tires vs gears

[Daniel_187]

I am looking at getting new bigger tires and rims for my 2002 xlt, its got the stock steel rims and tires (235/75/15) and wanted to move up to some 32's with cast aluminum rim, I have stock gears(3.73)I think, dana 35(front) and ford 8.8(rear). and V6 4.0L will this affect my power and MPG's much? The reason for the Cast rims is am looking at cutting weight.

 

[Sunk]

Yeah you'll notice a difference, but it depends on what you use the truck for and how much. The 4.0 could probably handle that without re-gearing.

 

[97BlackBetty]

The 4.0 will handle it just fine. Especially since you will be reducing the weight of the rim, along with the increased weight of the tire. So you will be alright, a little more sliggish at the get go.

 

[Brandon12]

33's on steel wheels hardly slowed down my 2.9 so im sure you will be fine.

 

[Kona]

More people on crack. My wifes Ranger is , other then lift and tire size identical to mine. I have 31x10.50x15 X/T 's she has 235x75x15 's we have same engine gears trans etc. Her car rips like a somewhat odd shaped mustang while mine rolls around like a old army jeep . (ok a slight exaggeration) however I think you guys get the point that I know (my winters are 235's and my truck rocks with them on ) and can confirm the difference tires make. The truck will be more sluggish, going up a hill in my wifes in 5th I HAVE to be in 4th BUT it is only irritating not a disaster.

 

[ak96]

i got tired of the differance 31s made, after 5 years of driving it with 3:73s and 31s..i went with 4:10s and i wish i had done it along time ago! its so much snappier now!

 

[canyoncritter]

where do you live, what's your driving terrain like?


do you live in the flat lands where you can see from one state to the other?

if so, 3.73's and 32's wont be that bad.......sluggish, but not so bad


do you live in colardo, rual moutian area etc, where you have hill after hill, after long grade to deal with .....its going to be blahhh compared stock.Its going to fell, like someone stole your 4.0L and put in a 2.3 in its place.

gas millage is going to vary with how you drive,and where you live/drive but do expect to lose some. atleast 2-3 mpg I would guess and posilby 5-6

 

[Daniel_187]

Yeah I live in Colorado(am along the front range), but most of my weekday driving is flat the the weekend come's and its off to the mountains. How much is it to re-gear? I don't have the tools or the know-how to do it myself, My driving is kinda aggressive

 

[canyoncritter]

figure ruffly around 500 a axle. just the gears run 150-250 avg, install kits around 50ish, then labor can vary...

if you have wrecking yards around you and your 4wd some of the 95 newer explorer came with 4:10's and I belive the front diff chunk is swapable between the ranger and exp. (do some research)

the 95 -02 i belive before the exp went IRS rear is a tad bit wider(1.5inche per side) than the ranger but can be stuffed in to a ranger wiht a little work(do some research the info in on this board).and you get better axle shafts 31 spline vs 28)along with rear disc brakes...these rear's sale for around 300 around me give or take 50 bucks on avg. If/when I can find them in my pull it yourself type yards they run just under 200. so the exp rear may or may not be feasble for you......

4'10's would be a good choice for a daily driver with 32's and up to 33's and would keep your gas milalge about were is it now...with in a few thenths I bet with the 32's

if you plan to ever go bigger in tires than your getting in to the 4.56 gear range for 4wd, and 4.30 range for 2wd street machine with 33's.

 

[stegomon]

hell with 32s and 3.73 and a 2.9 i could still kind of keep up in mass traffic.....ahhh the memeries....haha...ya you will be just fine

 

[metalmacguyver]

I ran that exact combo the end of last year to when I lifted this summer. 4.0, 3.73s, 32s, and I did alot of trailering. It was not bad, I could not stay in 5th as much on hills and what not but it was fine, I got used to it and you will too.

 

[ak96]

if you have wrecking yards around you and your 4wd some of the 95 newer explorer came with 4:10's and I belive the front diff chunk is swapable between the ranger and exp. (do some research)

it will work, i just swapped in a front diff from a '05 ranger into my '96 explorer and it went perfect.

i've since picked up about 3-5mpg after the gear change, we are pretty much all hill/moutains here and before it would struggle..now it doesnt even downshift with 4:10s and 31s..

 

[gotmudd]

I am looking at getting new bigger tires and rims for my 2002 xlt, its got the stock steel rims and tires (235/75/15) and wanted to move up to some 32's with cast aluminum rim, I have stock gears(3.73)I think, dana 35(front) and ford 8.8(rear). and V6 4.0L will this affect my power and MPG's much? The reason for the Cast rims is am looking at cutting weight.

