Question by Eric (Florida): TIRE HELP! What is the biggest tire I can use?
I have a completely STOCK 2002 Ford Ranger Edge 2 X 4 supercab – 3.0L V-6 with NO modifications. The tires from the factory are Goodyear 235/75-15. I have to keep the factory rims (7″) and have no lift kit. I want something more “beefy” in appearance. I love the look of the BF Goodrich Mud Terrains. Is this a good tire for everyday street use?? What is the biggest size I can go without modifying and without rubbing?
Best answer:
Answer by guess78624
You will have to go to a tire shop for this information. It also depends on how much clearance you have with tires in wheel wells, – and this is going to be controlled somewhat by what you are going to haul! Not only do you need to have clearance at top, but you need to worry about both sides of the tire also! The more weight you carry, the closer the fender wells will cone to “tall tires”.
Worst problem will be “radius clearance” on front tires,– when turning. You don’t want tires to rub on frame — this can be controlled somewhat by “extending the stops” so that turning “angle” is decreased! This in turn will limit the amount you can turn the wheels “going around a corner”– or in short — increases the width of area to do a “U-eey” on the road!
Note here,– that your “appearance” will cost you in some respects (other than the price of the tires! First of all a higher “center of gravity” (happens), – the taller the vehicle, – the easier it is to “tip it over” in hard turns. Next of course is that the vehicle “handles” different also! Then you will have troubles with speedometer or odometer not reading correctly, — since wheels now turn slowly, and number of times wheels turn is directly related to how “high” the tire is (circumference)– the more curcumference there is the less times the wheel turns in a mile, — this makes the spedometer read slower than actual speed (miles traveled-odometer off also)! This can be overcome with “gear changes” in output speed of speedometer cable! I don’t think this one reads out “electronic’ like some of the “luxury cars” Ford makes, — if it is – then the computer can be re-programmed to read mileage properly! If the tires are wider,- they will cause more friction, and “friction” equates to gas mikeage,- so your MPG will drop some! This can be decreased to some extent by increasing tire pressure a few pounds, – but then the vehicle gives a rougher ride! And by the way some of those tires with the really “mean” looking tread patterns are very noisy on the road also!
So all I can say is there is no “magic bullet’ here that works for all vehivcles, all applications and all personal desires!Your best “bet” is to get information from an experienced “tire shop” person, (not salesman at front desk)! And hope he gets al the right factors figured in – if you are going for the “Max.” amount possible!
An “illusion” can be made though by using the smallest wheels possible, (that will clear brakes discs and caliper frames). Then putting on the highest ‘sidewall profile” (tallest) tires available for that wheel size! Even with the same circumference (so speedometer still reads right), — it will give the illusion that you have a “beefey-er’ tire on it. and of course you still have the extra wheel well space to increase height of tire too!
This “illusion ” then would be just the opposite of what you see with the 21 inch mag wheels with the skinny tires that look more “like rubber bands on them! Incidentally that look comes at a price also! If the circumference stays the same- difference compenstaed by “thin tire” to allow for bigger wheel! However the vehicle now rides more like a “lumber truck”– have you ridden in one with anybody?? The sidewall of the tire is used to absorb part of “the road shock”– decrease the sidewall,– decrease the shock absorbing of tires!
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
