tire question answered NOW...please

[mc_muench]

they're essentially 30's though, so 2" lift in front and 4.10 gears are good for it then?

 

[scotts90ranger]

yes, 2" lift should clear the tires, I know they are 30" but they are labeled 31's, doesn't change the fact that they will rub a little . and when I say rub, I mean just on the radius arms and sway bar (if you even have one, my stock 4x2 didn't come with any) which doesn't hurt anything being they are both round, my 235's rubbed on the upper part of the fender when I went over any type of bump

 

[mc_muench]

so if i do the explorer coils, what would i all need, is it all junkyard finds?

that and could i just get a 8.8 L/S with 4.10, axle code R7, out of a ranger and would it be a straight bolt on?

 

[Toms01PSD]

yeah, they're pretty limited, I've heard of 235 75 15's fitting on a stock second gen 4x2 with stock wheels (I've seen it too, didn't rub but was TIGHT), with some small lift parts (spacers in front or leveling coils or something) you could probably fit 31's, 2" lift would get you the same height as a stock 4x4, explorer coils would get you there...

with 3.45's, first gear is going to take more clutch work than stock but should be doable with 28" tires or thereabouts, with 31's you are going to want at least 4.10's preferedly 4.56 gears.

just reread a couple posts and I misunderstood someone talking about needing gears when I thought they were talking about tire fitment... so oops...

Those tires and those gears are going to be a dog. I didn't answer the question about those tires fitting. I've had zero experience with 2nd gen's.

 

[feellnfroggy]

I dont know if its been mentioned, but your rim size shouldn't matter. The outer diameter and width is all that will affect whether or not you will rub.

Now if your truck had factory 17 inch wheels then dont go any smaller because it wont clear the calipers, but you can always go bigger. Again the outer tire diameter is what will affect you.

For what its worth, I had 18's with 245/45/18 and 19's with 275/45/19 on my 2nd gen. I think the outer diameter of the 18's was 29 3/4 tall and 8 wide. I had gobs of clearance. The 19's cleared too for street driving but any flex at all rubbed. They were 11 inches wide, no width probs.

 

[mc_muench]

im starting to think im in over my head with this... and wallet
maybe i should just find tires for the rims i got

 

[feellnfroggy]

Why are you over your head? You can get on craigslist and find a good set of 31's with 15's or 17's or even a set of 33's of your gonna do the bl. Instraed of getting discouraged just by the dang wheels and tires you want. If it dont work then at least you have them ready when you get the BL.

 

[Toms01PSD]

Now if your truck had factory 17 inch wheels then dont go any smaller because it wont clear the calipers.

That statement isn't completely true. Some 98-00 (and i'm sure other years) either came with 15's OR 16's, depending on which "package" the truck was. My door sticker says the truck came with 235/75R15 but when I bought it it had 16's on it.

 

[feellnfroggy]

I know it dont apply 100% of the time. But if your truck is factory rated for 15's and you put 14's they wont fit. I prolly shoulda specified, whatever the factory minimum rated rim size is dont go smaller.

 

[scotts90ranger]

they didn't come with fancy brakes or anything on the early 4x2's, only option like that was 10" drums... 14" wheels was all that was needed.

a 2 or 3" body lift would run $50 or a little more used on craigslist and only take an afternoon to put on, would save any alignment or suspension mods involved in a leveling kit or explorer coils (yes, just '91-94 explorer front coils, their leaves will give you around 2" lift in the back too, I think the coils would work on a 4x2 I know they do on 4x4's)

 

[scotts90ranger]

Those tires and those gears are going to be a dog. I didn't answer the question about those tires fitting. I've had zero experience with 2nd gen's.

that's what I realized after my first post...

I know how it is a dog... I ran 28" tires with 3.08 gears for a while... other than starting from a stop it wasn't bad, didn't have the engine rpm's to use 5th gear but 65mph in 4th was the perfect rpm

 

[Toms01PSD]

that's what I realized after my first post...

I know how it is a dog... I ran 28" tires with 3.08 gears for a while... other than starting from a stop it wasn't bad, didn't have the engine rpm's to use 5th gear but 65mph in 4th was the perfect rpm

Try 2.56 gears....they SUCK.

 

[scotts90ranger]

the 3.08's weren't bad with the little 195 75 14's that came with the truck, but add the extra 3 inches of tire and it kinda sucked...