87 stock ranger with turbine explorer 15 wheels, max tire width for front???

[corerftech]

I have four Explorer turbine wheels (1997) with 235-75R15 tires (Goodyear standard from the explorer!).
I put a pair on a non-running 87 ranger today just on the front and boy are they tall. No way when I dump a V8 in it will they clear the fenders.

The truck came with a 225-70R14 which is by all standards: 26.25 inch tall, about 9 inch wide.

A 235 60 series 15 inch tire is 26.1 tall, about 9 inch wide.

Now in my mind a soup can is a soup can is a soup can.
But I dont do the wheel thing (change them, upgrade them, etc) and my conern is the offset of the stock bullet hweel vs the Exploder turbine wheel.

Ill bet someone has tackled this and knows what the widest tire is I can get on the 15 wheel that will fit an OBS ranger.
I have little or no concerns about the rear.

As well, Id be willing to stagger the tires front to rear: I.e., LARGER than 235-60R15 on rear and 225-235 wide up front so that sterring is clear.

Appreciate the help!

 

[franklin2]

How wide is the wheel? That also limits how wide a tire you can run. Get it too wide and it just wears on the center tread. The narrow wheel pulls the sidewalls in.

 

[corerftech]

15x7 is wheel size

 

[gaz]

corerftech,

I first put 29.5x9.5r15's on my stock Ranger wheels. With no lift, I stayed away from tight turns on the driveway, as the fronts could catch a little (more noise than anything, no damage). I later installed a body lift and had no interference.

With stock wheel backspacing, 9" is probably the no interference limit.