tire size 2010 Ranger, 30", 31" ? insight please....

[slater50]

Been chewing on trying to make a decision for a bit, would love some insight that would push me one direction or another....
Truck is 2010 single cab 2wd 4 cylinder ranger.
I installed 4" Wulf spindles in the front only, not touching the back....
This truck will never see the dirt, just my kids first vehicle that will hopefully last him till he gets established...
Has 4:10 gears...

Im all over the place inregards to tire size,
I think I want to keep tires in a P metric just to keep weight down.
Looking at Cooper Discovers at3 in a 265 75 15 which is a 31'ish....
Then part of me says go with a smaller tire & keep things easy on the truck like a 30", maybe a 235 75 15,
Not sure how size of a 235 75 15 actually compares to a 30 9.5 15...

Included a pic of a 2010 ranger with 31 10.5 15
& gray ranger with 30 9.5 15

Some insight, thoughts, suggestion to help me un-fk me spiraling & closer to making a decision?
Thanks....

 

[slater50]

Sons rig after the front spindles....

30 9.5 15

31 10.5 15

 

[Lefty]

It isn't like I have tried both sizes, but mine are closer to 30. Mine is a 3.0 liter which seems a slittle sluggish. I didn't want to lose any acceleration. I drive it on the street 95% of the time.

Mine is an Edge which came from the factory with a three inch lift. I've changed the suspension and lowered it by one inch...or two inches higher than stock.

I prefer a wider tire. I believe mine are a little more than ten inches wide.

 

[slater50]

For reference, do you know what your tire size actually is?

 

[Lefty]

For reference, do you know what your tire size actually is?

two sixty five/seventy/R fifteen
Oops I think mine are less than thirty

 

[slater50]

Kind of like when I wanted to do the spindle lift on 2010 with sabiltrack, not much info on these dinosaurs....

 

[Lefty]

Kind of like when I wanted to do the spindle lift on 2010 with sabiltrack, not much info on these dinosaurs....

Yes and no...The best thing to do is to go to Discount Tire, or some other reputable dealer, and pose the very same question. They will show you performance data on various tires, including Cooper, then show you stopping distances according to tire sizes.

They will not show acceleration or MPG data, but we all know that larger tires mean less MPG and larger diameters mean less acceleration. Personally I don't care much about MPG, but my own numbers are the same as the manufacturers. I've done a couple other tweaks on my drive train so my acceleration is slightly better.

These factors are all relatively important according to how you use yours. I dive a lot in town, a lot of starts and stops. Acceleration is important, but traction means everything. Once in a while, traffic requires that I need to make a real good emergency stop.

 

[Curious Hound]

Not sure how size of a 235 75 15 actually compares to a 30 9.5 15...

That tire is about 28.9" in diameter and 9.3" wide.

Check out our tech library where we have articles about tire fitment, pictures of Rangers with different sized tires and even a link to a tire size calculator like I used to get the info in the screenshot. Personally, I wouldn't go above 30" diameter unless you are going to research the axle. Even going to 30" tires, you will notice the truck feeling sluggish, especially with a 4-cylinder.

Wheels, Tires, Brakes & Steering - The Ranger Station

DISCLAIMER: Activities and vehicle modifications appearing or described at The Ranger Station and it’s pages may be potentially dangerous. We do not endorse any such activity for others or recommend it to any particular person – we simply describe … Continued

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[slater50]

https://www.therangerstation.com/how-to_pages/ford_ranger_tire_fitment.shtml

I found this which really doesnt help much....

The gray / copper truck I posted has 30 9.5 15.
Tires look really pinched / narrow?
Maybe not & just my perception, maybe toss a spacer on the front would help....
Really torn on what to do....
I saw a stock truck with 235 75 15, & they looked tiny, think theyre even smaller than a 30, calculator states theyre 28.9.....
Ide like to keep them p metric to keep weight to a minimal....
weight difference is substantial 31 10.5 15 vs 265 75 15.
Guess if I have to go 30 9.5 15, weight is lower...

I really liked what I read about the Cooper Discoverer at3 4s, even though a more aggressive sidewall would be cool, not wanting to go the MT route.....

I know, I know, im spinning but only want to do this once....
I know the 265 75 15 would look good, power just suffice but I know not ideal.

Just dreading thinking about the regrets if I go with a 30 9.5 15

 

[Curious Hound]

Ide like to keep them p metric to keep weight to a minimal....

I don't understand this statement. Whether the measurements are metric or standard has nothing to do with how heavy they are.

Generally speaking, a passenger tire (P) will be lighter than the same physical size light truck tire (LT). But that is due to the LT having stronger, heavier components. It doesn't matter whether the dimensions are listed as "235/75-r15" or "28.9 x 9.3 x 15". They're both the same size.

The only thing that the weight if the tire affects is your fuel mileage. And at these small sizes, that difference is probably negligible. You will have more of a difference in how the truck accelerates and handles when going to larger tires, whether bigger diameter or wider or both. That is because the contact patch with the road increases and rolling resistance increases and your 4-cylinder engine doesn't have the torque to overcome the larger diameter as easy.

You will have to make compromises between "looks" performance and budget and only you can ultimately make that decision.

 

[sgtsandman]

Tire weight has to do more with it's rated load rating than if it is a P-metric tire or not.

For example, the 265/70R17 mud tires have a load rating equivalent to load E and are much heavier than the 265/70R17 all terain tire with a equivelant load rating of C on my 2019.

An standard all season or highway terrain tire is going to tend to be lighter since they aren't expected to deal with the rigors an all terrain or mud tire but that is not always the case. Even in the same class of tire, one brand or model can be heavier than another, even if the general overall specifications are the same.

Plus the taller the disc of a tire is, the more resistance it will have to accleration and deceleration.

 

[slater50]

Tire weight has to do more with it's rated load rating than if it is a P-metric tire or not.

For example, the 265/70R17 mud tires have a load rating equivalent to load E and are much heavier than the 265/70R17 all terain tire with a equivelant load rating of C on my 2019.

An standard all season or highway terrain tire is going to tend to be lighter since they aren't expected to deal with the rigors an all terrain or mud tire but that is not always the case. Even in the same class of tire, one brand or model can be heavier than another, even if the general overall specifications are the same.

Plus the taller the disc of a tire is, the more resistance it will have to accleration and deceleration.

Im looking at AT's
You may be somewhat right & the 31's are just a heavier load tire vs SL, heavier construction but end of the day, majority of them significantly heavier

Discount Tire | Tires and Wheels for Sale | Online & In-Person

www.discounttire.com

These are 38 lbs.....

31's start at 44, 54, etc....

 

[Curious Hound]

Yes. SL roughly equates to what used to be "P" for passenger load rating. When you get into larger tires, you may not find P or SL load ratings because the larger tires sizes are not meant for cars.