Wheels & Tires Semi-Tech General discussion of wheels and tires for the Ford Ranger.

Running a bigger tire on one side?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 10-06-2010
seed60's Avatar
RF Veteran
Thread Starter
iTrader: (15)
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Mooresville, NC
Posts: 5,584
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Running a bigger tire on one side?

My spare has not seen a mile. My other tires are wore pretty good. Would running a 35 with say a 33 on the other side in the rear hurt me? 8.8 limited slip.
 

Last edited by seed60; 10-07-2010 at 07:33 AM.
  #2  
Old 10-06-2010
TrndAssassin's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Lafayette Indiana
Posts: 375
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
with the limited slip I'd say yes...one tires going to spin faster then the other...= gear munching time!
 
  #3  
Old 10-06-2010
evilclown312's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Logan ohio
Posts: 2,772
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Yes
 
  #4  
Old 10-06-2010
TheStig88's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Columbia, Missouri
Posts: 2,120
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 2 Posts
be ready to buy some replacement gears....
 
  #5  
Old 10-06-2010
Red_Ak_Ranger's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 17,221
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
that big of a change yes.
 
  #6  
Old 10-07-2010
Fx4wannabe01's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (23)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Boring, Oregon
Posts: 21,721
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
I'd say he's good to go if it's temp. The clutches in the LS will be slipping the entire time.....it'd be like you're making a constant turn. Gears won't be hurt at all what so ever. Yeah, it's not wise to promote heavy accelerated wear to your LS clutches, but hey, you've got probably over 50k on that unit so the cluches are probably close to toast anyhow.


Ideally you'd want that way off diameter tire on the front where it's open and not LS.
 
  #7  
Old 10-07-2010
seed60's Avatar
RF Veteran
Thread Starter
iTrader: (15)
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Mooresville, NC
Posts: 5,584
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Fx4wannabe01
I'd say he's good to go if it's temp. The clutches in the LS will be slipping the entire time.....it'd be like you're making a constant turn. Gears won't be hurt at all what so ever. Yeah, it's not wise to promote heavy accelerated wear to your LS clutches, but hey, you've got probably over 50k on that unit so the cluches are probably close to toast anyhow.


Ideally you'd want that way off diameter tire on the front where it's open and not LS.
Yeah, the ls is not that tight. I figured if I swapped them side to side every once in a while it would be alright.

I've always heard running different sizes on the front is a big no-no. Also I've got the aussie up front so I don't even want to mess with that.

I'm just trying to use this tire before it gets dry rotted from just sitting around.
 
  #8  
Old 10-07-2010
FULLSCALE's Avatar
Level III Supporter
iTrader: (12)
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Clinton, Ontario
Posts: 8,184
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
You should be able to sell it pretty easily... lots of people would be interested in a 33" spare (I'm looking for one... lol) Then I'm sure you could pick up a good used 35.
 
  #9  
Old 10-07-2010
ranger4.0's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: cambridge, ontario
Posts: 3,922
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
do not run different sized tires on your truck, front or rear PERIOD! even with an open diff it can do damage... it will take a while tho. running it as a spare in a pinch is ok but dont go to long on it
 
  #10  
Old 10-07-2010
Fx4wannabe01's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (23)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Boring, Oregon
Posts: 21,721
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
How it can do damage is beyond me...even on an open stick axle. It just doesn't make sense at all. Clutch LS...Don't see how it'll do any harm but add alot of undo slipping on the clutches.



But....why Matt wants to run a tire just to run it before it gets weather baked is beyond me as well. Why bother?
 
  #11  
Old 10-07-2010
ranger4.0's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: cambridge, ontario
Posts: 3,922
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
you are constantly putting the power to one side of the axle which will put unwanted stress on the assembly
 
  #12  
Old 10-07-2010
camodown's Avatar
Lost in Nowhere
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Midland, TX
Posts: 5,022
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
buy one new tire then run your spare and the new one. Then you can use your wore tires for spares.

done, no problems
 
  #13  
Old 10-07-2010
blueranger789's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Boiling Springs, SC
Posts: 619
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by camodown
buy one new tire then run your spare and the new one. Then you can use your wore tires for spares.

done, no problems
says above his spare is a 33, and hes running 35s, wouldnt make sense to put two 33s and two 35s unless he wants a sorta dragster look
 
  #14  
Old 10-07-2010
buckgnarly's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (11)
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: West Topsham, VT
Posts: 1,709
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by ranger4.0
do not run different sized tires on your truck, front or rear PERIOD! even with an open diff it can do damage... it will take a while tho. running it as a spare in a pinch is ok but dont go to long on it
You are absolutely correct on this....while I was in Iraq, my wife had a flat and ran the smaller 29" with the 31s that were on it. She neglected to get the tire fixed right away.... After probably about 50-60 miles total, the rear began to smoke, real bad. She took it to a shop and they swapped the fluid and checked the insides for her. No damage, but the fluid was TOAST. That was an open 4.10 28 spline 8.8 with Scamsoil in it.

