Getting extra power

[Dirtman]

Your missing the point... 15" is the wheel size not the tire size. Wheel size has no effect on the gearing/performance. You can switch to 15" wheels and use tires with the same outer diameter and nothing will change. A 28 inch tire is a 28 inch tire no matter what rim its on.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Just switch to 15's... keep the tire diameter close to what you have with the 14's. You will be fine.

I said the first time you showed us your truck... Black modulars would look nice on it.

Boom...

https://www.amazon.com/American-Racing-Custom-Wheels-5x114-3mm/dp/B00R943I8G/?tag=959media-20

 

[OldMan2]

Your missing the point... 15" is the wheel size not the tire size. Wheel size has no effect on the gearing/performance. You can switch to 15" wheels and use tires with the same outer diameter and nothing will change. A 28 inch tire is a 28 inch tire no matter what rim its on.

I would have more rim and less tire.....correct? Would it look better?

 

[OldMan2]

Just switch to 15's... keep the tire diameter close to what you have with the 14's. You will be fine.

I said the first time you showed us your truck... Black modulars would look nice on it.

Boom...

https://www.amazon.com/American-Racing-Custom-Wheels-5x114-3mm/dp/B00R943I8G/?tag=959media-20

I remember when you said that. I like a little more bling than black rims. Thanks for the link. I'm not gonna jump into a change, but I will study on it a lot more. I appreciate everyone's feed back.

 

[Dirtman]

In american tire size the diameter is the diameter. 28" is 28" no matter the rim size. On metric size the sidewall is an aspect ratio so yes you would get a thinner sidewall as you move up in rim size in order to maintain the same diameter. (Which is why i hate metric tire sizes, they are confusing nonsense.)

American system a 31x10.50x15 tire is 31 inches tall, 10.5" wide, and fits a 15" rim. Nice and simple.

Metric system 235/75/15 tire is 235 millimeters wide, one half of the sidewall is 75% of the width, and the rim is 15 inches. So 15 inches plus 75% of 235 millimeters times 2 is the actual height of the tire... yea... what drunk jackass came up with that?

 

[scotts90ranger]

That and you can make up the difference and get it working right again playing with axle ratio's... If you look at your door sticker and find the axle ratio (probably either 3.08:1 or 3.45:1 as that is what they liked to put in the 4 banger Rangers with 14" wheels) and jump up one or two ratio's to 3.73:1 or 4.10:1 which should be available in junkyards you would be back to normal... a rear axle swap assuming minimal rust is an easy afternoon project on a Ranger even with no experience, it's seriously 14 bolts and some brake bleeding...

If you have say 195 75 14 tires on now which should be close (they're 25" tall roughly) and go up to a 235 70 15 tire (28" tall, they'll fit, I ran those when I was 2wd for a while) it sucked with the stock 3.08:1 gears but I swapped to a 3.73:1 axle and it was back to normal

 

[sgtsandman]

When I had my 1998 Ranger with the 2.5 Lima, it had the 14" wheels and a 3.45:1 axle. The thing struggled on hills and highways and wouldn't really get it's "legs" until it was going 65 - 70 mph. Changing the rear axle to a 4.10:1 I bought from a junk yard made a world of difference and did not affect the mpg at all since the engine was always over worked and struggling before and, thus hurt the fuel economy.

As far as wheels and tires, 235/75R15 or 235/70R15 might be a bit tall. Quite a few Rangers came with 225/70R15 tires and those seem to be a good match and there are still plenty of choices out there for that size unlike the original 225/70R14s that came on my '98.

 

[OldMan2]

My tires are 215/70R14. The door sticker says: Axle 82. Spring 35

 

[sgtsandman]

My tires are 215/70R14. The door sticker says: Axle 82. Spring 35

It looks like from my previous reading the tires ranged in size over time and package options. Mine was apparently some kind of wheel & tire option package.

 

[Dirtman]

Its been said i think... but those old 14" small tire trucks had terrible axle ratios. 3:08 or 3:54. My 2.3 has 4.10 gears and i drive 90% around town so im actually gonna switch to 4:56. What you do with the truck matters alot. All highway at 75... keep that ratio, around town, drop it.

 

[Uncle Gump]

82 = 7.5 open diff... 3.08 gear

 

[OldMan2]

215/70R14 tires have a diameter of 25.9", a section width of 8.5", and a wheel diameter of 14". The circumference is 81.2" and they have 781 revolutions per mile.

82 = 7.5 open diff... 3.08 gear (thanks Uncle Gump)

Looks like I need a different gear for daily driver and best performance. Am I correct? See link below.

Gear Ratio & RPM Guide For Larger Tires - The Ranger Station

This Gear Ratio & RPM Guide will enable you to see how many RPM's your engine will turn based on gear ratio and tire size.

therangerstation.com

 

[sgtsandman]

Yes.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I would say... 3.73... 225/70/15 and a set of 15x7 wheels.

There are a bunch of 8.8 3.73 Limited Slips out there to be had and a 27.5 inch tire. I think that would put you right in the good stuff.

Edit... I meant to say 7.5... Seems I've had a few of those.

 

[OldMan2]

So if I am thinking right, the door axle code would be 96 per this chart.

Ford 7.5 & 8.8 Inch Axle Tag & Door Codes

therangerstation.com