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33s with stock gears


3slow98

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California
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1998
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Ford Ranger
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3.0 V6
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Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2.5
Tire Size
31
Hi guys, I’m new to the forum and still trying to figure out how it all works. I have a question for y’all. I have a 1998 4x4 with a 3.0 v6 and a 5 speed. I’m currently running 31s on my stock wheels with cranked keys. I like how it sits but I’m wanting to go up to a 33 inch tire. Can I run 33s with my stock (3.73?) gears and be fine? I’m not worried about speed but I don’t want to burn up my clutch and I wanna be able to cruise at 65-70mph on the freeway. Let me know what your thoughts are. - Scott
 


Dirtman

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It's down there.
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Round.
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It'll be pretty gutless but it will cruise at highway speeds just fine. The manual trans will help since you can just hold the gears a little longer (3.0's like to be wound up anyway).

Changing from the stock tire size to a 33" you are effectively reducing the gear ratio from 3.73:1 to 3.29:1. This is assuming the stock tires were 235/75R15 or 29".
 

sgtsandman

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Pre-2008 lift/Stock
Tire Size
31X10.5R15/265/65R17
You can do it but I don’t think you are going to like it. Especially if you live in a hilly area.
 

3slow98

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Location
California
Vehicle Year
1998
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2.5
Tire Size
31
It'll be pretty gutless but it will cruise at highway speeds just fine. The manual trans will help since you can just hold the gears a little longer (3.0's like to be wound up anyway).

Changing from the stock tire size to a 33" you are effectively reducing the gear ratio from 3.73:1 to 3.29:1. This is assuming the stock tires were 235/75R15 or 29".
Thanks for the reply. My buddy said he has an extra set of 33s on ranger wheels so I might borrow those for a couple days and see how I like it before I make a decision
 

Dirtman

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2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
It's up there.
Total Drop
It's down there.
Tire Size
Round.
My credo
I poop in the furnace.
Wise choice. I personally wouldn't run 33's with any less than 4.56 gears.
 

3slow98

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Location
California
Vehicle Year
1998
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2.5
Tire Size
31
You can do it but I don’t think you are going to like it. Especially if you live in a hilly area.
Yeah hills might be a problem. There’s a steep hill by my girlfriend’s house with a stop sign at the top. The truck already won’t start on that hill with the 31s it just lugs and stalls no matter what unless I put it in 4 low. Usually I just roll through the stop sign but one time there was a cop behind me. I had to get out and explain that my truck couldn’t start on the hill lol
 

sgtsandman

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Location
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Vehicle Year
2011/2019
Make / Model
Ranger XLT/FX4
Engine Size
4.0 SOHC/2.3 Ecoboost
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
Pre-2008 lift/Stock
Tire Size
31X10.5R15/265/65R17
My 2011 with the 4.0 SOHC, 3.73:1 gears, and 31’s doesn’t like some of the hills around here. I have to shift one down, sometimes two to keep up speed. I can only imagine what a 3.0 with 33’s and 3.73:1 would be like.
 

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