New member 18/F soon to be owner of an explorer

[lilazn91]

Hello. I'm new to this site and this is my first post.

I'm 18/Female/Asian and my dad intends to give me his 1999 Ford Explorer. I currently drive a 2008 VW Beetle and it's not bad as my daily driver but I wanted a slightly bigger offroad capable vehicle. My VW will be my summer and late spring vehicle while the Explorer will be my late fall and winter vehicle

Well technically I wouldnt be going offroad but I just want the 4X4 for peace of mind when I'm driving around Washington state, school and surrounding areas in the snow or rainy weather

I have a question regarding wheel spacers. I've searched already but the application I'm thinking about is quite different.

I've driven behind the explorer and I know it has the stock tire size (255 I think). But since it's a 2-door it looks like the wheels are too far inside the fender flares. It has all terrain tires but I'll be changing to to a slightly better all weather tires. I'm ordering Nokian tires (possibly one of the better all weather tires that are made in Finland or Russia).

Anyway, back to the wheel spacers. I want to install rear spacers in the back so that the tires will stick out a bit. Will this have any effect on the 4x4 drivetrain? I mean since I'm installing them just in the back to make the stocks stick out - would I be experiencing any issues? My new tires will have smaller more street oriented pattern and the vehicle will never be driven offroad

truck specs: 99 explorer. D2 axle = 4.10 LS. Stock wheels. SOHC engine completely stock except for a drop in AEM filter. Truck has +97.5K miles

BTW I know quite a bit about smaller 4x4's I've built and participated in the UK in small club events having built a custom CJ2A with a suzuki engine - with the help of my dad of course. I can weld and know my way around tools

HELLO AGAIN EVERYBODY and sorry for the long post

 

[Glen4X4]

Welcome To The Forum! Having rear wheel spacers would be alright but make sure it fits with the law where your at because most of the time your tires must have coverage over them to be legal.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

Wheel spacers are a bad idea. Instaed of 5 lugs per wheel you have 10. Just using them on the rear will chsnge the track. It could cause loss of controll since the rear wil be wider. It could cause your Explorer to push.

If you want the tires to stick out a bit go with an 8" wide wheel.

 

[lilazn91]

Thank you for the really fast reply

Yes I understand the wheel should not stick out far beyond the fender flare - I was just bothered since right now I want it to stick just inline with the external lip.

I haven't seen how long the wheel bolts are - and I was looking at knock-off spidertrax style spacers. How long are the bolts and what is the thinnest studded spacers that I can use? I believe the spidertrax style come in 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0" versions. Will 1.0 clear the bolts on the hubs or do I need to go 1.5? I think 1.5 would be push the tires out way past the flare?

Sorry to ask a few questions since I don't have the truck yet. My dad's lives in Canada so I do not have a way of physically measuring things myself.

I will have the truck around first week of April, dad's just having some minor paint scratches and shopping cart dents fixed

 

[lilazn91]

Wheel spacers are a bad idea. Instaed of 5 lugs per wheel you have 10. Just using them on the rear will chsnge the track. It could cause loss of controll since the rear wil be wider. It could cause your Explorer to push.

If you want the tires to stick out a bit go with an 8" wide wheel.

Hi Dan,

Thank you for the quick answer. I don't want to question you wisdom and I do understand that the front and rear track will be different - but probably no more than an inch

Can you explain to me what you mean by the explorer going to "push"

Also, I understand that going to an wider wheel will definitely bring the tires out provided I have the correct wheel offset. But my original idea was just to change the rear track - so I'm guessing you meant changing all 4 wheels to 8" as opposed to just changing the rear?

Wow this site is awesome ! A few minutes after my first post and I've already received highly informative answers

 

[ROBERTMAC]

What is up everyone just wanted to say hi and get ready for NASCAR this weekend,,,

 

[Dan Whitaker]

Hi Dan,

Thank you for the quick answer. I don't want to question you wisdom and I do understand that the front and rear track will be different - but probably no more than an inch

Can you explain to me what you mean by the explorer going to "push"

Also, I understand that going to an wider wheel will definitely bring the tires out provided I have the correct wheel offset. But my original idea was just to change the rear track - so I'm guessing you meant changing all 4 wheels to 8" as opposed to just changing the rear?

Wow this site is awesome ! A few minutes after my first post and I've already received highly informative answers

Push is when you go to make a turn but your car goes straight instead of turning.

I don't know how much snow you get where you are at but I can tell you (from experience) with the tire being past the fender it will throw salt, dirt and what have you all over the sides of your Explorer including the windows. You will be cleaning the windows on a daily bases in the winter.

Wheels are much safer and you can find a nice used set of 4 for proably less than what 2 spacers will cost. The spacers will put extra load on the lugs. You don't want a wheel coming off because the spacer caused the lugs to break.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum!

 

[KPSquared]

And check the local laws! Spacers are illegal here. I would just find wider wheels with maybe a different offset if you want to move the rubber out a bit for looks.

 

[Sams01XplrSprt]

welcome

 

[lilazn91]

Push is when you go to make a turn but your car goes straight instead of turning.

I don't know how much snow you get where you are at but I can tell you (from experience) with the tire being past the fender it will throw salt, dirt and what have you all over the sides of your Explorer including the windows. You will be cleaning the windows on a daily bases in the winter.

Wheels are much safer and you can find a nice used set of 4 for proably less than what 2 spacers will cost. The spacers will put extra load on the lugs. You don't want a wheel coming off because the spacer caused the lugs to break.

Thanks for the advice !
As far as snow is concerned, last year was kind of a fluke, this year there was very little on the main roads although the roads are still slick. I don't intend the wheels to extend past the flares I just want it to be in-line with the flares. And yes to the mud and dirt slinging thing. I have to have mud guards that are long enough that its ends are parallel with the center line of the wheel

I guess I will just have to get the widest street tire that would fit the stock rims without any clearance problems. Like I said it's more for looks but if its going to be more problems for me later then I wont do it.

My dad kept the truck well maintained and in excellent condition and I intend to keep it that way. I consider myself a sensible driver despite my age and never abuse any vehicle. I intend to keep the truck stock and reliable. My dad has another explorer, a 2006 4-door and a 2009 Edge -- but I dont need a 4 door

Thanks again everyone

 

[hilhi2005]

You could get a wider tire, or get some new wheels with a different offset which would allow you to shift the tires out some.