what kind of gear ratio

[jrrywds]

i am about to put 26s on my ford explorer would a better gear ratio help and wat kind

 

[manaen]

26's ? Isn't that like the stock size :scratch:

if you mean 36" then use this calculation

old tire diameter = OT
new tire diameter = NT
current gear ratio = CG

(OT * CG) / NT = new effective gear ratio

simple as that...

 

[sjr033]

Or do you mean that you are putting 26" rims? If so what size tire are you going to use?

 

[mounty71]

You can fit 26" rims on an explorer?!

 

[jrrywds]

wat kind of gear ratio

im talking about 26 inch rims wat gear ratio would i need on a 26'' rim with a 305/30/26 tire

 

[JDraper]

Merged your threads into one thread. Please do not post the same thing multiple times. Thanks

 

[FROADER]

That tire is roughly equivalent to a 33" tire, so I would go with at least 4.10s if not 4.56s.

 

[trj360]

That tire is roughly equivalent to a 33" tire, so I would go with at least 4.10s if not 4.56s.

i've got 33" and 4.10s, it is a bit sluggish on the acceleration but i have no problems on the highway. my 4.10s came factory though.

 

[manaen]

OK a 305/30-26 is like 33.20" high

I will assume you have a stock 30" tire right now and also assume you have the common 3.55 gears.

the change in tire from 30" to 33.20" would require that you go to a 3.92 range gear to maintain stock performance. Shoot I would go with a 4.10 if your going to change gears.


To give you more exact figures I need to have your current tire size and gearing.

 

[JDraper]

You'll want a minimum of 4.56 gears for 33" tall tires to have any hope of decent performance. Yes, the #'s say that a 3.90 will work, but that doesn't take into account rotating mass. I run 33" tires on my truck with 4.56's, and the acceleration is close to what it was stock. The extra rotating mass of the larger tire/wheel combo definitely makes it more sluggish.

 

[manaen]

JD that's a great point, in the case of running 33's I would agree, but he is going to have 26" wheels which tells me his offroading is going to be a bit limited. In which case why kill your fuel mileage totally on the highway by going to 4.56 gears.

So if he wants a great looking truck with good fuel performance....
keep stock gears or go to 3.90's which keep you in the stock range

If he wants to go off roading, which to me is unthinkable with 26's and 30 series tires
then go 4.56, and forget the 26's

if you want good looks and good performance with no care of fuel mileage...
then go 4.56..

If you want a compromise of performance, looks, and mpg....
then go 4.10's