tires and regearing (this probably exists elsewhere)

[Exp98]

afternoon! looking at different tire options for my 98 X! currently i have the D35/8.8 with D4 acle code (3.73s i think) could i safely run 33/10.50/15s? if so, would it add alot of strain ok the tranny and decrease its life? also how much trimming would i need to do (altho i know it can vary) i currently have a 1.5 TT and OME springs out back :biggthump: if not would 32s be advisable? or should i stick with 31s...

 

[CDW6212R]

Those tires are large enough that it will have to have some lifting, and maybe trimming depending on how high you get it.

You won't like the 3.73 gears with the 33" tire, use 33/30 as what you need to increase the gearing by at the least. 4.10's were common in SOHC 4WD's, for off road you would want a little more, plus the affect of the tire change.

 

[Mbrooks420]

33s are too tall to run on 3.73s. Especially if you have the v6, this would be a great way to kill your transmission. To clear 33s you’ll need substantial body trimming or a body lift.

 

[Blown]

Tire Size Calculator That is a good site to compare tire sizes, for instance, going from a 245/70-16 to a 265/75 15 is an 8% increase in size and reduction in torque.

 

[RangerX]

Solved - Lifts and Max tire sizes

Lift and tire size info for explorers Lifts and max tire and wheel sizes for explorers This is a quick reference guide I have put together based on information gathered from the Explorer Forum. Remember this is just a guide. You may have to do some fender trimming to fit these tires on your...

www.explorerforum.com

 

[CDW6212R]

The 33" tires are 1.1 times the stock 30" size. For those the gears would need to be 4.51:1 to result in the same gearing as a 4.10 truck with stock tires. If the truck goes off roading at all, it will need more gear than that. Just go up one size over 4.56 and it would be just slightly more rpm than a stock vehicle, many people would go farther than that. So look at gears in the 4.70:1 range at a minimum.

 

[Exp98]

makes sense! i doubt my 5r would enjoy big tires... would 31s be acceptable to run? or can i creep to 32s?

 

[CDW6212R]

The 31" tires would be a bolt on and go deal. You would notice a slight loss of acceleration, but very minor. At that point you would be wishing to have the 4.10's that most 4WD Explorers had. The upside is you could find those front and rear diffs separately, and swap them in. Otherwise you will be paying for new gears and the labor to change them.

 

[Exp98]

The 31" tires would be a bolt on and go deal. You would notice a slight loss of acceleration, but very minor. At that point you would be wishing to have the 4.10's that most 4WD Explorers had. The upside is you could find those front and rear diffs separately, and swap them in. Otherwise you will be paying for new gears and the labor to change them.

really? i didnt know most had 4.10s... i got 4wd and the tow pkg... what was i missing?

also i remember there was a set of pics of someone with a black V8 XLT with OMEs TT and a offroad bumper with 31s... do you remember where that was?

 

[CDW6212R]

really? i didnt know most had 4.10s... i got 4wd and the tow pkg... what was i missing?

I'm not sure, I have read some say they all had 4.10's, but I didn't believe that. My 99 Limited has them, and I haven't noticed any other 99-01 V6 without the 4.10's. I wonder if it became standard in 1999. My 93 had 3.73 while my 91 used 3.27's, both 4WD, the 3,73's were better all around and still got 20mpg on a trip 1100 miles to SD.

I think the 3.73's are best for highway use in V6's, but other than that, the 4.10's are great for all other street use etc.

 

[Exp98]

interesting! i didnt know that... my sohc feels like it has enough power in general, so maybe 31s wouldnt be bad... just to clarify real quick: 32s wouldnt work either, right?

 

[CDW6212R]

Solved - Lifts and Max tire sizes

Lift and tire size info for explorers Lifts and max tire and wheel sizes for explorers This is a quick reference guide I have put together based on information gathered from the Explorer Forum. Remember this is just a guide. You may have to do some fender trimming to fit these tires on your...

www.explorerforum.com

Look at that thread Bill posted linked above, the charts in there are great guidelines for what tires will fit without modification, and which may need body lifts or suspension parts, and/or cutting.

