New tires

[LilRed89]

I have a beautifully restored 1989 XLT 2wd extended cab. My current rims are restored stock 14 artillery wheels with Firstone raised white letters. They are P205-70R-14 and have less than 1000 miles on them as I only take the truck to shows and cruises. I really like the original wheels but no one make a decent 14 tire and mine are now 9 years old.

Firestone has a 15 inch P 215 ROWL and Tire rack has a 12 hole aluminum modular wheel that is very close to the optional 1989 Ford rim. My concern is cleareance as the truck is stock and I don’t want to raise or cut anything. Suggestions welcome.

 

[Grumpaw]

Easiest way to find out how much height you will gain is to go to the Firestone web site and get the diameter of the tire your looking at. Then find out the diameter of your 14 inch 205/70/14 tire. take the difference and divide it by 2. That will give you approx. how much height you'll gain by going to the larger 15 inch tire..
205/70/14 is approx 25 1/2 inches (depending on tire make)
215/70/15 is approx 27 inches (depending on make)
Difference is about 1 1/2 inches, which means you will gain about 3/4 inch in height.
Really not enough to concern yourself with.
Grumpaw

 

[LilRed89]

Easiest way to find out how much height you will gain is to go to the Firestone web site and get the diameter of the tire your looking at. Then find out the diameter of your 14 inch 205/70/14 tire. take the difference and divide it by 2. That will give you approx. how much height you'll gain by going to the larger 15 inch tire..
205/70/14 is approx 25 1/2 inches (depending on tire make)
215/70/15 is approx 27 inches (depending on make)
Difference is about 1 1/2 inches, which means you will gain about 3/4 inch in height.
Really not enough to concern yourself with.
Grumpaw

Thanks

 

[pjtoledo]

did you try Coker Tire? expensive, they have red striped in your size.

where in Ohio are you?

I have a set of 15 x 6 standard steel from my 2005.

 

[LilRed89]

Its actually a 215 75 15, So I'm jumping up to a 15, from 205 to a 215 and from a 70 to a 75 sidewall. Any ideas on how that will affect the fit?

 

[Josh B]

Nice looking truck

 

[LilRed89]

Thanks! Its unbelievable how much attention it gets at shows. There aren't any stock Rangers left here in Ohio that haven't returned to the earth. Ive tried to use mostly NOS parts on its restoration.
It has a very interesting Marti report as well, 1 of 5 made in 1989.

 

[RangerFabWorks]

https://www.discounttiredirect.com/buy-tires/bfgoodrich-radial-t-a/p/38345

 

[LilRed89]

I have seen those, Summit carries them also. I was hoping to stick with FIRESTONES. But that would mean moving up to the 15 inch size.

 

[Josh B]

Anything you can share about finding NOS for the older Rangers?

 

[LilRed89]

Green Sales in Cincinnati OH, and of course eBay

 

[shorangerbird]

what makes it the one of five?

 

[LilRed89]

The trim, it’s a 60/40 bench factory vinyl.