Will 2002 Explorer Wheels Fit 1999 Ranger 4x4?

[Jay11]

Will wheels from a 2002 Ford explorer fit through the wheel hubs of a 1999 Ranger 4x4? Tires exact sizes are being sent later in the morning.
I spotted a great deal on CL but they are a bit of a distance. If anyone knows this info. they will really help me decide.
I tried the chrome rims from a 2010 explorer, they only fit in the rear. They can't go through the 4x4 plastic cones/hubs? at the front. That's what I am wondering these will go through at the front.

 

[4x4junkie]

I can't answer positively whether they will fit over your hubs (if I had to guess, I'd say no), but something else to consider is those '02 wheels have a much deeper backspacing (positive offset) than your '99 wheels, requiring wheel spacers to maintain the same track width as with your '99 wheels. That can add another $200 or so to your purchase for 4 good quality spacers. However in the event the wheels can't fit over your hubs by themselves, a set of spacers might possibly move the wheels out far enough to make it a non-issue.

 

[Jay11]

Well I got a different set from an 02ish Explorer. They fit over the hub but the only issue is they appear smaller in there. They are 235x70R16, pic 1 below. The previous were 245x70R16. Do these rims also have a deeper backspacing (positive offset)?

I also tried 18's (from 2010ish Explorer) in the rear, filled out the wheel well nicely but they won't fit over the hubs at the front.

I tried spacers but the all important hub centric lip wouldn't go over the hub. Urgh! Which spacers would go over the hub, a link?

Spacers won't fit over the hub

 

[4x4junkie]

All '02+ Explorer wheels from a 4-door will have the deeper backspacing due to the offset of the IRS rear hubs ('02 Ex Sport 2-dr wheels however should be the same as your '99 wheels, I can't recall if they carried over any of the same stylings between the two or not).

Whatever the bore dia of your stock wheels is (I think it's 2.8" / 70mm or thereabouts), just make sure the spacer's bore is the same or bigger. They (and your wheels) are also lug-centeric (not hub-centric) as they use acorn-style nuts, so you could even have those ones you have bored out at a machine shop.

However these also appear they would work (has a center bore dia of 82.5mm). A lot less $$$ than I remember them selling for too.

(4) 1.5" 5x4.5 To 5x4.5 Wheel Spacers Thick Adapters 1/2x20 Studs 5lug Four | eBay

These Spacers are made to adapt 5x4. 5 vehicle bolt patterns to Wheels that have a 5x4. 5 b olt pattern. 4 Pcs Wheel Spacers Adapters. 1.5" Thick -. For 2010-2014 Ford Taurus. For 2000-2010 Ford Ranger.

www.ebay.com

 

[Jay11]

Great info Thanx.

After reading up on spacers I was so focused on hub centric types that I always over looked these ones. But that's a great deal.

Just to clarify - even though this Ranger has a hub lip the wheels really are lug centric types not necessarily hub centric, correct? Both front and rear?

 

[4x4junkie]

Correct.
The tapered (cone-style) seats on the lug nuts is what centers the wheel against the hub. (maybe a 2019 Ranger has hub-centric wheels, I don't know... I know hub-centric wheels do get more prevalent the later you go, but anything 1983-2011 is lug-centric).

 

[Jay11]

I am weighing getting bigger tires onto the OEM 16" rims [245/70/16] vs the '06/07 Explorer 18" wheels [235/65/18] that will require spacers to make them fit in front (they fit ok in rear.)

I am not sure if 285/75/16 can fit ok in this truck '99 4x4 super cab? If those are way too big what about 265/75/16, even if spacers would be required?

If these two sizes are way too wide for these rims then what is the biggest tire size width recommended for a 16x7 rim?

I did a size comp...

 

[4x4junkie]

285/75R16 should be usable, but will likely rub under certain conditions of full articulation and the steering turned a certain amount. They will rub hard on the inside (frame & sway bar) if you don't have the spacers with '02+ Explorer wheels.

