225 70 R14 to 235 75 R15 issue

[racsan]

I went from a 3.45 and 225/70/14’s to 4.10’s and 255/70/15 tires. I’m 7 mph off (speedometer reads higher than ground speed) before going to the bigger tires I checked the speedometer against gps and I had the speedometer showing 70 indicated for 55 actual. With 225/70/15 ‘s (my winter tires) I hit the rev limiter at 81 mph actual. Speedometer was way past the end of its range, may have been into the 90’s if it had been made to show that far. I’ve ran 235/75/15’s with the 4.10 gearing and it’s not too bad, it’s the same diameter as the 255/70/15’s I run now, just not as wide. My 4.10 rear end came from a ‘98 2wd 4cyl automatic shortbed. Paid $200 for it. Put new seals, gear oil, wheel cylinders and a brake spring kit in it and made new brake line for it. It’s a upgrade well worth it. My speedometer is still off, I’ve never bothered trying to get the right cable gear, since my winter tires and summer tires are different sizes, I’d have to change that every time. I just get used to “67” being “55”. I like to drive fast so it being off gives me the illusion I’m going faster than I am. Only been stopped for speeding once, and I knew damn well I was speeding at the time.

 

[don4331]

Been following this and now I have to ask...your 97 2.3 is a 4 gear, no? 5? I have a 98 XLT 2.4 autom. I always thought was a 4 gear after reading around that's it's a 4 gear tranny. Now am confused ?? Please someone clarify.

Jay:

Do you have a '98 as per this post? Or '96 as per your signature??

'96 should have a 2.3l Lima engine with 4R44E transmission, i.e. 4 speed. If you want to get real technical, the 4R44E is 3 speed transmission + OD

1st, 2nd, direct, direct + OD for the 4 speeds​

'98 should have a 2.5l Lima engine with 5R44E transmission, i.e. 5 speed. If you want to get real technical, the 5R44E is 3 speed transmission + OD; the OD is just applied in 2 points.

1st, 1st + OD, 2nd, direct, direct + OD for the 5 speeds.​

 

[Denisefwd93]

And y'all do realize? this is all for the perceived "need" to have "big" tires?

My beast has 3.27 diffs. The 31s. Didn't seem to affect anything even the speedometer was close to correct. but after almost two weeks of running on the smaller tires (235s) I'm pleased beyond smiles!

 

[Ranger850]

IMHO, this is the same conversation as the Cold Air Intake. I mean, they actually give a unremovable sticker in the door jam that tells you what size tires are to go onto that specific truck. ANY deviation, maybe besides width, maybe not, from that tire size will effect? affect? the way that truck performs. PERIOD.

 

[scotts90ranger]

True, but what's the fun in having 24" tires? I've had a whole slew of tire sizes over the years in everything I've had... Ranger came with 195 75 14 tires when I got it in '99 with a 3.08:1 rear diff which did fine but I wanted to do more offroad and that size was useless with the cheap tires I put on it... I then found some other wheels and got some 235 70 15 tires, with the 3.08 diff that combo worked ok but was hard on the clutch and 5th was useless and the speedo was off... then came my $5 3.73:1 axle, ran that for a while and was a good match. Then I put the body and engine on a 4x4 frame with 31" tires and 4.10:1 gears which was decent as well. Ran that til the lift, 35" tires and 5.13:1 gears... My Tracker came with 25" tires and 5.13:1 gears, went up to 27" tires and it's a better match. Sploder had 235 70 17's on it when I got it, went to 31x10.50 15's and it's better other than the tires being cupped and noisy...