I know you guys always have some good advice so I'm counting on some input that will help me out. I'm going to do some searches to get up to speed on new wheels and tires but I want some first-hand advice, too. My wheels are stock on my 2000 XLT 2wd Ranger and one of them seems to be warped or something. The ride is different every single time I get behind the wheel. It came from CarMax with some tire called a Sigma on it and those things, however cheap and crappy, were the best riding tire I ever had on it. I've since gone through a set of Firestone and a set of Bridgestone tires (the Bridgestones were because they support my local hockey team, heh) and the ride has been awful with both. So it might not be the tires or the wheels but I want to change both since the tires are bald and I want a bigger wheel on the truck (for more clearance).

Now since the truck is a 2wd and I don't see a lot of snow or ice in Nashville, TN, I'm wondering what type of wheel should I go with. I've checked on TireRack and the wheels in a 5 lug pattern for my Ranger all look kinda crappy but it's hard to tell without the tire mounted and without it being on the truck (yes, I've viewed them on the Ranger on TireRack but it doesn't show it on my extended cab). I want the clearance because I take the truck camping throughout the year and I change my own oil so a little lift would be ideal.

1) How much would a 17" wheel throw off my speedometer?
2) Any idea what type of wheel would look and work good for regular interstate travel?

I appreciate any advice you can offer.

 

The wheel isn't whats going to throw off the speedo. The size of the tire will. You could put a thin tire on a big rim. Here is a link to calculate the change in your speedo.

Here is a link to a VERY useful tire chart for Rangers. Has all the stock ones used. You could try and find a nice set of Alcoas that came stock on Rangers.

 

That's awesome and I appreciate all of the help/ideas I can get. I hate to go too big since it isn't 4wd because that might make it look weird...and people might ask me to help pull them out of the mud and I can't. :) My gf and I do a lot of geocaching when we go camping so I usually get WAY down in the woods and need something with a little clearance. I figure since the tires are shot and I need new ones anyway, I might as well do something that will make me happy, too!

I see the Ranger in your profile pic. Do tires that big make an awful noise when you run down the interstate at 80mph?

 

They actually are not that bad. I Can have a conversation with someone in the car at a normal volume just fine.

 

Does it cause a vibration at all? My gf gets car sick easily and I want some wheels and tires but don't want to clean up the puke!

 

For the most part no. They bounce a bit a certain speeds but overall very smooth for 35s.

 

Very cool. And you are running on 15" wheels?

 

I wonder if these are any account? I don't see any decent tires for this wheel on TireRack thought.

American Racing Outlaw II Silver Machined w/Clearcoat

 

Yup. All my info is in my Signature btw...