So I have no clue

[Htown451]

about tire sizes or anything really for that matter

im going to lift my 01 Sport with TT/Shackles and 3" BL

and i was looking at wheels and tires online and i realized i have no clue what i want because i dunno exactly what im looking for

i think i know ill have a 15X8 wheel

but i was looking at the tires and all the diff sizes and confused
some said 17" and others said 33X12.5Xw/e

can someone help me differntiate what the diff is and sugg on what wheels and tires i should go with

 

[gluvsave35]

if u go with a 33x12.5 tire id go with a 15x10 rim

15x8 rims is the stock rim size

 

[Htown451]

what exactly does 33X12.5 entail

 

[mcpherson]

^^^ Agree

Your probably looking for a 15x10, 5 on 4.5 Bolt Pattern with a backspacing of 3.75" wheel.

15 is the diameter of the wheel where as 10 is the width.

 

[mcpherson]

what exactly does 33X12.5 entail

33 means the height (diameter) of the tire and 12.5 is the width.

 

[Htown451]

so that means its 33" meaning if i saw 17" for sale it be too small and look stupid

 

[Willard]

a 17" tire is far smaller than stock and would look really dumb on an explorer, so yea

 

[mcpherson]

so that means its 33" meaning if i saw 17" for sale it be too small and look stupid

I think I am safe to say that 17" is the wheel diameter size. You just have to make sure your tire will fit. You would be cheaper to go with a 15" wheel.

For example:

Tire would be 33x12.50R15

Wheel would be 15x10, 5 on 4.5 Bolt Pattern, Backspacing = 3.75 in.

 

[brianjwilson]

15x8 is not stock, a 15x7 is, or a 16x7.
15x8's work great for 33x12.50's. The 10.50 wide wheels will push the tires further out from the wheel wells, and cause the tires to rub more on the fenders and back of the wheel well.
I don't remember for sure, but I think your sport has the larger brake calipers up front. Some 15" wheels will not fit, you will have to physically test fit them on the front to make sure the inside of the wheel doesn't hit the calipers.
You can use 17" wheels, as longer as the overall tire diameter isn't larger. 17" tires are almost 2x as expensive as the 15" tires are though.