Tire size recomendations

[gdcpony]

My wife's Pirrelli Scorpions (nice tires, but they wear too fast and cost too much) are about done. The vehicle has factory rims and runs 235/70/16's right now. I don't buy most of the sizes factories recommend, so I figured to ask on here. I am thinking of going to a 245/70/16, and wondering if there are any issues to worry about with this thing. It runs on a little 4.0l that is nothing if not pathetic and so I worry about going too big and losing what little power I have.
We do use it occasionally off road but not in abusive conditions, mostly in a hay field or a decent logging road for fire wood outings on dry ground with my truck leading looking for holes and such. That truck does the hard work takes the beatings. The Exploder simply hauls the help (kids) and the gear (saws, fuel, lunch, guns for varmints, and the wife too). I would say maybe 10 times a year this happens when I am set to cut all day.
The rest of the time the truck is highway bound in Ohio conditions. Rain, snow, and ice are common and lots of miles for us too. It makes the family trips and the wife uses it for her commuting too when the weather keeps her out of her Mustang.
So with a VERY strict budget what tires do you all recommend? I will not be here next year and don't want to worry about my family's safety while ducking bullets. I am not rich though, and need to get tires for the Mustang too (wife is hard on them, my truck's are three years old and still at 50% or better) so the cost does count.
Thanks all for the advice in advance.

 

[thepotroast]

Your "little" "pathetic" 4.0L will push much more than 245/70's...lol

Sorry, I stopped reading after that.

 

[explorerguy89]

hell my "lil 4.0;" pushes 31x10.50 mud tires

 

[gdcpony]

Sorry, Just not too impressed with this truck overall. I have owned allot of Ford vehicles and this is the first one that I can't seem to like. It is always letting me down somehow.

The little 4.0 was tuned up two days after I brought the truck home last December. I have tried two different plug types and wires too to see what it likes, but no luck. It is anemic to me. Take this with a grain of salt, I drive a Mustang, a truck with a 350, and a motorcycle to compare it to. It just seems lacking and the mileage is the worst of all of them.

I think if I had the money to put into some bolt-ons for it, it would improve. My wife likes the type of vehicle, but agrees that the next one will have a better power/weight ratio. An XLT might be in the future.


But to the point here. If it can push a bigger tire, how big on the factory rim? 265?

 

[thepotroast]

Well I'm running 285/75's with my V6 with no engine mods...although I have the tow package with has the 3.73 gears and my truck does just fine, I pull jeeps with it no problem. I'm sitting at 133k miles. The 4.0 is a very strong engine. 285/75's are close to 33" in diameter.
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[thepotroast]

265's would be fine on the stock wheels and stock suspension, some trimming may have to be made on it however. However if you're concered about gas mileage and the lack of performance on yout truck...265's are gonna slow things down.
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[gdcpony]

Thanks.
I am looking at some Grabber AW's right now. The price seems good and the reviews are mostly positive. I think I'll stay with the 245's and see how they work. From there I can go up when we wear these out.

 

[skibum]

I have a 2002 XLT and am running the General Grabber HTS tire in size 245/70/16. That is actually the best size tire compared to the 235 for the General as the tire revelutions are about the same as the OE Michelin tires in the smaller size. You can see the comparison in the spec sheets at tirerack.com. Great tire and price. This is the highest rated SUV tire at tirerack, CR, and even 4-wheel magazine gave a great review.

 

[stuartr]

I have 255/70/R16 on mine they look and handle really well. The only thing about them is you can only get it in a all season tire that I have found. I really want to put a A/T tire on my Mounty. I would like to keep about the same size. I will make it till about next winter before my tires will be shot so I will be looking around.

STU

 

[turboranger91]

for the record, there is nothing wrong with the 4.0. my last explorer had a bone stock 4.0, and i ran 33/12.50 m/t's. big knobby things! did just fine. i wouldn't start worrying until you start getting into the 35" and up... and even then, i wouldn't be worried about the engine so much as i would the axles.