Preparing my truck for snow?

[JJMaine]

Thanks guys, Ive definitely done my maintenance so I don't have to lay in a snowbank this winter!

So what size would you guys recommend? Is it stupid to stay close to the size I have now just for looks? Or can I get the same height tires but just skinnier? Clueless when it comes to car tires lol.

99% of my snow driving will be on paved roads back and forth to work etc. For everything else I'll rely on 4 wheel drive.

I also have the option to go with 15" wheels, what would the benefits of those be? Just cheaper tires? Is a 265/70-15 the same height overall as a 265/70-16 tire (same make and model of course)?

I want to get it right the first time since I plan to use them for years and tires are not cheap!

I also plan to get a tonneau cover before winter to keep the snow out the bed and I'll probably add a little weight as well. So if anyone wants to recommend a good tonneau cover. Thinking about one of the trifolds but the cheaper the better too as long as it's decent.

 

[Blmpkn]

Thanks guys, Ive definitely done my maintenance so I don't have to lay in a snowbank this winter!

So what size would you guys recommend? Is it stupid to stay close to the size I have now just for looks? Or can I get the same height tires but just skinnier? Clueless when it comes to car tires lol.

99% of my snow driving will be on paved roads back and forth to work etc. For everything else I'll rely on 4 wheel drive.

I also have the option to go with 15" wheels, what would the benefits of those be? Just cheaper tires? Is a 265/70-15 the same height overall as a 265/70-16 tire (same make and model of course)?

I want to get it right the first time since I plan to use them for years and tires are not cheap!

I also plan to get a tonneau cover before winter to keep the snow out the bed and I'll probably add a little weight as well. So if anyone wants to recommend a good tonneau cover. Thinking about one of the trifolds but the cheaper the better too as long as it's decent.

As narrow as will fit will give you the best grip. The 225s on my 8" wide wheels fit nicely.

15s are (not so) slowly going the way of 14"s... 16s will give you a better selection & pricing nowadays. Hell... even 16"s are getting pretty thoroughly phased out in regards to truck sized tires...

A cover to keep the snow out is counter productive in a way. When I had 2wds I was always glad to have a bed full of snow.... it's just more weight after all.


Tires are sized thusly...

First number is treadwidth in millimeters.

2nd number is the height of the sidewall as a percentage of the treadwidth. (245/75 has a sidewall 75% as tall as the tread is wide... and a 245/50 has a sidewall only 50% as tall as the tread is wide)

3rd is obviously wheel size.

So.. a 245/75 on a 15" wheel is gonna be smaller than the same 2 first numbers on a 16" wheel or a 17" wheel..

 

[sgtsandman]

Thanks guys, Ive definitely done my maintenance so I don't have to lay in a snowbank this winter!

So what size would you guys recommend? Is it stupid to stay close to the size I have now just for looks? Or can I get the same height tires but just skinnier? Clueless when it comes to car tires lol.

99% of my snow driving will be on paved roads back and forth to work etc. For everything else I'll rely on 4 wheel drive.

I also have the option to go with 15" wheels, what would the benefits of those be? Just cheaper tires? Is a 265/70-15 the same height overall as a 265/70-16 tire (same make and model of course)?

I want to get it right the first time since I plan to use them for years and tires are not cheap!

I also plan to get a tonneau cover before winter to keep the snow out the bed and I'll probably add a little weight as well. So if anyone wants to recommend a good tonneau cover. Thinking about one of the trifolds but the cheaper the better too as long as it's decent.

Consideration of rim size and sidewall height is more of an off road driving concern than on road unless you are going with a low profile tire. Then you run the risk of rim and tire damage from pot holes and curbs.

If you don't have rims already, go with whatever you can get the best deal on and go with a tire to fit from there. I prefer going with as small of a rim as I can and still have a decent choice in tire selection. As far as rim material, I would go with steel for a dedicated set of winter rims. Road salt is hard on wheels and aluminum ones tend to be more expensive to replace than steel.

I've always been a cap man. So, I can't help much on tonneau covers.

 

[JJMaine]

Thanks for the explanation, that makes sense. I guess I will go with the 16x8" steel rims from Rough Country, they seem to be one of the cheaper options with good reviews. Now to find a good tire size.

Good point on the Tonneau cover but I didn't mention I also want it for storage (floor jack, tools etc) I actually wouldn't mind a nice cap for the bed but they are so expensive. My truck came with one on it that I should have kept for the time being but it was thrashed.

 

[JJMaine]

How about 245/70-16, this might be a good compromise, to keep them close to what they are now? Id like to get skinnier tires for the benefits you guys mentioned but obviously, the skinnier you go, the shorter the tire since 70 is as large as the ratio goes on the snow tires I can find.

