I've spent hours sifting through threads on this forum and other ranger specific forums on the topic of 4.10 geared 8.8 rears in 4 cylinder Rangers on 33x12.50 tires.

Looking for feedback since I'm getting ready to replace my tires from 31's to 33's.

My truck is a 2.5L, five speed and already has a 8.8 L/S rear with 4.10 gears. It doesn't do bad with the 31's and is actually kinda peppy if you drive it the right way. 5th gear can hold it's own on the highway, but if you wanna pass you gotta shift down to 4th.

I constantly read members saying 4.56 ratio gears is the recommended route to go with this engine and tire set up, but others say the 4.10s will be just fine for DD duty.

Any REAL feedback from people with four cylinder rangers on 33's with 4.10 gears?

 

I just did the switch from 4.10 gears to 4.56 gears on my Ranger when going from 31" to 33" tires. I have a 4.0L engine but I think I can still hand out some advice.

I drove my Ranger with the 4.10 gears and 33" tires for a while on pavement and it did fairly well. I could tell if I went off-road, it would not have done well. I have about 50 miles on the 4.56 gears now and can tell they are a lower overall ratio compared to the 4.10 gears and 31" tires. This should work well off-road and are acceptable for pavement driving.

I originally wanted to install 4.30 gears (which it closer to the overall ratio of 4.10 gears and 31" tires) but they are only available for the rear and not the front. I think that would have been ideal for the 4.0L engine. However, I really think the 4.56 gears would be much better with 33" tires and the 2.5L engine. My suggestion is try the 33" tires with the 4.10 gears and see how it goes. If you have 2WD, you have the option to go with 4.30 gear but I still think 4.56 would be a better choice for you.

 

4.10s and 33s and a V6 are just getting it done.
With a 2.5L I can imagine how mich trouble it would be to drive.

4.56s/33 and a V6 are Ok work well but still should have a little more.

Add a 5.0L and it would be just right.

So,where is this going... 4.56 minimum gear ratio for 33" tires.

 

My limited experience with the 4.56 gears and 33" tires doesn't agree fully with that. That may be true for a 3.0L V-6 but so far my 4.0L SOHC would be happier with 4.30 gears if I could get them for the front. I think the 4.56 gears will be great off-road though.

I would not want to go to 4.88 gears with 33" tires unless I did a lot of rock crawling. It would not be very good on Interstates and highways unless you like to go slow, I don't.

 

I too thought 4.30 gears with 33 s but was proven wrong.
The 4.56s not only gave me decent driving but also 2 to 3 mpg gain.
Yes I said 4.56s were just there and for all around driving they work well but off roading, as you said, needs 4.88s.

My only real problem with the 4.56 hears is I mow am thinking 35" tires, the 4.56s are not deep enough.

Should have listened to my friends in MA.

 

With the 2.5 you really will want the 4.56.

With the 4.0, 4.10 and 33's are decent. Not ideal, but easily smokes the tires if you want to do so. But with the 2.5 you will definitely benefit from 4.56.

Will 4.10 work? Sure. Any gear set will technically "work" but how well it works... Well, just go with 4.56 and it will work "well enough"

 

I can give an example of what happens with too tall gears. My 89 STX w/ 2.9L engine came with 3.73 gears and about 29" tires. I immediately switched to 31" tires and kept running the 3.73 gears. It did OK off-road and even did reasonably well towing my race car. The problem was getting started from a stop. I had to slip the clutch more than normal to get it rolling. That resulted in having to replace my clutch at around 60K miles. I had 4.10 gears installed and put in a new clutch. it went another 125K miles before needing a new clutch.

 

My 2000 ford ranger came stock with 4.10 gears I also have the 2.5 engine (Its a workhorse) I have had 33's on my truck it did ok but they were old mud tires and since my truck is a 2 wheel drive only I went down to 235/70r/15's All Terrains they are about 31 inches and they returned a decent amount of speed back to it on the road. I mainly drive on roads and honestly I feel like it was mainly the engine being small. it has torque and it will handle it but these trucks aren't very fast ( I'm dying for a 4.0L ranger or a 300 I6/ 302 v8 f150) In short it is fun driving around taller and feeling like its lifted but I dont really know if I would invest a bunch into a 2.5L though.

the 2.5L is an awesome economic engine and for the size of the engine its fast. One of my friends had driven 3 older rangers (a 2.3, and 2 3.0Ls) his were in worse shape mechanically but he has also driven tuners cars that would do 140+ . When he drove my ranger he instantly loved it with and without the mud tires.
It will be a little slower (between maybe not noticeable and slightly noticeable) so it really depends are you willing to spend $ and maybe go slower to be a little taller and have big tires? I personally got slightly over-sized All Terrians and put in new shocks and it was lifted enough for me, but my truck isn't really worth putting a bunch into tires yours might be different.

 

Really appreciate the real feedback and advice.

Part of me just wanted to throw the 33's due to the fact that I am leaning towards either turboing the lima (because I just love this little motor) or the tride and trusty 5.0 swap.


I'm thinking 32x11.50's would still be ok with my 4.10's, so I might go that route or ultimately just end up getting BFG A/T 31's.

The Mastercraft Coursers that came with the truck are beginning to show their age, but hopefully I can get another winter out of them.

Thanks for the helpful responses.

 

I already have a cammed z28, so the Ranger is serving daily driver duty. I have a motorycle I also am rebuilding and am picking up another one in Spring.

The Ranger is in decent shape and was a former member's truck on here. The only real rust in the bed panel. Pretty clean otherwise.

I'm not looking to buy another truck for the next 5 to 7 years. The plan with the Ranger was to make something nice for DD duty that has a prerunner look and feel to it.

Thanks for the response!

 

4.88 gear ratio for 33 inch tires is the correct ratio