A local seller is selling firestone wilderness at's on 15" wheels for $150. Will they fit without mods?

They are 28.8" tires when the current tires are 26.7" tires.

I figure for $150, I see it as a purchase for a set of 15" rims.

~$40/wheel.

That way, I reason to myself that the tires are free...if they fit, great. If they don't fit, then the wheels (which I was going to buy eventually) will get mounted w' bfg all-terrain ta's under a 2-3" body lift and I can sell off the 235's, or keep them as spares.

Thoughts? Input?

 

look here for pics of my 86 with 2" lift and 235/75/15's

https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ad.php?t=30228

 

do you know if clearances on the wheel well clearances are the same on the '86 and the '91?

at www.therangeerstation.com, they said the biggest I could go without a lift is 225/75/15...and that's conservative. However, it doesn't sound all that much asmaller than a 235/75. So I haven't quite figured out what to do.

 

i havent owned a 91. i had that 86, and an 89, and the wheel openings looked the same to me. dunno for sure, never actually measured to see any differences.

*edit. well i went back and looked at some more pics of my 89 and it seems that the front wheel openin is slightly larger than the 86's due to the bumper wrapin around the fender.
you may get those tires in there as 04 EDGE says. they arent much larger at all than a 225/75/15.

 

Ok, they're on there now and this is what I noticed:

-the clearance in the rear looks fine while the truck is sitting or while it's moving because the tires don't look like they'd rub on the wheel well sheet metal. There's also enough space within the wheel well for suspension travel (assuming you're not carrying all that much in the bed)
-the clearance on the front is much less (while the truck is sitting) because there is ~1-2" between the tire and the wheel well sheet metal
-at parking lot speeds, the front left tire rubs the black plastic part of the fender around 3/4 of a turn of the steering wheel before lock to the left...but that piece is flexible, and looks like it can either be pulled back or trimmed
-at parking lot speeds, I don't there was any rubbing on the right side
-at a standstill, with the steering wheel at lock to the right side, there is ~3/4" of clearance between the tire and the wheel well sheet metal

I haven't tried bombing around tight turns at high speeds, but it looks like I'll be able to drive around with these tires without any modifications. I just can't take turns with the wheel cut too far in fear of rubbing the tire against the wheel well's sheet metal, and I can't go full lock when turning left.

Otherwise, it's ok.

As for looks, it really just makes the truck go from looking weenie, to looking normal. Not that it matters, but Ford could've made a good looking truck if they added ~3/4" to 1" of extra clearance and made the 235/75/15 a stock tire size for all 88-92 2wd rangers.

It's too dark for pics today, so hopefully I can get one by tomorrow.

 

to dark? where do you live what state?

i am in cali and it is still sunny out and it is 3:40pm

 

you really want to see, eh?

naah...in MA it gets dark ~5pm...

How about this? I'll throw out a teaser which shows the BEFORE using stock 215/74/14 tires (26.6" tall).



The AFTER picture (with the 28.8" tires) will come by tomorrow.

 

As promised...



(btw if you can't see any of these pictures, it's because they're off my webspace...PM me to see)

So does anyone think this looks better?

And lastly, I did a quick google and these tires got adequate/poor ratings in the rain, fair ratings in dry weather, but good ratings in snow. I figure I can probably skip the bfg all terrain for winter and just use these if they're already good for snow.

 

looks better. add a leveling coil and you will be all set!

 

wow, i might just look for a pair that size, if i dont get the crown vic.

looks good, leveling coil cost about $140 from summit, but the ttb needs a drop bracket which is another 150 at best.

nice gen1 wheels

 

leveling coil?

Why would I need one? Is it to match the front height with the rear height (for cosmetic reasons)? Is it supposed to give me the extra wheel clearance in the front (for functional reasons)? Or both?

If it's just cosmetic, I'm not sure I really want to do that, because come winter I'll have a couple hundred pounds of sand over the rear wheels causing it to sag.

Wouldn't adding a leveling coil with sand bags make the back look like it's broken or just sagging a lot?

Oh and thanks for the comments...

 

my friend looked at them today and said, "Nice! Now it looks like a truck!"

They're starting to grow on me...