14-inch tires

[tmcalavy]

Question: Is 225X70X14 the tallest tire available for the 14-inch wheels on my 93 Ranger XLT supercab? I know...I know...go to 15-inch wheels and I will next year when money isn't as tight. I'm gonna have to at least replace the rear rubber before then...I don't go trail or rock-hopping, strictly a pavement driver who occasionally ventures off onto rural roads for work purposes or to haul firewood back to the house.
The truck is 2WD, auto with 3.0 V6...I just replaced the dead 3.45 differential with a 3.73 if that makes any difference. I'm in the deep South so most of the big tire chains...Discount Tire, etc., are not an option.

 

[brother rat]

General Tire makes a 27" R14 Grabber. It's gonna be pretty close to the same size as the 225/70, maybe slightly taller. I believe that is the most aggressive tire available for 14" wheels. You can find it on tirerack.com

 

[AgPete139]

Yes, that P225 is the best option you have on the 14" wheels. If you are going to move up next year, dont worry about the best tire right now anyways.

I'm in the South, and there are plenty of Discount Tires and other retail chains in Texas. Mom & Pop shops can order any tire you want. Just do some research and look for which tire is doable.

I would go to a junkyard and get Explorer rims. They are all stock 15", look good, and you can upgrade then.

Also, if you go numerically "higher" in gearing (ie: from 3.45 to 3.73 gear ratio), you are making it slightly earlier to move those tires and get better highway miles. With large tires a a low gearing, your in-town mpg will decrease.

Get these rims, that originally come from the Explorers (teardrops):

 

[tmcalavy]

Thanks for the help. I'll start looking for Explorer rims, meantime guess I have some driving/shopping to do...I'm in NE Miss not far from the 'Bama line and new to the area, so I don't have a lot of stuff scoped out just yet.

 

[fix_or_repair_daily]

Another option is to go with 205 75 14. They are the exact same height of the 225 70 14, just not quite as wide. They are easier to find and cheaper too. That's what I'm running right now. I got two basically new studded winter tires for $50 at a flea market for the rear, and went to Wally World and got two cheap all seasons for the front.

 

[doorgunner]

Like they said.....if you're going to upgrade in a year, buy the cheapest tires that you can get in the meantime!
I went to 15" rims and put some good tires on after I modified the truck completely just to make sure they fit perfectly.

 

[upnsmoke]

If you can afford to wait around a little, it may be worth checking around craigslist and junkyards. I bought a set of four 15x7 alloys with 31 10.5s that had decent tread from the junkyard for $230. The tires got me around for two years before they got cracked up enough to make me nervous (they were a little old when I got them). Just about a month ago I bought 5 michelins, 4 worn and 1 unused, mounted on 6 lug wheels for $100 on craigslist. I mounted the tires on my rims and one junkyard steel rim I paid $20 for, then sold the 6 lug rims for $140. I mounted and balanced the tires I bought on my rims myself, so I actually came out a little ahead on the deal, especially since I have a full size spare now. The four worn tires should have enough tread to get me through the snow this winter and through the rest of next year as long as I don't do any significant off roading.

If your current tires are really dead you may just have to pay up for new tires, but as long as you take decent care of them you should be able to sell them if/when you go 15" to offset the cost a little.