Looking at these Sumimoto tire and the 245's are $115 each vs. $170 for 265's so that's a plus as well!

Would only lose an inch of height so the truck shouldn't look comical with the few inches lift I have.

Really, it's the previous owners fault because I would have been happy to find a clean, bone stock Ranger with stock tires. But since it came lifted and with bigger tires I can't bring myself to go back haha.

 

[JJMaine]

I don't think the tire rating will matter will it since I'm getting them mounted to just rims and not installed on any particular car?

 

[Blmpkn]

Thanks for the explanation, that makes sense. I guess I will go with the 16x8" steel rims from Rough Country, they seem to be one of the cheaper options with good reviews. Now to find a good tire size.

Good point on the Tonneau cover but I didn't mention I also want it for storage (floor jack, tools etc) I actually wouldn't mind a nice cap for the bed but they are so expensive. My truck came with one on it that I should have kept for the time being but it was thrashed.

A wheel is a wheel is a wheel when it comes to a winter set.

Save some cash and find a used set of whatever will fit locally on Craigslist or marketplace. 5x100 is an extremely common bolt pattern.. id be more than surprised if you couldn't find a set of 4 used steelies for 100$. Could probably find a set of alloys for not much more.


If your dead set on buying some *new* wheels though... buy whatever you think looks cool for a SUMMER set.. and just run the wheels you have now in winter.

 

[JJMaine]

That hadn't crossed my mind. I actually like the way my stock wheels look so I was just trying to buy the cheapest steel rims to run for winters. I'll check marketplace though for sure. Going to get the tires ordered this weekend before they are out of stock everywhere and the prices go up but have a good couple months before I NEED to buy the wheels.

 

[Blmpkn]

That hadn't crossed my mind. I actually like the way my stock wheels look so I was just trying to buy the cheapest steel rims to run for winters. I'll check marketplace though for sure. Going to get the tires ordered this weekend before they are out of stock everywhere and the prices go up but have a good couple months before I NEED to buy the wheels.

Yeah man, absolutely check all the local outlets first.

Last time i was looking on marketplace for some deals on wheels there was a TON of stuff that would fit a ranger for next to no money..

 

[JJMaine]

Will do, nothing good close to me at the moment but I'll keep my eye out. There was a decent set of 16" steel rims on there but they are two states away and came off a Subaru Impreza. The point is though, it's definitely worth looking! Thanks!

 

[Blmpkn]

Will do, nothing good close to me at the moment but I'll keep my eye out. There was a decent set of 16" steel rims on there but they are two states away and came off a Subaru Impreza. The point is though, it's definitely worth looking! Thanks!View attachment 118156

If you find anything around the portland/auburn area that you would definitely want.. let me know, I could grab them for you. My uncle lives in bradford.. and thats where we do holidays now since Grammy passed away so I'll be up your way on Thanksgiving & Christmas.

 

[JJMaine]

Right on man, thanks I'll keep that in mind for sure!

 

[Brain75]

"...I prefer going with as small of a rim as I can ..."
I would advise NOT to go as small as possible on wheels, 14" rubber is now more expensive and less available.
I, myself, would not be pricing wheels on facebook or craigslist or new - go to the 'yard. If you want cheap steelies and don't care if they are this style of that style. Hell even if all you do is grab 4 spare tires from 4 different ones that have had their alu scooped up already you still end up with a matching set of steel rims for close to nothing.

Do your homework of course first - find out what the local dump charges to get rid of junk rubber, if there is a "lantas" (used tire store typically in the more ethnic neighborhood) where you could unload good serviceable undesired rubber - and if they will actually take it, what the pick-n-pull actually charges,etc... The ones I have access to here consider all "spare tires" to be $5 -sold as is, no returning the rubber... that idea of getting 4 matching spares (which in all the years rangers have ever been made are full size - just might carry a T instead of a P prefix almost all are 15" and NARROWER than stock - 6"), paying $5 a piece at the dump and spending an afternoon doing the dreaded tire work, I still could have 2nd set of steelies for under $50.
I actually have a spare right now that is one spare too many I want to get rid of (came with a set of 4 stock rims a guy would not split).

 

[JJMaine]

I admire your determination but if I'm honest, I'd just buy a new set for $250 before I did that much work for a set of rims.

My weekdays are spent working long hours and my weekends are spent working on my own stuff at home. There's always something needing to get done so it's hard to find the time really.

The upside of working long hours is that I can afford to spend a little bit and maybe take the lazy route. Not that I don't want to save as much money as I can, especially these days. Those are all good tips though!

 

[JJMaine]

And also, we don't have any of the "you pull" yards near me anymore that I'm aware of. We used to have Kenny U Pull 20 minutes from me but I think that's gone now? I honestly haven't checked but maybe I should.