Beating the dead horse... Tire size on a 99 4x4

[JoshT]

I know tire size has been discussed numerous times but I haven't seen the answers I'm looking for. Maybe because nobody asked, or maybe because nobody gave a straight answer. Either way I'm going to ask again and see what I get.

I'm in need of tires on my 99 Ranger 4WD. The truck is mostly used for hunting and when I need a truck bed, otherwise I have a small car I drive daily. Most of the off roading it sees is at the hunting club, which actually has pretty decent and fairly level roads, it's just got a lot of hills. There's not much suspension flexing, and about the only time 4wd is needed is after it rains and the roads are muddy, between the red mud and kaolin it get's pretty slick.

As mentioned above it is 4WD, it has 4.10 gears, and it has been leveled (within half inch) with a torsion crank. It is also running 15x8 AR Outlaw II style wheels with 3.75" back spacing. Currently it is wearing a set of worn out 31x10.5R15 tires that currently have about a 29.5" diameter, and I have about a 6" gap between the tires and the fender. I want to install a larger tire to fill up the gap, cause the 31s looked too small on the truck from the time they were new and that was before it was leveled. I like a tire that fills out the wheel well pretty well. Since I don't need a lot of flex room, I have room to make it look good. Based on Tire diameters I've found on various manufacturers sites I'm pretty sure I want a 33 inch tire, a 32 just isn't going to be enough.

I've heard from many people that a 33x10.5R15 will fit a stock 99 with no problems, but that a 12.5 is too wide and rubs. Well the only 33x10.5s I can find locally are BFG ATs and MTs, and I want to stick with an AT which leaves one option. Now I can find a lot of 33x12.5 ATs for the same price or cheaper, for well known brands. Regardless of which way I go I'm looking at about a thousand for new tires mounted and balanced, so I want them to fit and look good on the truck.

My question is why can't I run a 33x12.5? If it rubs when and where does it rub? Is it when turning, or just when flexing out?

The other question, anyone know other companies that make a 33x10.5R15 in an AT?

Sorry for the long worded post. I'd rather get the info out there first and get feedback, than have to try and explain more later.

 

[cdawall]

33X12.50's might rub turning but probably not since you have properly backspaced rims. They will however rub if you flex the hell out it on the fender flares. If you don't have fender flares they might not rub at all.

 

[JoshT]

Thanks for the reply. Yes it has flares, with mud flaps. Soon to be replaced by '03 FX4 Flares without flaps.

As said I'm not going to be flexing much. These two pictures are not of my Hunting Club, but they are representative at least 85% of the roads on it. The majority of it is well maintained logging roads, therese I'd most likely be on a four wheeler anyway.