Biggest tires, no lift?

[Hounddog409]

I would have to modify/replace the intrusion bars, but...after looking at a lot of tire options, there aren't a good set of 255/70r17 that I would like to run. They are far and few between in that size and, if I am out away from home, I want a size that I can find around. I talked to my buddy at Discount Tire and he said they have to special order everything in that size. Looks like I will be going with a 285/70r17 when the time comes. Sucks when your research goes the opposite way of your plans, but... that's why we research.

Then you aren't looking very good. What exactly are you looking for?

Toyo open country. Cooper discoverer. BGF TA... Nitto, host of others in 255/70/17. Tire rack has 2 or 3 pages of them.

And you won't have to touch the crash bars with this size. Will fit with no issues.

I am going with Toyo Open County AT3 in 255/70/17 end of summer before the snow starts up again.

These will 100% fit with no mods.

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[Colo_Ranger]

Then you aren't looking very good. What exactly are you looking for?

Toyo open country. Cooper discoverer. BGF TA... Nitto, host of others in 255/70/17. Tire rack has 2 or 3 pages of them.

And you won't have to touch the crash bars with this size. Will fit with no issues.

I am going with Toyo Open County AT3 in 255/70/17 end of summer before the snow starts up again.

These will 100% fit with no mods.

That was supposed to say 255/80r17... I typo'd.

 

[Hounddog409]

That was supposed to say 255/80r17... I typo'd.

Ah. Ok. Sorry. Disregard my nonsense.

 

[Colo_Ranger]

Ah. Ok. Sorry. Disregard my nonsense.

No worries. I was quite confused at your response, until I realized that I typed the wrong size. You are correct, there is a gripload of 255/70r17. When I had my 2012 Tacoma (back in 2012-2013) 255/85r16 was fairly common. I didn't think it would be so different now, but... alas... here we are. I am sure that I will end up with the 285/70r17 at some point, but it will have to wait until I can lift the truck.

 

[Tobiath000]

Yokohama X-A/T (Brand New Tire) 285/70/17...2.5" leveling kit, only had to cut rear crash bars.

Truck looks good man. If you don’t mind me asking, what wheels are those, and what size and offset. I really like the look. Also do you think I could run those with my 265/70r17 grabbers and a 2.5 inch level, without rubbing the crash bars? Thanks!

 

[OrangeStreak]

Here it the complete guide that can be used to determine the largest size tires and wheels that can be used without a lift, offsets or suspension modifications. It is a good place to start before upgrading or doing any changes or modifications:
Ford Ranger Big Tires No Lift – ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW – 4WheelDriveGuide

 

[Rene Michaels]

Here it the complete guide that can be used to determine the largest size tires and wheels that can be used without a lift, offsets or suspension modifications. It is a good place to start before upgrading or doing any changes or modifications:
Ford Ranger Big Tires No Lift – ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW – 4WheelDriveGuide

Good info if you drive the Ranger T6 (Australian version). But even then...

My Experience

There are so many variables involved in figuring out whether or not a tire will fit and/or rub. You can read all you want here on the forum and you will find out; even the same specs won't always add up to the same fit

I purchase my tires at Discount Tire. Before I ordered the oversize tires (and wheels ), I asked if they could mount one tire in the front to make sure it fit and did not rub. And if it did, what were my options for exchanging them with different size tires.

Exchanging the tires hasn't ever been a problem and I've done this at different Discount Tire locations. My last vehicle was a 2016 Explorer and I had to exchange the first set and was able to get the second set to fit. No problems, no extra charges.

Now, on my Ranger, I also ordered a set of custom wheels. Those they would not exchange because they were a special order (something they did not normally carry). I wasn't worried about the wheels because I knew I could mount different size tires that would still fit the wheels.

I've done this several times with oversize tires and DT stores have always accommodated me. Those tire shops that won't may just charge a restocking fee even if the tire was only mounted.

 

[OrangeStreak]

Good info if you drive the Ranger T6 (Australian version). But even then...

My Experience

There are so many variables involved in figuring out whether or not a tire will fit and/or rub. You can read all you want here on the forum and you will find out; even the same specs won't always add up to the same fit

I purchase my tires at Discount Tire. Before I ordered the oversize tires (and wheels ), I asked if they could mount one tire in the front to make sure it fit and did not rub. And if it did, what were my options for exchanging them with different size tires.

Exchanging the tires hasn't ever been a problem and I've done this at different Discount Tire locations. My last vehicle was a 2016 Explorer and I had to exchange the first set and was able to get the second set to fit. No problems, no extra charges.

Now, on my Ranger, I also ordered a set of custom wheels. Those they would not exchange because they were a special order (something they did not normally carry). I wasn't worried about the wheels because I knew I could mount different size tires that would still fit the wheels.

I've done this several times with oversize tires and DT stores have always accommodated me. Those tire shops that won't may just charge a restocking fee even if the tire was only mounted.

Thanks for responding and for your input. Sounds reasonable that there could be variables with the human factor involved.

According to some research, it appears that the article reference I posted is referring to the current North American market of Rangers instead of the earlier T6's: 2019 - Present Ford Ranger (T6 4th Generation).
Ford Ranger Generations (autolist.com).

Another site refers to the late T6's as the present generation of American Rangers:
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Ford_Ranger_(T6)

The article itself makes a reference to a 2019 Ranger and also displays the photo of a current generation American Ranger. I assumed that it was referring to the present generation American Rangers?

