FX4 Tire Size Question......I did search!!!!!

[fitn217]

I think I read every thread in this section and still can't find what I'm looking for.
I have a 2004 FX4 with 245 75 16's. My Ranger is a daily driver. I don't really take it offroad...just maybe on the beach once a year and in the snow during ski season. I plan on putting some Ranchos on and will get new tires...but before I do I need some info.
I'm planning on raising my front end about an inch via torsion bar twist....to even it out a bit.
I've read here that some have put 265 75 16's on their Rangers but experience some rubbing.
What's the biggest tire size you've put on that doesn't rub. How is the driveability affected by the larger tire size? Does it still feel as torquey?

I'm looking for the same feel and fuel economy if thats possible ....not looking to lose anything.....with a bit more space of the wheel well taken up.......what do you suggest?

 

[JohnnyO]

I had 265/70-16's on my old 2002 Ranger with a torsion twist and they didn't rub anything anywhere. Same width but a wee bit shorter than a 265/75-16.

 

[Toms01PSD]

265/75R16's WILL fit on your truck with absloutely NO RUBBING. You won't even have to adjust your torsion bars. At full lock for a u-turn my tires rub the very edge of the rubber flap that "protects" the engine because the pop-pins came out. If I zip tied it back it wouldn't rub at all. Depending on your gears, you will lose some acceleration because of bigger tires. Also, you will lose some gas mileage. I did anyway.

 

[Chris.S.]

My 265/75/16's rub the sway bar at full turn but you don't even notice when you're driving and they fit very nicely with a 2" tt, you should be able to fit them with a 1" tt as well.

BUT

Going from stock size (about 29.5") to a larger size (about 31.5") I did lose fuel economy (down to about 13.5-14mpg) and my 3.73 gears are a bit too tall, I could really use 4.10's but that's not critical.

The drop in fuel economy was instantly very noticeable but along with changing size I was going to mud tire which has a higher rolling resistance. the difference might not be so extreme if you're using an a/t.

 

[Toms01PSD]

Yours rub your sway bar? Really? Mine don't...and I didn't twist my torsion bars either.

 

[JohnnyO]

Some Rangers came set up higher than others. Also in 2006 Ford started building all of them lower, even with lower blocks on the rear. My '99 Ranger sat level and looked high, my '02 was lower in front and the stock tires rubbed the inner fenders at full lock.

 

[Chris.S.]

Yours rub your sway bar? Really? Mine don't...and I didn't twist my torsion bars either.

Just barely, like I said only at full lock and you don't notice it at all when driving-I only know because of low speed driving (you can hear/feel it if you listen) and seeing the marks it has left on my swaybar. Not a big deal at all, and I'm running the Toyo M/T's which have a very aggressive side lug.

 

[Hahnsb2]

If you want the same economy and driving feel, leave it alone!

 

[fitn217]

Well what I'm planning on doing is going with the 265 75 16's......either Revo's, BFG's A/T's or Firestone destination at's....whatever is the lowest price I can get em at.
I also plan on getting a tuner like Bama tuner or somethin....I'm hoping that the custom made tune will fix the fuel economy issues....and any different driveability issues.

I guess I'll find out and see....and report my findings

 

[Fx4wannabe01]

Here...take advice from someone who's done it...


265/75R16 DO NOT RUB ANYTHING on stock 16x7" wheels. OP has 4.10s already, so he's good to go. I saw my best mileage on my truck with 4.10s and 32's. So dont tell me mileage will go for the worse....it'll be a little less in city, but on the highway it gets better than before. Bigger tires change the effective final drive ratio of the truck....makes it higher(lower number).

Some Rangers came set up higher than others. Also in 2006 Ford started building all of them lower, even with lower blocks on the rear. My '99 Ranger sat level and looked high, my '02 was lower in front and the stock tires rubbed the inner fenders at full lock.

2008 is when Ford put 1.5" blocks in the back and clocked the keys to lower the trucks approx 1.5-2" from 2007 and earlier models.

 

[JohnnyO]

2008 is when Ford put 1.5" blocks in the back and clocked the keys to lower the trucks approx 1.5-2" from 2007 and earlier models.

Thank you, I stand corrected.

 

[Toms01PSD]

Here...take advice from someone who's done it...265/75R16 DO NOT RUB ANYTHING on stock 16x7" wheels.

I have done it, just like half the people on this site. I wouldn't give him a half assed answer. He may not see a big change with acceleration and gas mileage because he has 4.10's. I have 3.73's and I noticed quite a difference.

 

[Chris.S.]

Here...take advice from someone who's done it...
265/75R16 DO NOT RUB ANYTHING on stock 16x7" wheels. OP has 4.10s already, so he's good to go. I saw my best mileage on my truck with 4.10s and 32's. So dont tell me mileage will go for the worse....it'll be a little less in city, but on the highway it gets better than before. Bigger tires change the effective final drive ratio of the truck....makes it higher(lower number).

Are you calling me a liar? Or did you only only read half my post and then decide you knew better than me?

 

[Beanmachine7000]

Well what I'm planning on doing is going with the 265 75 16's......either Revo's, BFG's A/T's or Firestone destination at's....whatever is the lowest price I can get em at.
I also plan on getting a tuner like Bama tuner or somethin....I'm hoping that the custom made tune will fix the fuel economy issues....and any different driveability issues.

I guess I'll find out and see....and report my findings

I will be the first to recommend Firestone Destination AT's, I have had them on my BII and Explorer and they are great on the highway, quiet, no vibrations, and they are really good offroad (for an AT)...

 

[krugford]

I'm running 265/75R16s on my 2003 FX4. I also raised the front about an inch to help level the truck out. The only place I rubbed was on the front bumper (that I built) on a hard bounce in the front because I had built the bumper with the old tires on...

I'm also running a set of Cragar Soft 8s 16x8" if that helps.