Low RPM engine Lug rabbit hole

[That guy]

I chatted with a mechanic today, I told him about the low RPM engine lug with the 2021 Tremor (stock 265/70/17 wheels). Aside from putting the truck in the different modes (trailer/Sport) His suggested to decrease the tire size, he said that decreasing the tire size will increase the RPM's where as a larger tire size will lower the RPM's. Has anyone with the low RPM lug/shudder found a difference/sweet spot with changing their tire size? Thanks in advance!

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[Msfitoy]

Cheaper/easier to use S or tow mode...why spend a ton of money for new wheels and tires to fix this the hard way?

 

[Motorpsychology]

I chatted with a mechanic today, I told him about the low RPM engine lug with the 2021 Tremor (stock 265/70/17 wheels). Aside from putting the truck in the different modes (trailer/Sport) His suggested to decrease the tire size, he said that decreasing the tire size will increase the RPM's where as a larger tire size will lower the RPM's. Has anyone with the low RPM lug/shudder found a difference/sweet spot with changing their tire size? Thanks in advance!

It seems to me that going to a smaller diameter tire will cause lugging to occur at an even lower speed. e.g.: if the shift point from 6th to 7th normally occurs at 1200rpm = ~32mph, smaller tires might be 1,200rpm shift into 7th at 28 mph, and so forth. The change has to be to the rpm of the shift points, not the final drive.

 

[Friday yet?]

Cheaper/easier to use S or tow mode...why spend a tone of money for new wheels and tires and fix this the hard way?

Seriously. Press the button for Tow.

 

[Frenchy]

Have you ever driven a vehicle with a manual transmission? If not then you don't know what lugging is!! I know what lugging feels like as I did it when learning to drive a manual transmission and my dad's fist went through my side!!

The Ranger does not lug! All it does.is.vibrate due to being a 4 cylinder that does not have great low end torque. Once it starts to build boost it starts to build torque. Once that happens the vibration goes away.

Don't like it? Sell it and get a different vehicle and deal with it

 

[SDXLT]

I had the 265/65/17 on my FX4. I had vibration at 1200 rpm especially going uphill. Every time. I went to 265/70/17’s and the vibration was still there. I wouldn’t bother with new wheels. You want to spend $1000 go buy the single piece drive shaft from Tom Woods

 

[MarioCart]

what frenchie said, but without the anger

 

[Ohwell]

Are you running 87 octane gas? If so try running 89 mine is smoother on the better gas.

 

[That guy]

Have you ever driven a vehicle with a manual transmission? If not then you don't know what lugging is!! I know what lugging feels like as I did it when learning to drive a manual transmission and my dad's fist went through my side!!

The Ranger does not lug! All it does.is.vibrate due to being a 4 cylinder that does not have great low end torque. Once it starts to build boost it starts to build torque. Once that happens the vibration goes away.

Don't like it? Sell it and get a different vehicle or shut up and deal with it

Thanks for all the responses except this one. I really appreciate the input it's much easier to ask and hear others experiences and what they may have discovered with what they have changed with their trucks already opposed to going through my own trial and error. It may be right that simply using T/H mode or Sport may be the simple answer. I am planning for the next set of tires as the current ones wear out.

I am glad you are an expert Frenchy, I will ask you never. Life is much easier when you are less angry. I wish you peace and happiness. Cheers.

 

[Frenchy]

Thanks for all the responses except this one. I really appreciate the input it's much easier to ask and hear others experiences and what they may have discovered with what they have changed with their trucks already opposed to going through my own trial and error. It may be right that simply using T/H mode or Sport may be the simple answer. I am planning for the next set of tires as the current ones wear out.

I am glad you are an expert Frenchy, I will ask you never. Life is much easier when you are less angry. I wish you peace and happiness. Cheers.

No need to worry, no anger was involved. Just simply stating the obvious that many can't seem to figure out. Many on here probably remember a good old V8 or even a decent V6 that has great low end torque and no trouble at the RPM that you specify. With a turbo 4 in a Mid Size Pickup Truck you will simply get vibration that you are experiencing at that low of an RPM. Doesn't matter what tire you have on the Ranger. With the 2019 I had I ran the Factory 30's, a set of 32's and 33's. Didn't matter the tire as the same RPM did the same thing.

 

[That guy]

It seems to me that going to a smaller diameter tire will cause lugging to occur at an even lower speed. e.g.: if the shift point from 6th to 7th normally occurs at 1200rpm = ~32mph, smaller tires might be 1,200rpm shift into 7th at 28 mph, and so forth. The change has to be to the rpm of the shift points, not the final drive.

That was my thinking too! The mechanic I chatted with told me that wouldn't be the case. He said he changes either the tire size (if not the gears themselves) on his own vehicles when he wants to change the RPM's.

Tom woods drive shaft - from threading on the forum I read that some have noticed a difference with vibration/lug/shudder at low RPM, some haven't. Then there is the matter of voiding your warranty, which is a no go for me.

89 gas - that is a good thought... May have to try that.

 

[SDXLT]

The truck definitely runs better on 89 or 91 but still get the vibration. I still put the Costco 91 in it since it’s cheaper than non-Costco 87

 

[Blmpkn]

Frenchy is on fire lately.. I like it.

 

[OFC Ranger]

If you want to eliminate the transmission bogging and gear hunter press tow and then press the minus symbol on the shifter and lock out gears 9 & 10.

When I had my Ranger I actually increased my MPG doing this (I live in an area with lots of graded hills.

 

[MountainGoat]

Just run sport mode. You're gonna look goofy with smaller tires.

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