will 255/75-17 fit my 02 mountaineer or do i need to modify

[LukeOmalley]

I have a 2002 merc mountaineer, and i have 4 brand new 255/75-17 tires. I was wondering if i could use them on my merc and just buy new wheels, and if so what size wheel would i need and do i need to lift the vehicle as well? Thanks,
LOM

 

[imp]

Bigger Tires?

I have a 2002 merc mountaineer, and i have 4 brand new 255/75-17 tires. I was wondering if i could use them on my merc and just buy new wheels, and if so what size wheel would i need and do i need to lift the vehicle as well? Thanks,
LOM

255/75-17 tires have a theoretical rolling diameter of 32.06 inches.

235/70-16, I'm guessing would be about what was OEM on the truck, have a rolling diameter of 28.95 inches.

This would mean your speedometer and odometer would "read" in error by about 32.06-28.95 divided by 28.95 = 11%. So, at a true vehicle speed of 50 mph, your speedo would say about 44.5. Stated another way, when your speedo indicated 55, actual speed would be about 61! If you drive "at the limit" mainly, watch out for the cops!

Doubtful a veh. lift would be necessary. imp

 

[LukeOmalley]

Thanks for the info, is it possible to reset the computer so that the indication on the speedo would be accurate?

 

[LukeOmalley]

what about wheel size to mount the 255/75-17? I all also nee to do a complete brake job, stabilizer linkss, the front passenger link is gone, and rear quick strut assemblies, I have a broken spring on the right rear. Any suggestions on a place to get parts.

 

[kstrayhorn]

It is possible to reset the computer to make the speedometer accurate again.
I didn't read the entire thread, but this should help:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1298847
as for the other questions, I don't know, check a dealership, most of them have a parts department. (Actually, I don't think I've ever seen one without one.)
And for the wheel size, I am not actually sure but 17"x10" are the tire dimensions so that size should fit fine. Am I right guys?

 

[imp]

And for the wheel size, I am not actually sure but 17"x10" are the tire dimensions so that size should fit fine. Am I right guys?

Most of the Ford OEM wheels I have seen on Explorers, at least '95 and up, were 10" wide. imp

 

[LukeOmalley]

Thanks Imp, I'm just torn about putting the 255/75-17's on my 02 Mountaineer. I'm afraid to screw up my brakes and anything else that could go wrong. has anyone put these on before?????

 

[kstrayhorn]

You shouldn't have any problems. I'm about to go with some 265/75/16s and I've been told by several people that I won't have any problems at all. The only thing I can think of is the speedo/odo problem we mentioned before, and possibly needing new gears, but I wouldn't worry about anything. Just try it and see!

 

[LukeOmalley]

Thanks K, 1 more ?, What gears? the gears for the speedo/odo?

 

[thepotroast]

Most of the Ford OEM wheels I have seen on Explorers, at least '95 and up, were 10" wide. imp

Wrong.

3rd Gen's come stock with either 16x7's or 17x7's. Not 10" wide...

 

[LukeOmalley]

so do you think the 255/75-17's will work, and do you think if i use them i'll screw up my truck? We spent the cash on the tires 2.5 months ago for another vehicle that we are now getting rid of. with that said i figured that i could throw them on my merc.

 

[kstrayhorn]

yes, the 255/75s will most definitely work without messing anything up, and the gears I was speaking of were the tranny gears. However, I don't know about getting them redone, how much they cost, or how hard it is to diy. All, I know is that when getting larger tires it is sometimes necessary to change out the tranny gears.

Also, the speedo gears can be changed out and will fix the speedo problem. That is if your speedo has gears. From what I've read, only the older, cable-pulled speedo's have gears?? My 02 is electronically calculated, so mine should need resetting by going through the ABS. If I'm wrong, somebody please clear this up!

Thanks,
kstrayhorn