I don't understand wheel width. I think I have a 7" wide wheel, how wide of a tire can I put on there ? What wheels come on an FX4 L2 ? 15x8 ?

I want 31x10.5 BFG MT's I think later down the road post a lift kit I think I would want to step up to 33's or maybe 35's X 12.5.

My thinking is can I fit 31X10.5 on stock wheels ? If not I want to buy after market wheels that can later down the road handle 33 or 35 X 12.5.

 

first if you have a stock wheel its 7" wide. second do YOU have a 16" wheel or 15" wheel am guessing 16. on the level II they come with a 15x7 alcola wheel. if you have stock 15" dont run over a 31x10.5x15 or a 33x10.5x15. now if you have a 16" rim get some 265x75x16(32x10.5x16) same size tire am running right now.

 

265x75x16 = (32x10.5x16) ? What does 31x10.5 equal ?

Edit never mind

 

ok I think I am getting the hang of this. So the FX4 L2 have a 15x7 wheel which fits a 33X10.5 like Neil's tires. I think the metric and inch thing is what screws me up the most.

So a 265x75x16 is about the biggest that will fit on stock 16" rims right ?

 

Two things to consider with wheel width (got your PM, Ben, and thanks).

1. Wheel widths are based on recommendations from the TIRE manufacturer. The reason you want to stay in them is an overall balance of tire wear and performance. If you use a narrower rim, you can air down more offroad generally, but on the street you will wear the center of the tire more since narrower rims cause the tread to "arch". Wider wheels than recommended will tend to wear the tread edges more, and the bead will be more prone to being dislodged.

2. Backspacing is the measurement from the back (inside, nearer the suspension) edge of the rim to the mounting plate that contacts the brake rotor or drum. Stock Ranger wheels are either 4.5" or 4.75" (depending on who you talk to -- I'm still not sure which is right or if BOTH are right with different wheels). Most 15x8 and many other size aftermarket wheels have 3.25" to 3.75" backspacing standard. This pushes your wheels out a bit more and can help on the inside of the wheel well with clearing bigger tires, but sometimes cause problems with the fender lip or flare.

The only way to know if a wheel is appropriate for a given tire is to go to the manufacturers data (usually on their website) and see what "range" or rim widths they recomment, and what they consider "nominal". Tire dimensions are based on that nominal width which can be called "measured width" or whatever. Somewhere, they usually tell you what size rim they used when they took the dimensions of the tire.

I'm running 35's with 15x8's which is not optimum -- but is commonly done.

Also, make sure your metric sized tire is still rated "LT". Some prices are too good to be true: they are a big tire built like a "P" tire for passenger car service and do NOT have the sidewall strength of LT rate tires. I occasionally hear arguments about tire price where one guy is clearly buying the LT and the other guy ISN'T and the guy with the cheaper price thinks he got such a great deal. Some tire dealers won't tell you they are selling you a P rated tire either. Make sure you specify that, or check on it in some way before buying.

 

stock OEM Ford Alcoa rims are 15 x 7 with a 3.75 inch back space

the BFG specifications call for a rim width no narrower than 3.5 inches and no wider than 1.5 inch less than the mounted tire width for 15" rims
this suggested specification is the same for AT or MT tires

if you want to put on a 12.5 inch wide tire on a 15" rim, the rim should be between 9 and 11 inches wide

 

Interesting that said a 10.5" tire would need a 7 to 9 inch wheel. and like you said a 12.5 inch tire needs a 9 to 11 inch wheel.

While still a little uncertain what I want to do exactly it looks like if I bought 9 inch wide wheels I could fit a 10.5 or 12.5 inch tire.

John do you know how wide your tires are 10.5 ?

 

Generally, you will only find 8's and 10's in wheel width. 9's are uncommon.

 

your right I never saw 9's when looking around

John your tires are 10.5 wide right ?

 

12.5 inches. I am running totally out of the manufacturers "envelope". I should be running 15x10's instead of 15x8's with these tires. But I don't think the 15x10's will work with this little lift to fit 35's. The 8's actually help me a bit with clearance issues.

 

If only 9 inch wheels were alittle more common

 

are 11.5 inch tires common. With a 11.5 inch tire you would need a 8 to 10 inch wheel.

So if I got 10 inch wheels I could run 11.5 inch tire now and get 12.5 later. Is there such a thing as 31x11.5 tires

Wait a minute you have 12.5's now on 8 inch wheel whats the down side ?

 

There ARE some odd size tires in 31's (even around 31x15 in some specialty tires) -- but 32x11.5 tires are not so uncommon in both 15 and 16 inch wheel widths.

 

So, what is the backspace on regular stock 15X7 rims?
Is it 3.75 also?

What I really want to know is if the BFG 31X10.50 wil fit on the stock 15X7 rim

 

interesting maybe a set of 10 inch wheels and run 32x11.5 for a while then later I could go for some 35x12.5, and I would already have 10 inch wide wheels.

I know you said you "should" have 10's but the 8's work for you with your current lift set up. What could happend because you are only running 8's besides more rapid wear on street ?

 

No, I already quoted it as 4.5 to 4.75"

 

Really, very little. As I mentioned, if I air down, it's actually an advantage.

 

Why not ? because of the backspacing ?

 

Thanks. I posted withiout reading everything first.

 

lol! Thought that might be it. Occasionally I've done that myself.

Some say my posts are too long anyway, lol. But I TRY to be complete -- I'm just not good at doing it in a "few words".

 

Why not ? because of the backspacing ?

 

DOH! I only dealt with part of his question!!!

YES, you can run 31x10.5x15 on stock wheels. I ran my 31x10.5x15 Cooper S/T's originally on the stock rims. However, at normal inflation pressure, I began to note more center wear and upgraded to 15x8 Mickey Thompson Classic II's.


Truck on 31x10.5x15 with the stock 15x7 wheels


Same tires on 15x8 Mickey Thompson wheels -- note how much more they "stick out"

 

You had stock 15x7 John ? I thought those were only on FX4L2's

 

Think "Edge 4x2" -- they had different wheels than the 4x4's in many cases. Mine came with 15x7 "painted aluminum" wheels as part of the "Edge Plus" package.

If anyone want's my old wheels, they are available for $100 for all four. There's some rock scrapes on the very edges, but overall they're in good shape. If you want to go to 15's, Ben, and want a cheap way to run 31's for now, you can get these from me. Then trade up when you go up in size. Just one more option.

 

$100 for all for I'll take them.