How do bigger tires affect regular driving shift points?

[auto117584]

I have 14" tires on my 95 B2300 and routinely carry a thousand, twelve hundred pounds in the truck. I added a heavy duty leaf in back, but the front is low. I want stiffer springs that add a couple inches of lift in front, and that allow height adjustment with washers.

And I want bigger tires, with a heavy enough capacity for a full load of 1500 pounds.

How will going from 14" rims to 16" rims affect my rpm's on shifts? I'm thinking that I'll need to stay in the lower gears longer and probably not even use my fifth gear anymore. And I'm thinking that I'll like the truck's responsiveness more, since I'll be working the lower gears more.

 

[RavoHimself]

well. if you want new coils for the front look at skyjacker. they make quality stuff. as for shifting. yes. you will want to increase the rpm at which you shift. how much depends on how much bigger of a tire you go. i know the 2.3's like to rev a bit higher so for normal shifting 2500-2700 would probably be good. but it really all depends on tire size and the gears in the axle.

 

[myranger26105]

i wouldnt go over a 29 or 30in tires on a 2.3 since you tow alot when i had my 95 with 31s i pulled a trailer with quads and i went through clutches pretty fast

 

[Heavyfire14]

i would go with 15" rims (you can use jeep rims) with 235/75r15 tires and as for the front you gan get stiffer springs (jus go to autozone and ask for 4.0 ext. cab springs) for 75 bux and stick washers under the spring to level out the truck.


i got a 2.3 (duratech) with 31s and 4.10 gears and shift at 3k and when im gettin on da freeway ill wind her out to 4000-4500rpms and sometimes even up to 5000rpms

 

[4x4junkie]

If you increase your axle ratio to compensate for the bigger tires, you won't affect your shift points (in fact you can even "overcompensate" it a bit and optimize it better for your hauling needs if you wanted, even with the bigger tires).

Example: If you have 3.73 gears in your axle and P215/70R14 tires now, you could switch over to 4.56 gears if it's 31" tires you want and maintain everything right about what it is now.
Because of the heavy loads you're carrying, it might not be a bad idea to swap to the Explorer 8.8" axle at the same time to help deal with the added stress of the bigger tires/deeper gears.