So is there any advantages of running a bigger tire, other than they look better. Is there any real advantage off-road with a bigger tire over stock? I am looking at prices of tires and really would like to justify going to 31" tire over a stock 235/75/R15. Discuss. Oh yeah I am pretty set on some General Grabber AT2 at the moment, and new to 4x4's in general.

1999 Ford Ranger 4x4 XLT Automatic

 

Really only way to get higher ground clearance in the rear.

 

Clearance. Tires are the only way to get ground clearance. The taller the tire the greater the distance from your axles to the ground, which are whats going to run into ruts, mud, and whatever else is out on the trails.

 

So how much clearance am I gaining with 31" tires over 235/75/R15's??

 

235/75s are almost 29". So your only gonna gain about an inch of clearance.

But its gonna look a hell of a lot better.

 

About a 1" lol. The 235s are 28.9" diameter. So 2" difference then divide that in 1/2 is 1". Go with 32s, it looks so much better than 31s

 

or if your feeling lucky throw some 33's on there. lol

 

Depending on the weight of the tire, you can also get better mpg at highway speeds. It's not much, but every bit helps.

 

I honestly get better gas mileage with my 285/70-17s then I do with my stock 245/75-16's Go with at least 32's dude, they look sick as hell!

 

go too big and u'll have to re-gear the diff or u'll lose alot of power
our trucks are deisgned for 30 inch tires
unless u got a 4.0 u probably dont wanna go too big
cuz ur gonna take it out to the hills and be pissed at urself cuz u cant climb a hill worth crap.

 

I get better mileage with my 32s then I did stock.

 

I really wouldn't know. Mine are still in my living room!! lol

 

04blackedge, u have 4.10 gears. so of course u can put on a bigger tire. but if ur like me with 3.73's, 32's are gettin a little too big.

 

Yeah put you don't know what the OP has for stock gears either, he could have 4.10s as well.

 

doubtful... i used to have a 1999 Ranger 4x4. it had 3.73's...
simply goin off MY experience

 

Ford does weird things, I'm just playing devils advocate

 

Yeah I have the 3.0L, but not sure on the gearing.

 

Theres a tag on your rear diff with some numbers on it, you can go get it and post what it says up here and we can tell. Being you have the 3.0 though you probably have 3.73s

 

check the door jam or the tag on the diff if its still there

or you can jsut enter your vin here

https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenance/vin_tools/


GAW!! U BEAT ME TO IT lol

 

if you guys that went to bigger tires that say you get better mileage, if you didnt recalibrate your speedo you cant accurately tell what your actual mileage is.

 

thats why you always recalibrate the speedo so that you wont have to guess at the speeds and get lots of tickets from the bubblegum machines.... any shop that has a computer can do it or if you have an x-cal

 

i went to 32's, recalibrated my speedo, running a tuner, but for 87 octane.. and i get better mileage.. but that might be the tuner.

Note: I once had ~600 lbs of cargo in my truck bed... + a 150 lb cap.. drove down to San Diego (2 hours away) averaging 70 mph, and i got 21 MPG (best ever)... Weird....

 

With a little math you can account for the change as well.

 

Got mine recallibrated. Loving my actual 22 mpg.

 

What have you done to actually get 22mpg?