If you have two different tires, one side will be constantly spinning faster than the other in teh carrier, hence the buildup of heat. It can get you home, but driving fast and far is not a good idea.
 
  #15  
Old 10-07-2010
elementsenjoi's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: 352 Florida
Posts: 1,303
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 11 Posts
Originally Posted by ranger4.0
you are constantly putting the power to one side of the axle which will put unwanted stress on the assembly
How? If you go around spinning the smaller tire all the time sure, but otherwise no. There would be no ill affects other than wearing clutches.


Originally Posted by buckgnarly
If you have two different tires, one side will be constantly spinning faster than the other in teh carrier, hence the buildup of heat.
This however is true, it would get hot.


Is it really a 33 or just a worn 35?
 
  #16  
Old 10-08-2010
seed60's Avatar
RF Veteran
Thread Starter
iTrader: (15)
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Mooresville, NC
Posts: 5,584
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
But....why Matt wants to run a tire just to run it before it gets weather baked is beyond me as well. Why bother?
Why not. It's like new and I'd like to use it rather than let it go bad.

Is it really a 33 or just a worn 35?
Wore down 35.


buy one new tire then run your spare and the new one. Then you can use your wore tires for spares.

done, no problems
That's the plan, that or sell it and get a a cheap spare. I've been looking just haven't found anything yet.
 
  #17  
Old 10-08-2010
ranger4.0's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: cambridge, ontario
Posts: 3,922
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
which tire do you think is going to recieve the power? a heavy 35 or a smaller and slightly lighter 33? the smaller tire will always get the power because it weighs less. and yes it is always going to be turning faster. that means the bigger tire will always be moving slower so power will go to the wheel spinning faster.

this is how an open diff works. same principle as when one tire is spinning... spinning tire is the only tire getting any power, basically the same thing driving down the road. its like your always doing a one wheel burnout
 
  #18  
Old 10-09-2010
elementsenjoi's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: 352 Florida
Posts: 1,303
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 11 Posts
Originally Posted by ranger4.0
which tire do you think is going to receive the power? a heavy 35 or a smaller and slightly lighter 33? the smaller tire will always get the power because it weighs less. and yes it is always going to be turning faster. that means the bigger tire will always be moving slower so power will go to the wheel spinning faster.
I'm not sure that your logic makes sense. The only thing that the size and weight affects besides the speed of the rotation of the tire is the amount of traction that the tire has. If he doesn't take off like at bat out of hell and spin the smaller tire then there is nothing to worry about when it come to the power balance between the two drive wheels.
 
  #19  
Old 10-09-2010
ranger4.0's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: cambridge, ontario
Posts: 3,922
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by elementsenjoi
I'm not sure that your logic makes sense. The only thing that the size and weight affects besides the speed of the rotation of the tire is the amount of traction that the tire has. If he doesn't take off like at bat out of hell and spin the smaller tire then there is nothing to worry about when it come to the power balance between the two drive wheels.
everytime you take off the smaller wheel is going to receive the power from the diff because it is already spinning faster due to its obvious smaller diameter. the smaller tire will be easier to turn... makes perfect sense
 
  #20  
Old 01-12-2011
seed60's Avatar
RF Veteran
Thread Starter
iTrader: (15)
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Mooresville, NC
Posts: 5,584
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ended up getting a flat and had to use my spare. So I figured I'd measure the tires. The spare, which is a new 35, measures about 34 1/2". The worn tire measures about 33 3/4".

So maybe an inch of difference at the most. Will that little of a difference really matter?
 
  #21  
Old 01-24-2011
BlackRanger04's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Louisville,KY
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 1 Post
Dayton Timberline A/T P255/70R16 tires

I ran a Dayton Timberline A/T P255/70R16 tire with my 16" Continental full size spare on the rear for a few miles. Do you think I did I did any damage to the gears?
 

Last edited by BlackRanger04; 01-24-2011 at 06:17 PM.
  #22  
Old 01-24-2011
zak873's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: southcarolina
Posts: 1,108
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
chicken and bacon.
 

Last edited by zak873; 01-24-2011 at 06:29 PM.
  #23  
Old 01-24-2011
ridin434's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
Very doubtful any damage was done...
 
  #24  
Old 01-25-2011
BlackRanger04's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Louisville,KY
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 1 Post
Thanks for answering my question ... I feel much better now
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ELCouz
General Technical & Electrical
11
02-27-2014 05:47 AM
surfallday808
Wheels & Tires Semi-Tech
1
09-30-2010 09:32 PM
mobileaudio219
General Ford Ranger Discussion
9
10-12-2008 08:18 PM



Quick Reply: Running a bigger tire on one side?



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:55 PM.