 

[Exp98]

Look at that thread Bill posted linked above, the charts in there are great guidelines for what tires will fit without modification, and which may need body lifts or suspension parts, and/or cutting.

ok! will do!!! thank you so much!

 

[MAS Tequila]

With 275/70/18 tires I was ok until I pulled the bike trailer through the mountains.

I’ll be swapping the trans within a month or so.

The 3.73s are becoming 4.56s.

That’s with the 5.0 and 4R70W.

 

[Exp98]

Look at that thread Bill posted linked above, the charts in there are great guidelines for what tires will fit without modification, and which may need body lifts or suspension parts, and/or cutting.

upon reading the thread, i dont see anytbing about a 1.5 suspension lift and a 1" bl with this, could i clear 33s without much trimming? probably going to go 33 10.50 15 so i can fit my stock rims... also if i do this im considering regearing to 4.56s... would this in theory fit? ik all trucks are different but just a ballpark estimate

 

[CDW6212R]

"95-2001 (including 2dr 95 - present)
No lift- 31x10.50x15 on 15x8 rim or stock (15x7) rim
1-2 inch suspension lift - 32x11.50x15 on 15x8 rim/ may require some extensive fender trimming
4 inch suspension – 33x12.50x15 on 15x8 rim
2 inch body lift – 32x11.50x15 on 15x8 rim
3 inch body lift – 33x12.50x15 on 15x8 rim/ may require fender trimming"

From that section of the chart before, it looks like32" tires could require some trimming given the 1.5" lifted range you mention. I'd say the 31" tires should fit with no trimming, but the 32" you might expect some rubbing. I'd say try to find some used tires to test fit or run with short term, to get used to them.

 

[MAS Tequila]

with 2” of lust in the front, I had to trim most of the plastic moulding back flush with the steel.

 

[MAS Tequila]

2” of lift

I absolutely hate spellcheck

 

[Muleman36]

afternoon! looking at different tire options for my 98 X! currently i have the D35/8.8 with D4 acle code (3.73s i think) could i safely run 33/10.50/15s? if so, would it add alot of strain ok the tranny and decrease its life? also how much trimming would i need to do (altho i know it can vary) i currently have a 1.5 TT and OME springs out back :biggthump: if not would 32s be advisable? or should i stick with 31s...

FWIW, an hour ago I attempted to install a tire that is 31.6(tall) x 10.4(wide) with wheels that are zero offset.

The fronts do not clear the factory running boards(and obviously not the splash guards), and they rub the inner fenderwells.

I didn't even attempt to install the rears.

I read on this forum that 31x10.50s would fit at factory height. They did not. (31.6?, Tires are used so idk)

Best answer: Each rig is a little different, don't count on keeping your factory steps. Best to pull them before they get busted on a rock anyway.

Anybody interested in a set of steps? Lol

 

[Exp98]

"95-2001 (including 2dr 95 - present)
No lift- 31x10.50x15 on 15x8 rim or stock (15x7) rim
1-2 inch suspension lift - 32x11.50x15 on 15x8 rim/ may require some extensive fender trimming
4 inch suspension – 33x12.50x15 on 15x8 rim
2 inch body lift – 32x11.50x15 on 15x8 rim
3 inch body lift – 33x12.50x15 on 15x8 rim/ may require fender trimming"

From that section of the chart before, it looks like32" tires could require some trimming given the 1.5" lifted range you mention. I'd say the 31" tires should fit with no trimming, but the 32" you might expect some rubbing. I'd say try to find some used tires to test fit or run with short term, to get used to them.

would my 1.5 in sus lift and a 1" bl be equivalent to a 2 in bl? or...

i would have done a 3" bl but i heard a 1" does not require steering extension etc and i can reuse some hardware...