Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and 
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2018
- Messages
- 183
- Points
- 601
- City
- MKE, WI
- Vehicle Year
- 2011
- Engine
- 2.3 (4 Cylinder)
- Transmission
- Manual
- Total Lift
- stock
- Total Drop
- stock
- Tire Size
- stock
My experience with 2 different Rangers, both with the Duratec 2.3, one a 5-speed regular cab (3/73 rear end), the other (current) a 4-speed auto super cab (4.10), is that 235/75r15 is tolerable ONLY if you have the 5-speed and a regular cab. Anything bigger than that and 5th gear is useless; you'll be constantly downshifting to hold speed on any kind of grade, and slipping the clutch way more just to get it moving.
On the auto, forget it, anything bigger than 225/75r15 sucks. I run that size in winter tires, and while it's acceptable, the truck feels way peppier when I put the 225/70r15s on in springtime. Stock tire size is easier on your clutch and just about everything else. IMO you made the right choice erring on the side of smaller. Let the 2WD pickups be 2WD pickups; no need to flex or prove anything. My kid brother had a '93 with the Lima engine, a 5-speed, and some really tiny tires on 14" rims, and that thing did just fine getting to backcountry campsites on Northern Michigan fire roads. You'll be fine on gravel.
On the auto, forget it, anything bigger than 225/75r15 sucks. I run that size in winter tires, and while it's acceptable, the truck feels way peppier when I put the 225/70r15s on in springtime. Stock tire size is easier on your clutch and just about everything else. IMO you made the right choice erring on the side of smaller. Let the 2WD pickups be 2WD pickups; no need to flex or prove anything. My kid brother had a '93 with the Lima engine, a 5-speed, and some really tiny tires on 14" rims, and that thing did just fine getting to backcountry campsites on Northern Michigan fire roads. You'll be fine on gravel.
