Widee Tires

[DangerRangerCj]

Would it be possible to fit 15x10 rims on the front of a lowered ranger? I have a 98 with a djm 4/5 static drop. I believe the rims have a little over 3" of backspacing,and a little less than:headbang 7" out. If not, what body mods can i do to get them to work without rubbing?

 

[swynx]

The sawzall mod... I put 15x10 with 31x10. 5 on my Mazda b4000 it rubbed on one side when turning and going over bumps. If i turn fast enougj it didnt happen. Did a 2 inch body lift and it still rubs at full lock when compressed. But barely. I heard that Mazda wheel arches are smaller but Idk. I vote no

 

[JoshT]

The wheel will fit, might not look good, but it will fit. Might want something with more backspace. Usually with a 15x8 on a ranger you use 3.75" b.s. a 10 with 3" b.s. will stick out almost 3" farther.

The real issue is the tire size you want to run. That's going to be a short wide tire. I'd stick to a 15x8 or move up to a 16 or 17" wheel if I wanted wider wheels. I know s 17x9 will fit good on those.

 

[DangerRangerCj]

Okay so i measured the BS myself and i now know it is 3.75" on the 15x10 rims. Has anybody ran this type of set-up on a '98 ranger with a djm 4/5 static drop?

 

[JoshT]

Wow, he returned. No haven't run those, but they will still stick out about 2" further.

May I ask why you want to put 15x10 on the front of a lowered Ranger?

This guy has put 16x10 on a static dropped '97 Ranger. The 93-97 suspension is different but the body lines and track width is pretty much the same as your truck. He's sitting lower than what you plan, and his wheels have 1/4" more backspacing than your do. Not too sure about clearances under the truck, but if he has room your truck should too. He did have to pull the fenders.

 

[DangerRangerCj]

Mainly for better grip on the road, its going to be a street truck. Its either 15x8 cragars which I already have...or trade my uncle those for his 15x10s. Plus I like the look of the wheels sticking out.

 

[JoshT]

The 15x8 will be plenty of grip and the tires are cheaper, and it'll look better IMO. More to say, but gotta get to work.

 

[Mac]

^^^Good grip depends more on the selection of tires than width. Don't mind tires sticking out on a 4x4 but not on a street truck. Don't think you will ever exceed the limits of cornering with a Ranger with a 8" wide rim.
Dave

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

^^^Good grip depends more on the selection of tires than width.

Also increases "floatation" in adverse conditions in rain or snow.

They also throw more gravel and sand at the body of your truck. My tires stick out a little, every once in awhile it sounds like somebody shoots a 30-06 off in the cab from a rock hitting some part of the cab (sounds like right behind my head but it isn't possible)

I am gaining knicks in paint too...

 

[JoshT]

They pretty much summed up what I wanted to add. With a 15" wheel you aren't really going to gain anything from going to the 10" and wider tire, definitely not enough to be worth the expense. What you might gain in traction will be offset by the extra flex in the tire. It's okay and possibly even beneficial in a car built go go straight on a strip, but not if you want to be street.

For clarification what 85 means there is that the wider tire is much more likely to hydroplane or loose traction in those conditions. Flotation is a term more used in the 4x4 and truck world. It's great off road where you need it, but on the road it can be bad. If you've never done it I promise you hydroplaning is not fun.

A 15x8 with a decent width tire and stiff sidewall is about as good as you can get for a Ranger staying in the 15" wheel class. If you really want to improve it move up in wheel diameter. Then you can get a wider tire with shorter sidewall, and less tire flex which will really improve handling.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Then you can get a wider tire with shorter sidewall, and less tire flex which will really improve handling.

And ride greatly suffers...

 

[JoshT]

Not if the suspension is up to the task. Gotta remember we're talking about a 2wd street truck here, not a 4x4 trail basher and rock crawler.

I'm also not talking about 20s and rubber band tires. Moving up to a Mustang sized 17" wheel and tire combo would be a vast improvement without really affecting ride quality. I made about the same change when I went from a stock 14" wheel on my 84 to the 16" wheel I put on it. Ride quality stayed about the same, handling went way up.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Not if the suspension is up to the task. Gotta remember we're talking about a 2wd street truck here, not a 4x4 trail basher and rock crawler.

I'm also not talking about 20s and rubber band tires. Moving up to a Mustang sized 17" wheel and tire combo would be a vast improvement without really affecting ride quality. I made about the same change when I went from a stock 14" wheel on my 84 to the 16" wheel I put on it. Ride quality stayed about the same, handling went way up.

Out of the box my brother's Mustang on 19's rides like a radio flyer... it is pretty much set up for handling above all else.

4x4 trucks usually have a mushier suspension for suspension travel so it wouldn't have that much of an effect.

 

[JoshT]

Out of the box my brother's Mustang on 19's rides like a radio flyer... it is pretty much set up for handling above all else.

4x4 trucks usually have a mushier suspension for suspension travel so it wouldn't have that much of an effect.

That's a late model Mustang that has a suspension that is setup for handling out of the box. The harshness, firmness, or whatever else you wish to call it doesn't just come from the low profile tires, it's amplified by the entire suspension package.

The OPs question was answered, stick with the 15x8 or move up in diameter. This isn't a thread about 4x4 like everybody around here seems to assume all threads are (not saying you, just seen a lot of that lately). I've said what I'm got to say about this topic from my personal experience with this on a Ranger. I'm not going to keep bantering back and forth with you about it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

That's a late model Mustang that has a suspension that is setup for handling out of the box. The harshness, firmness, or whatever else you wish to call it doesn't just come from the low profile tires, it's amplified by the entire suspension package.

Just comparing it to my dad's '80 F-350 with about 4" of springs and LRE 235/85-16's... the one ton rides nicer.

I don't care if it is 4wd or 2wd, on the road for ride and handling the field is pretty level as far as tires go. If it hurts one it will hurt the other too.