265/75R16 should be a clean fit with no rubbing (with spacers on the Ex wheels).

 

[Jay11]

I re-read the FAQ sticky above and combining your advice above about rubbing, with ...
"On '98-'10 4wd Rangers a 32" or narrow 33" can be fit with a 1.5" torsion bar twist. 33x10.50-15 BFG or 285/75-16 will fit on the stock rims with slight rubbing on the inside."

To completely mitigate this should I get the 1.5" or 2" spacers? Are the 1.5" better on wheel bearings longevity or both have the same or no effect? Plan is to use the 285/75/16 on this truck's oem rims (16x7), not the wheels in the pic above. I am selling those.

I also read elsewhere...
"Larger tires ...may affect shift points from AT."
I don't do off-roading, 99.9% city driving and I am new to trucks and all this type of wheels/tires, etc. I have no idea what this means and how it will affect the auto/trans. Can some one please shed some light. Will these bigger tires affect the life of my A/T? Is this when you have to re-tune gear ratio?

 

[Jay11]

While on the subject of wheels seems bushings are missing off of these rods, yes? What are they called or part nos please?

 

[Josh B]

One thing I wondered after an earlier remark, you are aware they all 4 need to match diameter in 4WD?

 

[Josh B]

While on the subject of wheels seems bushings are missing off of these rods, yes? What are they called or part nos please?

View attachment 31471

Wow! Yes, something is amiss there

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Sway bar bushings.

While on the subject of wheels seems bushings are missing off of these rods, yes? What are they called or part nos please?

View attachment 31471

 

[Jay11]

One thing I wondered after an earlier remark, you are aware they all 4 need to match diameter in 4WD?

Yes. I have 3 wheel sets-the wheels that came with this truck but tires are bald-245/70/16, a set of 235/65/18 chromes and the smallish set in pic above - 235/70/16. It's the first set that I will buy 285/75/16 for.

Sway bar bushings.

Thanx!

 

[4x4junkie]

I re-read the FAQ sticky above and combining your advice above about rubbing, with ...
"On '98-'10 4wd Rangers a 32" or narrow 33" can be fit with a 1.5" torsion bar twist. 33x10.50-15 BFG or 285/75-16 will fit on the stock rims with slight rubbing on the inside."

To completely mitigate this should I get the 1.5" or 2" spacers? Are the 1.5" better on wheel bearings longevity or both have the same or no effect? Plan is to use the 285/75/16 on this truck's oem rims (16x7), not the wheels in the pic above. I am selling those.

I also read elsewhere...
"Larger tires ...may affect shift points from AT."
I don't do off-roading, 99.9% city driving and I am new to trucks and all this type of wheels/tires, etc. I have no idea what this means and how it will affect the auto/trans. Can some one please shed some light. Will these bigger tires affect the life of my A/T? Is this when you have to re-tune gear ratio?

If you are going to keep your stock 1999 wheels, then I don't suggest using spacers over one inch thick, since thicker spacers can increase leverage to a point that may be detrimental to your wheel bearings.

Yes, bigger tires can potentially affect your transmission's performance. Bigger tires may cause your transmission to "think" you're towing a load and might no longer shift into overdrive and/or not lock up the torque converter when it should or other behavior. Changing the axle gear ratio is how you compensate for this, though regearing axles is far from an inexpensive proposition...
I would suggest drive it a bit first with the new tires and see if it behaves OK... 285/75R16 is not a terribly gigantic increase (not quite like going to 35" tires would be), so it may be fine, though that is probably the biggest size you could go and still have a chance of it working OK. Your speedometer will of course be a little bit off though (will read a few MPH slower than your actual speed)

Also, technically those are called Stabilizer Bar End-Link bushings, but many (most?) people do refer to them as sway bars, so most places (where there is a human present, anyways) should know what you're inquiring about.