Yet another tire question

[Five]

After endless searching of the archives I was unable to come up with an answer to my dilemma, or should I say one of my dilemmae (dilemmas? dilemmage)?
First a bit of history
Not a member of the Firestone tire club, I picked the wrong time to wear out my Goodyear Wrangler RT/S's. ALso, the RT/Ss are just a bit on the small size diameter wise (235/75-15).
I am not an off roader and drive about an hour to work each day, so I am on what passes for a freeway here in Philly a lot. I do tow my boat and have to use some hideous launch ramps occasionally strewn with water, seaweed, mud, etc. at times.

So, the questions: Size first: I want to go slightly larger than stock to better fill the wheelwells, and don't really feel like buying a new set of wheels yet. Will a 245/75 fit without rubbing, or do I need to break out the grinder? Will a 245 cause undue sidewall flex which would cause a problem with sway when towing? Would a 255/70 work better?

Thanks in advance...
K
95 Sport 2WD
Borla Exhaust
No other mods....as yet

 

[donkey boy]

Five,
I see you're still waiting for an answer to your dilem...: The 245/75 and the 255/70 are 16" tires, you would need new rims. If you want to go a little bit bigger, go with 30 X 9.5; they are about 1/2" taller than what you currently have (when they were new). Optically, they will look about 1" taller.

I'm repeating myself probably for the 222nd time (b/c this is my 222nd post!), the BF Goodrich All Terrain ko is probably the best all-round tire. I personally prefer the BFG Mud Terrain, but I don't think you would get happy with it. 2nd place for the Michelins.

Hope this helps.

 

[sphaugh]

tires

I believe that Pirelli makes a 245/75-15 tire and a few companies make 255/70-15 (Bridgestone Dueler HL comes to mind).

I suggest that you go to http://www.tirerack.com & search by size to see exactly what is available. Right now, you'll probably have much more luck finding non-metric size tires, also - i.e. 29x9.5x15's very close to stock & 31x10.5x15 is supposed to fit on later body style explorers also (looks great, too).

 

[Five]

Here is what I did

And I hope I didn't screw up...

I really like the Goodyear RT/Ss on the truck, except they squeal a lot more here than in L.A. where I lived before. Since noone has ANYTHING for an explorer right now (tirerack.com doesn't even list an Explorer in the Find a tire by vehicle thing, and are pretty much on BO at the warehouses when you look for a 235) and won't install anything they do have. Well there was one exception, the lady who told me that a 30x9.50 wasn't a real tire size also kept arguing with me to come and buy some weird tires that nobody has ever heard of. Not to be mean they might be good tires. I just don't trust a tire that is being mass produced to fill the huge Tire Gap.
Anyways, I finally found a place that would put a 30x9.50 on and didn't give me a runaround about rolling the truck. The tire is a Wrangler ATS. The tread looks a bit aggressive, but the goodyear website says that they should do OK for wear and the tire guy said he has them in a 35 on his F 250 and they don't hum. His biggest worry is tire rub, but I told him I would bring my grinder and tin snips for the install.
So hopefully, I didn't mess up and buy a Goodyear version of a Super Swamper that is going to do all the nasty things a Swamper does on the highway.

Thanks for the tips
K

 

[4x4]

A Goodyear ATS is a far cry from a swamper. I've looked at the ATS and it shouldn't make anything more than a light hum if that.

 

[Five]

Ye gads!

The ATSs arrived at the tire store today, but they were unable to install them. Weird, I asked them if maybe they thought I didn't really want to have the tires actually installed, but the guy said they just got backed up.
Not a very good day for me all around My stuff from Mouser electronics arrived for my weekend fun project sans some important parts.

I just can't get it right these days.
Tomorrow, ATSs. And maybe a trip to radio shack too

K