a GM-type offset, meaning more backspacing, so look for no more than 4.25" backspace.
A couple of Pro Comp wheels, 1069 and 1089 (I think) have the least backspace of any 16x8's I've seen at 4.0".
A 315/75-16 is a 35" tire. Won't fit without more lift, like body and suspension both.

 

[brianjwilson]

32s should be an easy fit. I'll try to post pictures of the trimming I did tomorrow. Looks like I'll have to remove a little metal also though.

Some trimming. Just removed a little metal too. Plenty there to trim easily if I need to. (I should know soon)

 

[drbalazo]

Thanx. I just purchased some Pro Comp X-Terrain 285/75/16 tires and will be doing the 3" lift tomorrow and hope the tires wont be an issue. I will post pics when done. Now while my wife rolls on the stock wheels, we have to decide what after market wheel is going on the ST. You think Black wheels will look good withn a dark blue ST?

 

[JohnnyO]

I think it would look too dark, but that's a matter or personal preference.

http://www.4wheelparts.com/PDT64087.aspx

 

[privetryan89]

Get 4wheelparts parts mag. It has a chart that will tell you what type of gearing you will need. manaen is a big help. listen to what he says. there is chart from a guy that tells you what size tires will fit your ex. Check out one of my threads. he posted it there.

 

[drbalazo]

I searched with no success. What wheels? 5 on 4.5 or 5 on 5.5 bolt pattern?

 

[JohnnyO]

5 on 4.5".

 

[drbalazo]

5 on 4.5".

THANX!

 

[manaen]

I think I posted this somewhere else, but if you want to figure out the effect on tire size do the following since everything is direct gearing it is all proportional so you can use the following simple formula to figure out your effective gearing.


let's use the following example.

I have 30" tires and want to go to 33" and want to know if my stock 3.73 gears will be enough.

multiply the current tire size with your gear ratio

so : 30 x 3.73 = 111.9

Then divide that result by the new tire size

so: 111.9 / 33 = 3.39 (rounded)

So that tells me that your effective gear ratio with the new tires will be reduced as if you were running 3.39 gears, The lowest gears offered in a explorer are 3.55 ( I think) so you would be geared very tall. Optimally you want to shoot to keep you gearing for off road as low as possible to give you more torque on the low end for creeping over obstacles, say 3.73 or more.


I hope that is clear.

 

[drbalazo]

As always, very good info and very much appreciated. Thanx!