Hey everyone. I have an '04 XLT 4x4 Ranger and am looking at doing tires this winter. I have the OEM 245/75/16 setup on there now, but want more height below the diff for ground clearance. I have 4.10 gears, so that should help out moving the bigger tires a little easier. I also have stock 2" blocks on the rear and torsion bars in the front.

Now, I wanted to do 285/75/16s, but then caught a thread talking about 255/85/16 and was interested. It's a SLIGHTLY taller tire (about 2-3 mm) and gives me what I want in ground clearance. The truck is my toy truck, so it only gets maybe 7K miles a year (my car does my 100+ miles per day drive to work and back). So, mpg loss isn't a big deal for me, but I'd still like to keep what I have if I can.

I'm looking to get good to great snow traction (for the occassional Maryland snow-mageddon), and still maintain some road mpg. I have yet to find any good dirt trails to try out the suspension and drivetrain around my way, but with more ground clearance I'll feel better.

Now, for the main concerns - I know I will need to go up in height some, so I was going to do the 2" max torsion crank (not the keys, since I've read a LOT of bad things on them) and a 1-2" shackle lift for the rear. I was planning on using the stock rims I have now (if possible), but if not I was going to see what I could find in some steelies. Do any of you have any knowledge on whether or not new steelies will be needed, or can the stock rims suffice without rubbing? I'm thinking they will rub closer to lock-to-lock turns, but I'd rather get some confirmation from you all.

I know the "pizza-cutter" look isn't for everyone, but they still give me a little wider tire and the ground clearance that I am really looking for. I was looking at the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 for tires too: BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2

 

I'm all for the 255/85s or 33x10.50s. I know 33x10.5s fit without issue. Is this the thread you're referring to? https://www.ranger-forums.com/vehicl...e-pics-135960/

 

I didn't see that thread, but that is exactly how I want my truck to sit. I just PMed the guy, so hopefully he can provide some tips for this. I was hoping that the 2" torsion twist for the front and a 1-2" shackle lift in the rear would be enough for height. Also, if this could work on stock 16x7 rims, or if another set of 16x8 with 5x4.5 settings would be needed.

If anyone else knows, please chime in. Thanks!

 

Going to do the 2" torsion twist lift for the front, 2" shackles for the rear, ProComp 98 RockCrawler 16x8 (5x4.5) with 4.25" backspacing in gloss black (getting 5 for the price of 3), and the KM2 255/85/16 will be coming next month.

Will finally put on my nodular iron rear diff cover and have replacement U-joints and front brake components to add next weekend. Getting the stopping power ready for the larger tires.....this will be a fun truck soon enough. Not ridiculously big, but fun to play in the snow and on some trails (and farm land around my area).

 

Sweet. Need pics when you're done.

 

Those wheels are pretty heavy, at 37lbs/ea. Combined with your tire selection, you're putting nearly 100lbs at each corner. That might suck some performance out of your truck, both acceleration, and braking. Also being a load range E tire, they will likely be quite harsh to drive on.

For comparison, my 33x10/50R15 BFG KMs (load range C) on Alcoas weigh in at 63lbs each corner.

Food for thought.

On an unrelated topic, what diff cover did you install?

 

I figure the added weight would be something to consider, but I'm replacing the brakes in all 4 corners and getting DOT 4 ATE fluid too. I'm thinking that should help a bit, but at least make it a hell of a lot better than stock and how spongy they are. Plus, with some new RS5000 Ranchos I'll put on in the Spring, that should help body weight travel and braking some. The truck sits 2-3 weeks at a time now already, so even if I burn a tank of fuel on a weekend fun trip, I figure that's not bad in the long run. May look for more power stuff later, but from what I've found, the 4.0 really doesn't react much to exhaust/intake add ons. I wish a twin screw supercharger would be developed (I saw that they used to have it and have some universal jobs) so a "plug and play" addition of 50-70 hp and about 100 tq would be available. But, until then......oh well.

I got the "Solid" cover last Xmas:

 

I'm reconsidering the rims......I have OEM 16x7 5 spokes now and if possible, I'd rather just keep them and paint them black (or leave them as is....who cares). I just don't know how safe it would be to run a 255/85/16 on a 16x7, or if a 16x8 should be purchased.

Does anyone have 255 (or wider) tires on 16x7 stock rims? Pictures?

Also, does anyone know the weight of the OEM 5 spokes:

 

I used to run 285/75/16's on my stock 7" wheel. No pictures though.

Many people have ran it - it's not ideal, but no issues.

 

A 255 should have no problem if a 285 fit right? I just don't want the bead to blow off the rim just for the extra pressure added by the wider tire on 7" rim. Maybe I'm just thinking too much about it, but this thought process can save me 300$

 

I went to the BFGoodrich website and for the LT255/85R16/E Mud-Terrain KM2 tire (http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/tire-...techspec_table), they list the recommended rim width as being 6.5"/8" (Min/Max).

AKA - Your good.

 

There is someone on here with a stock 15x7 running 12.5's you will be fine. I would have went with a 235/85 aka Pizza cutters

 

That is what the 255/85 are considered from what I read.....but maybe on OEM 16x7 rims they will bulge a little more than 16x8. We shall see in a few weeks :)

 

Think I'm going to go with 235/85/16 Goodyear Duratracs. Better traction, less weight distributed across the tread (better traction in snow) and cheaper :)

I'm liking the pizza cutter look. From pictures I've seen the 235/85 looks very functional. I was trying to avoid a bubble look for how small the Ranger is, so 235/85 seems to keep it slim.

 

I ran 33x12.5's on my stock rims.

 

235/85s love snow. I had some Cooper ST's on my F350 and could go anywhere! Swapped them out for some 285/75 DC Mud Countries and they flat out suck in any slop

 

Well, good to know that the 235/85s are that good. I have read on MULTIPLE forums that it seems to be the perfect tire size to just dig down and grab traction. Looks like the deal is made......

235/85/16 Goodyear Duratrac tires are being ordering in 2 weeks :) Thanks everyone for all of your help (both in the thread and through PM).

 

The rubber is in! Sorry for the dark photo, but these things eat up the gap (235/85/16 Goodyear Duratrac):



I'll post pics after I do all of my maintenance things and get these tires mounted....hopefully in another 2 weeks or so.

 

The tires are in! 2 weeks and I'll be doing the big install and little lift :)


They eat up the stock wheel gap almost completely.

 

Doing some research was there any follow up pics on this, what are your impressions with the 235s and 4.10s

 

I have 33x10.50s and they're fine with 4.10s. I really like the extra clearance in the snow, the 33s take a little more to get them spinning when trying to get unstuck but it's definitely livable .