Whats the largest size tire i can fit on stock X?

[N2MUDN91]

nice flex mo guy

 

[MO_GUY]

Originally posted by Alec
Of course, I also don't need my front tires to be on the ground.....

why is that?

 

[Nate1]

I know you can definatly tolerate IFS... even do fine, er well with it... but SFA is much preferred. MO... remove your torsion bars? That, well... just dont, cuz you'll have no suspension. Ought you but sway bar disconnects? It can't hurt.
-----Nate

 

[MO_GUY]

Originally posted by N2MUDN91
nice flex mo guy

thats not my truck, its Jefe's

 

[Nate1]

Originally posted by MO_GUY
why is that?

If I am not mistaken he drives a supercharged 4x2... so his front tires never need to see anything but air untill he wants to steer. Man a supercharged 4L explorer... I bet that is a beast of an Ex.
-----Nate

 

[N2MUDN91]

oh, well tell him nice flex !!

 

[MO_GUY]

just tossing this in the air, dont know if im correct..

IFS - independent front suspension?

SFS - single front suspension?

 

[Alec]

SFA = solid front axle.

And yes, I do drive a beast:

Dead Link Removed

 

[MO_GUY]

Alec, where did you purchase your rims/tires from? How much did they run ya? I still don't understand why you say you don't need your front wheels, just because it's SC'd doesn't mean you don't need 2 of your 4 wheels, LOL

 

[jimbo74]

mo... he needs all 4, but doesnt need his fronts when wheeling... they dont have any power to them anyways.... however, the rears of all explorers flex like mad... the leafs and disconnecting the sways leave a lot of travel....

 

[jimbo74]

i have yet to see an ifs have a pic like this... i know, ttb doesnt have that much travel, but for stock, it has a lot more than the torsion setup

 

[MO_GUY]

i was under the impression that the "box" styled explorers were sfs? BTW, that thing looks goofy with 1 clear turn signal

 

[Nate1]

BTW, that thing looks goofy with 1 clear turn signal

Oooohhhhhh! Them be fightin words!!!

 

[expl0der8]

I just want to be sure, but the 31x10.5 will fit on the stock 16 inch rims. I have the 255 70 16 on a 98 sport.

 

[sunbum]

... and what about the max tire on a stock with 15" rims? 30s?
Thanks. I wish they had gone with the 16" rims back in the mid 90s. Hadn't the others pretty much done that by then?

 

[MO_GUY]

well the 96 has the 2nd gen body style and if that year had the option of a 16" rim then i would say that it too can squeeze a 31 under the wheel wells, maybe 32

 

[Alec]

Basically I use the rule that if an X came with 15" wheels it can for sure fit 30s, maybe 31s without lift. 31s without lift often rubs a bit though. If it came with 16" rims than 31s most probably fit w/o lift.

You'd need to find whatever the metric equivalent for 31x10.50 or 31x11 is for 16" rims.

Mine were bought from 4WP, about $850. I don't need my front wheels to have traction because they don't have power. As long as I have one rear wheel on fairly solid ground I can move. The drawbacks to wheeling a 2wd are 1) steep climbs need momentum, 2) sand and mud often need help from a front axle and 3) lack of low range. To make up for this I have an Eaton posi in the rear, 4.30 gears, and over 275 lb ft of tq at the rear wheels.

 

[Robb]

MO_GUY,
Let me see if I can help clear up some of your front suspension confusion.

I have never heard the term SFS. I guess it could be used as "solid front swap" but that is usually called a SAS, "solid axle swap". And when a truck has had a SAS, it is now SFA, solid front axle.

You will often here that the difference between 1st and 2nd gen explorers is that 91-94 have TTB (twin traction beam) and 95-01 have IFS ( torsion bar independent front suspension). These terms are used generically, but aren't 100% correct. Technically, both the TTB and TB (torsion bar) fronts found on Explorers are IFS. This gets confusing, because the TTB is kinda a weird hybrid front, but it is still a IFS. This is why you will sometimes hear the term SLA, short/long arm, to describe the IFS on 2nd gen Explorers. It is a more accurate term than just saying IFS.

To sum up:
All Explorers are technically IFS (unless they have gotten a SAS).
91-94s (1st gen) are TTB
95-01s (2nd gen) are SLA

Ok, I'm confusing myself at this point!

Robb

 

[Robert]

Originally posted by expl0der8
I just want to be sure, but the 31x10.5 will fit on the stock 16 inch rims. I have the 255 70 16 on a 98 sport.

The metric equivalent will fit on the 16" rims, but a 31x10.5 is made for a 15" rim. The closest metric equivalent would be 265 70R16. Go to several tire manufacturer web sites and look at their off-road tires. They will list the mimimum rim width for the different tire sizes. Your 16" rim is 7" wide and is good up to about a 285 or 295 (11"-11.5").

 

[Robert]

Originally posted by sunbum
... and what about the max tire on a stock with 15" rims? 30s?
Thanks. I wish they had gone with the 16" rims back in the mid 90s. Hadn't the others pretty much done that by then?

The 16" rims have been an option since the '95 model year.