06 4WD Ranger wheel and tire fitment

[sgtsandman]

Yeah, the '11 got 16's as an option to "modernize" it, even though it was considered a legacy chassis by then. They didn't change gearing, just ran lower profile tires to stay close. Apparently the speedometer accuracy is just a general guideline and not an end goal. I have learned a lot about that kind of stuff lately.

Rabbit holes...

Most manufacturers set their vehicles up so the speedometer reads about 2 -3 mph faster than you are really going. They say it helps reduce the chances of getting a ticket for speeding.

I think it's more for giving them more flexibility in tire sizes for different trim packages. The later Rangers came with 29", 30", and 31" actual size or metric size equivalent tires.

I forget what the inch size is for the 225/70R15 tires on the RWD Rangers is. Probably 28"

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

I forget what the inch size is for the 225/70R15 tires on the RWD Rangers is. Probably 28"

Yeah, they're 28".

 

[SenorNoob]

You wanna really have some fun. Look up specs of the actual tire you're considering running. There are quite few cases of being an inch smaller than advertised on the sidewall.

I remember one (Kenda maybe) listing for a 30x9.5R15 being exactly the same dimension under the same air pressure as the 235/75R15 at 28.9in.

 

[sgtsandman]

What Senior Noob says is true, the tire size on the side wall is only a general reference. The actual tire diameter can vary quite bit from tire maker to tire maker and even from one model to another.

In extreme examples, there was a tire at one point that was different within the same tire line. It was made for one specific vehicle and was different enough in diameter that a member on a Honda SUV forum I belonged to had a heck of a time figuring out why he was having rear differential issues. Once it was figured out that there was a mismatched tire mixed in with a different model number, the problem was fixed. The brand, model line, and size on the sidewall was otherwise identical to the other three or four tires (I can't remember if he had a matching spare or not).

If you have open differentials or a locker, the tire size difference won't make much of a difference, if any, but as soon as there is a limited slip differential thrown into the mix, things can get real detail oriented.

 

[cmcolfax]

Most manufacturers set their vehicles up so the speedometer reads about 2 -3 mph faster than you are really going. They say it helps reduce the chances of getting a ticket for speeding.

I think it's more for giving them more flexibility in tire sizes for different trim packages. The later Rangers came with 29", 30", and 31" actual size or metric size equivalent tires.

I forget what the inch size is for the 225/70R15 tires on the RWD Rangers is. Probably 28"

The 265/75/16 Coopers that I ran on my my factory 16's measured out to +/- 32*10.50
The did "fill" the wheel wells better, rubbed a little bit at full lock.

I (for the first time) have actually put a SMALLER tire on a truck that I own.
I swapped on 15" Jeep Gambler wheels with some generic 31*10.50 MT's

They DEFINITELY look smaller too!
They make the truck look "smaller" but I suspect some of that is the "Ranger lean" and that it's a 2011 and Ford had lowered it in the name of "fuel economy"

I needed to add 2" spacers (Titan) to make up for the completely different backspacing, the inner lugs rub it tiny bit at full lock, but again I think a little of that is the aggressive tread.

 

[sgtsandman]

The 265/75/16 Coopers that I ran on my my factory 16's measured out to +/- 32*10.50
The did "fill" the wheel wells better, rubbed a little bit at full lock.

I (for the first time) have actually put a SMALLER tire on a truck that I own.
I swapped on 15" Jeep Gambler wheels with some generic 31*10.50 MT's

They DEFINITELY look smaller too!
They make the truck look "smaller" but I suspect some of that is the "Ranger lean" and that it's a 2011 and Ford had lowered it in the name of "fuel economy"

I needed to add 2" spacers (Titan) to make up for the completely different backspacing, the inner lugs rub it tiny bit at full lock, but again I think a little of that is the aggressive tread.

I bought some 2007 Ford Ranger torsion bar keys and axle block so that 31X10.5R15s wouldn't rub horribly on my 2011. There is a bit of rub on the sway bar where it curves back after exiting the frame mount brackets. Nothing noisy, it's just there.

The rims are the aluminum ones that came with the truck. So, I didn't need spacers.

I did trim the driver's side inner fender liner some, but that was before I installed the 2007 keys and blocks. So, that may not have been needed.

 

[cmcolfax]

I bought some 2007 Ford Ranger torsion bar keys and axle block so that 31X10.5R15s wouldn't rub horribly on my 2011. There is a bit of rub on the sway bar where it curves back after exiting the frame mount brackets. Nothing noisy, it's just there.

The rims are the aluminum ones that came with the truck. So, I didn't need spacers.

I did trim the driver's side inner fender liner some, but that was before I installed the 2007 keys and blocks. So, that may not have been needed.

Those are the OE 16's.
The 31's only clip the inside at full steering lock, but so did the 265's.
I'm still searching for a set of pre-07 rear blocks. Have had zero time to go parts hunting at the junkyard.
Even after I put the little bit of lift/level in it I'mma run the 31's unless I stumble on a great deal on some 33*10.50's