I followed the information in the article to upgrade my factory tires 255/65/17 to 265/70/17 BFG K02's which came off a 2019 Ranger that were mounted on Ford OEM factory charcoal wheels. According to the article, this is the maximum size that can go on a stock Ranger without any modifications. So far there are no clearance problems and hopefully none will appear!

 

[JJ101]

Truck looks good man. If you don’t mind me asking, what wheels are those, and what size and offset. I really like the look. Also do you think I could run those with my 265/70r17 grabbers and a 2.5 inch level, without rubbing the crash bars? Thanks!

What do you think of those General Grabbers? Are they the 115T’s, C or E’s? Thanks!

 

[breaks911]

2019 2WD XLT Sport

LT275/70R17 Falken Wildpeak AT3W (6 Ply)
Rough Country 2.5 Leveling Kit
N-Fab Epyx Series Step Bara
And an alignment in a pear tree...

Rides/drives better than OE, looks great (in my humble and very biased opinion) and really ended up exactly how I wanted it. Absolutely no rubbing and required no spacers.

Orlando Tire and Wheel in Orlando, Florida (ask for Hector) did the work and did it well.

Thanks!

Were you able to fit a matching spare under the bed? Considering the same tire for after my suspension upgrade next month. Thanks!

 

[Drizzt]

Wanted to post my experience with 255/80r17 . Nitto ridge grapplers. These are (currently available) the biggest "actual" sized 255/80r17, so should be worst case. Here was the list I was looking at (3rd column actual OD, 4th column actual width):

TOYO TIRE OPEN COUNTRY A/T III	255/80r17	33.1​	10​
FALKEN WILDPEAK A/T3W	255/80r17	33.1​	10​
COOPER DISCOVERER ST MAXX	255/80r17	32.8​	10.2​
NITTO RIDGE GRAPPLER	255/80r17	33.31​	10.04​

Overall they do mostly fit with no lift/level and stock rims. In order to clear the front crash beams, as noted elsewhere, I had to loosen the 2 mounting bolts and push them as far forward as they would go (the driver side was rubbing at first, but not after doing this). Except for the two issues below, I haven't noticed any other contact points or rubbing at full compression/steering angle/droop/etc after a day of testing in the rocks trying to get it fully flexed out.

Two issue areas:

The bracket that holds the crash beams - at full steering lock and any compression, the tire contacts bracket. It's not a "harsh" rub, in that the tire doesn't catch, it just contacts. It is only at the very last degree of steering wheel travel. For now, I am just trying to not steer to full lock. I'm debating whether to just live with the rub or look at limiting the steering travel, but there is nowhere convenient to space the steering bumpstops (they are welded balls onto the control arm). Since the bracket is welded to the frame I am hesitant to modify it. I'm also thinking with any of the other 255/80r17 options that are closer to 33" actual OD, this would not be an issue.

Fender liners - The tires catch the bottom of the fender liners. To temporarily get around this I tried taping them flush to the frame, but the passenger side really wants to bow out in that area. I'm thinking I"ll probably just trim the rub area.

As for the actual nitto ridge grapplers - They are decent but they have had some significant disadvantages over the stock tires. 1 - They make a good amount of road noise compared to the stock tires, and I'm sure they will get worse as they wear. It's not super loud, but definitely noticeable at most speeds. Offroad traction is of course improved over stock, and I have a lot more confidence in the tire's durability offroad.

After a couple iterations with a handheld and phone gps, I changed the tire diameter to 2530mm in forscan and that seemed to be within a couple percent of actual distance driven and within 1mph speed.

Lastly, I did noticed about a 3mpg overall drop. Stock tires I was getting ~23-24 mpg commuting (mostly highway), and now I'm seeing ~20-21. On trips (mostly interstate at 75) I'm seeing ~19-21. All calculated on pump gallons/trip miles, as the computer is always 1-2mpg ambitious.


Sitting level:

Some compression in front:

Front rub point:

Liner rub point:

Passenger bracket rub mark after a couple thousand miles:

Passenger liner wear mark after a couple thousand miles:

Driver bracket rub mark after a couple thousand miles:

 

[Drizzt]

Also, when I upgrade tires I also found a matching set of stock rims on craigslist for cheap. I bought new tpms sensor and had them mount the 5th tire to the matching alloy rim so I could do a 5 tire rotation. After knocking out the center cap, no issues mounting the spare rim and matching 255/80r17 to the stock location under the bed. And, was able to train the tpms sensors for the 5th sensor with the cheap button tool and all that seems happy. So, except for the inconvenience of lowering the rim with the chain system when actually doing the rotation, 5 tire rotations are relatively easy and doable.

 

[ak47p]

I am currently shopping tires and I like the looks of the General grabber A/TX in th2 285/60/18 size. It is 31.5" which would preserve some gear ration and will fit my stock wheels. I have Bilsteins front and rear with a 2" raise in the front. Anyone have any idea how much of a spacer I would need and if the crash bars will be an issue? I have splash guards too...

Hey did you ever get a chance to put these tires on? From all research I've done for the 18 Factory OEM rims I believe a 285/60/18 with a 20mm spacer to reduce the backset from 55 to 35. I'll be testing this likely tomorrow as I work a dealership so I can do these things for freeeee .

Would love to know!!

 

[TORQUERULES]

Nope, never got the chance and went with something else.

 

[MarkR]

I went an inch bigger in diameter 31.5” with 265/65/18 Duratracs
The stock one was 30.5” 265/60/18 Hankook Dynapro
No issues so far at 140 plus miles.
I think the issue would be the width, so I checked this first
https://tiresize.com/comparison/
According to the size calculator, the width is the same with the tires I chose.

I did a 2 inch level and I think I’m going to go with this set up

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