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Ford Explorer Community - Maintenance - Modifications - Performance Upgrades - Problem Solving - Off-Road - Street
Explorer Forum Covers the Explorer ST, Explorer Sport, Explorer Sport Trac, Lincoln Aviator, Mercury Mountaineer, Mazda Navajo, Ford Ranger, Mazda Pickups, and the Ford Aerostar
O.K. i was curious to get some opinions good or bad on some tires. I don't do too much offroading in my X, so I am mostly setting it up for looks. I was looking to put on either the super swamper thornbird 31x12.50x15 or the Mickey thompson baja belted 31x13.50x15. which tire do you think would be the best on the street/highway.
What kind of rims are you going to be running? Unless you have some 15 x 10's don't even try to squeeze something like that on it. I have the stock 15 x 7 rims on mine and I'm going to mount some 31 x 10.50 BFG AT's on there (and that's a little bit of a stretch, but very doable). Also, you'd better have one hell of a lift to try and fit that kind of a tire without rubbing your wheel well to death (as in, your lift had better be at least 6" overall with at least 3" in the body, and even then you might have to trim your fenders)
those are very bad road tires... a beter choice and still agressive is bfg mud terrains or an even better streeter choice is bfg all terrain kos.....like adam said, those tires will not fit unless you have some extensive lift mods or bust out the sawzall........ i have 31x10.5x15 on my stock 15x7s ant that is the widest i would run....
Height-wise you will be okay with a 31, but going that wide is gonna cause you a lot of problems I would bet. Tons of unnecessary stress on all the suspension parts. Plus the wheels would have to be really wide like adambone said, which is gonna put them like halfway outside the wheel well. That's illegal a lot of places, and not only that, but it looks stupid. A lot of people can fit 31x10.5 with no lift on the late models. That's probably your best bet I would imagine.
I am planning on running the 15x10 589 AE rims, One thing I forgot to mention is that I will also have a 3" body lift, warrior shackles, add-a-leaf and the TT . I want the truck to look like a mini monster truck, but I want to be able to take it on the highway.
the tires that you listed are made with really soft rubber and i would be surprised if you got 30k out of them. if you got the loot to spend go for it. i would go with mickey thompson. they dont last long but they will be a better ride than the thornbirds. thornbirds also dont last very for strictly road use. you should make it happen with that lift combo. if it were me i would get the 33 x 1250 BFG MT.
I will probably end up going with the mickey's . I like how they have that square stance to them and besides They won't even have to last a year. THis cumming spring I am going to do the body lift etc. which is when I'll be putting these tires on and then the following spring I'll be putting in a 5.0 and a 5.5" suspension lift thats when the 35's get thrown on.
Looks like you've already made up your mind, BUT...Remember, the noise level is going to be high, the ride is going to be harsh, and the handling on the pavement is gonna sux..Look at some AT's..
YOu kinda have to piece together a lift kit and do a little custom work. You can use the superlift lift kit for a 98 ranger for the front and for the rear you can use the lifted leaf springs for a 91-94 explorer. I might go 5.5" but I have heard of some people running into problems with them so I may end up doing the 4". I got all of my info for the lift from Ray Lobato. He has a 97 that he has lifted. It turned out real nice. DO a search and check it out if you have not seen it yet. As fo r the noise the tires will make, isn't that why they made loud stereo's (lol).
