How's everyone doing ? New to the site looking for some help I have a 2000 ranger 3.0 5 speed manual transmission 2 wheel drive 31 inch tires on the truck with 3.73 gear ratio I tow a trailer everyday for work since I put the bigger tires on the truck has no power and I know the gear ratio should be adjusted for the tire size but I can't figure out what size to go with for some what decent fuel mileage and better pulling power ? I keep on seeing 4.56 gears but I don't see anyone saying they tow with there truck or drive down the highway
thanks
justin

 

Welcome to the forum

If original tire diameter was 28" with 3.73, then with 31" tires "actual" ratio was changed to 3.37

If you installed 4.10 ratio with 31" tires you would be back to 3.73 ratio

So if truck pulled trailer OK with stock tires then 4.10 would be what to use, you would be back to "normal"

If it was sluggish with 3.73 and stock tires then 4.56 would be better choice

4.10 ratio is factory installed when a "trailer package" option is ordered, better pulling power, and yes higher RPM at highway speeds so slight "hit" in MPG, but not all that much, because you use less fuel getting trailer up to speed because of better torque ratio

31" tires with 4.56 would be the same as 4.10 would be on stock size tire Ranger, so you would have the same as "trailer package" option



Now the 31" tires are themselves the biggest hit on MPG, higher stance so more wind resistance(less ground effect) plus the wider tread on the road, more friction, skinny tires are used for best MPG.
Then there is the weight, they are heavier than the stock tires, lighter is better MPG, heavier less MPG

 

Thanks for the reply looking into 4.10 gears tommroe hopefully it fixs the problem I am having with towing and driving

 

It will if you liked the performance you had with stock tires