"Not another tire size and type thread!" I'm sorry but plz hear and help me out.

[HelmCrusher]

Yes another one of the " What type and size tires should I put on my stock EX?!?" I'm sorry but I need some advice/info.

Alright so I have some worn out 255/70/16 Michelin LTX M/S currently on my stock 2000 Explorer XLT 4.0 SOHC with the 4:10 gear ratio. I am getting away from that tire. It is great for highway, dirt/gravel roads and snow but absolutely horrible in SETX mud.

I will only be using the EX for trips to (70 miles there and back highway) and on the deer lease( 10-20 miles there and back dirt/gravel and tons of thick SETX mud ) with the rare beach trip thrown in. Now the deer lease I am currently on is very prone to flooding, as some of you Texans saw the cattle drive in flooded Liberty County my lease is not far from that. Since it has been so wet down here the past few years and I go hunting by myself I want the best all around tire that will get me through this mud without getting stuck and calling others to get me out or leave it till it dries out.

OK now to the main points, I'm trying to stay around $150 a tire. Should I stay with that size tire 255/70/16, jump up to a 265/75/16, or pick another size all together? And what tire do you suggest? I'm looking at the General Grabber A/T2 but I worry if I get in a good sloppy mud spot after a rain they with just turn to slicks and I start to lean towards a mud terrain tire instead, just looking for input.

Sorry for the long read, thanks in advance.

 

[chefduane]

...just went through this process with my '98 XLT 4x. I decided to stay stock with the Michelin LTX M/S2 235/75r/15. I thought about going up to 31's but opted not to. I had Goodyear Wrangler Radials previously and they had a little more aggressive tread. Up here in NTX I'm mostly on pavement, some gravel or dirt to go blast doves sometimes. NOTHING like the gumbo you all get down there. I would look for a reasonably aggressive tread if you're going to be on the lease regularly. Maybe not a true mudder but definitely some type of all-terrain as you will be doing some pavement driving. If go with a mud tire it's going to be >loud< on the pavement, and you might scrub them off fairly quickly. But if you are really that concerned about getting stuck, get a winch. The General Grabber looks to be a good tire as long as its available in the size you want. And $150/tire budget seems reasonable for what you're looking for.

 

[HelmCrusher]

LOL I was afraid to use the term GUMBO MUD for fear of no one knowing what is was and you say it right off the bat..awesome.

Yeah I think the Grabber will work but I was hoping for input on a more aggressive tread. I am pretty sure my Explorer came stock in the 255/70/16, I'd have to ask my dad who owned it first but he is an always a leave it stock kinda guy.

Thanks for your input. But now that the can of worms I had reserved ( installing a winch) has been opened. How would I go about installing one without getting a new fabbed up bumper. I've read that I would have to move the radiator up and fab a plate or is there a stupid easy way that I am not aware of?

 

[chefduane]

You will have to do some research on that. I think there are a few threads here about installing a winch on an Ex. Just do a search on something like "installing a winch" or somesuch. You'll find one.

 

[drdoom]

The grabber is a great tire, but if you are driving in mud find a mud tire in your price range.

 

[Flash]

One of the things about mud tyres is the self cleaning tread, same thing that makes them not good on sand.