Yeah you'll notice a difference, but it depends on what you use the truck for and how much. The 4.0 could probably handle that without re-gearing.

The 4.0 will handle it just fine. Especially since you will be reducing the weight of the rim, along with the increased weight of the tire. So you will be alright, a little more sliggish at the get go.

33's on steel wheels hardly slowed down my 2.9 so im sure you will be fine.

More people on crack. My wifes Ranger is , other then lift and tire size identical to mine. I have 31x10.50x15 X/T 's she has 235x75x15 's we have same engine gears trans etc. Her car rips like a somewhat odd shaped mustang while mine rolls around like a old army jeep . (ok a slight exaggeration) however I think you guys get the point that I know (my winters are 235's and my truck rocks with them on ) and can confirm the difference tires make. The truck will be more sluggish, going up a hill in my wifes in 5th I HAVE to be in 4th BUT it is only irritating not a disaster.

i got tired of the differance 31s made, after 5 years of driving it with 3:73s and 31s..i went with 4:10s and i wish i had done it along time ago! its so much snappier now!

where do you live, what's your driving terrain like?


do you live in the flat lands where you can see from one state to the other?

if so, 3.73's and 32's wont be that bad.......sluggish, but not so bad


do you live in colardo, rual moutian area etc, where you have hill after hill, after long grade to deal with .....its going to be blahhh compared stock.Its going to fell, like someone stole your 4.0L and put in a 2.3 in its place.

gas millage is going to vary with how you drive,and where you live/drive but do expect to lose some. atleast 2-3 mpg I would guess and posilby 5-6

Yeah I live in Colorado(am along the front range), but most of my weekday driving is flat the the weekend come's and its off to the mountains. How much is it to re-gear? I don't have the tools or the know-how to do it myself, My driving is kinda aggressive

figure ruffly around 500 a axle. just the gears run 150-250 avg, install kits around 50ish, then labor can vary...

if you have wrecking yards around you and your 4wd some of the 95 newer explorer came with 4:10's and I belive the front diff chunk is swapable between the ranger and exp. (do some research)

the 95 -02 i belive before the exp went IRS rear is a tad bit wider(1.5inche per side) than the ranger but can be stuffed in to a ranger wiht a little work(do some research the info in on this board).and you get better axle shafts 31 spline vs 28)along with rear disc brakes...these rear's sale for around 300 around me give or take 50 bucks on avg. If/when I can find them in my pull it yourself type yards they run just under 200. so the exp rear may or may not be feasble for you......

4'10's would be a good choice for a daily driver with 32's and up to 33's and would keep your gas milalge about were is it now...with in a few thenths I bet with the 32's

if you plan to ever go bigger in tires than your getting in to the 4.56 gear range for 4wd, and 4.30 range for 2wd street machine with 33's.

hell with 32s and 3.73 and a 2.9 i could still kind of keep up in mass traffic.....ahhh the memeries....haha...ya you will be just fine

I ran that exact combo the end of last year to when I lifted this summer. 4.0, 3.73s, 32s, and I did alot of trailering. It was not bad, I could not stay in 5th as much on hills and what not but it was fine, I got used to it and you will too.

it will work, i just swapped in a front diff from a '05 ranger into my '96 explorer and it went perfect.

i've since picked up about 3-5mpg after the gear change, we are pretty much all hill/moutains here and before it would struggle..now it doesnt even downshift with 4:10s and 31s..

ok, maybe i'm missing something, some of of you guys are telling him he'll be fine, some are saying he'll have to regear from 3.73's to 4.10's if he wants his power back. now my question for all you re-gear fanatics is simple, why should he regear? granted you guys have 2.9's, 3.0's,and 4.0's and i'm running a V8, but here's my scenario: 390cid w/automatic and 4.10's, previously with 32's i was ok off the line and she was wound pretty good at 60mph, i have since changed to 35's and now off the line i can boil the tires and it's still feels like it has plenty of power at 75mph without being wound up. what i don't know is if my mpg have changed, my driving habits are the same, two speeds, gas on/gas off. the only differences in my case have been all positive. how come my results are positive going to a bigger tire w/out a gear change and you guys have to regear. is it maybe because i am already running a lower gear or what? i have no idea, it's something about gearing combos i can't get my brain around. i always thought if you want top end gear high, if you want low end torque gear low. idk

 

[Dann757]

I think your 390 has enough power to get the benefits of the 35's.