new wheels on order, now i just need to pick some tires

[racsan]

got my new rims on order, 15 x 8 black "D" window wheels, havent decided on a tire yet, stock size is 235/75/15, thining of either 255/70/15'2 or 31/10.50/15's. i have the 4.0 ohv, and 3.73 gears, stock suspention. most of my driving is on road, but would like a "do-it-all" tire thats not super expensive, really like the michelin ms 2, but they are quite a bit, thining of the general at2's, they seem to be pretty reasonable and look like they would work well in snow. i know my speedometer will be off a little, do i have to go through ford for a correct speedometer drive gear? i know one would exist, 265/15's are the same as a 31/10.50, if i end up with the 255/70's id be ok since there the same size as a 235/15, just a wider tire. hopefully the new setup doesnt affect power/economy. (if you can call a compact 4x4 with a 4.0 "economy, lol) i know the assemblies will be heavier than stock, not sure how much going up to a 31 (if i pick that size) will change things, at least i have 3,73's to start with, i wouldnt think about it if i had 3.55's. heres the rims:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/clm-7015812/overview/

 

[DNFXDLI]

Those should look good on your truck. Have you considered the BFG A/T's?. I run them on my own truck and find them a good all around tire.

 

[racsan]

what i run currently is very similar to the bfg a/t. its a pep-boys definity dakota a/t, very similar tread pattern to the bfg.

 

[DNFXDLI]

Did you like them?

 

[racsan]

i do like them, just wish they werent so much, but im finding with this larger size, there is no "$75" tire, the first set of this brand tire i got was about 55/tire, the last set i bought a few years ago was about 90/tire. granted the last set i got was a "lt" instead of the "P" series tire. i am thinking seriously of staying with this tire though. :
http://www.pepboys.com/tires/details/Definity/Dakota+AT2/166173/404/

 

[DNFXDLI]

That does look similar to the A/T's....and holy crap is that cheap...be thankful you don't live up here!!!

 

[racsan]

just found something even cheaper, not sure how much id trust retreads, but wow!, the price is certianally good! guess if its done right retreads would be ok, semis used to use them, maybe they still do, ive seen plenty of "alligators" (tread separeted retread belts) along the highways back in the day, havent in quite awhile. only kicker would be shipping charges i suppose, and then theres mounting/balancing charges, ive thought about buying my own "mounting" machine, but they are 3 grand....heres the retread link...
https://www.treadwright.com/p-9-31x10-50r15-warden-a-t.aspx
at times i wish i lived up north, its beautiful country for sure...drawbacks-yes, but you have that everywhere...some are just worse than others...

 

[DNFXDLI]

Retreads are way better than they used to be...although I'm not sure how keen I would be with them on the front.

 

[racsan]

front:

rear:

looks like the tires will be right at the edge of the body or a little beyond. didnt buy centercaps, think i have a couple out at the farm, fronts i wount even bother with.

 

[racsan]

well today i put a bead of black rtv silicone around the rim where the center section meets the outer rim shell, keep rust from forming in that crack. i had bought some bolt-in valve stems but they ended up being too small, i didnt even know there was two different sizes, so i got some pull-through rubber atv stems and put in, there short and look good, plus were only about $6 for the four of them, the fancy ones i got (the securing nuts would be inside the tire) were $12 for the set of four. oh well....noticed something else kinda off, when i test fit them the day they came in, it seemed like they were out a little far, i know its a 8" wheel, but with 4" backspacing, it should be at or near the edge of the body, looked like they were just past it. well i measured the backspacing today and they are 3-1/2" backspacing....guess its not too big a deal, but idk why they werent 4" like they were advertized, heck, most of the rims from this company (bart wheels) are advertized as 4" backspacing..... should be getting tires in the next week or two. gotta find those centers for the back, thought about drilling/tapping holes to use my stock ranger centers, but kinda hate to do that, the centers of these rims are 1/4 thick, thats pretty thick to be drilling/tapping a 4mm fastener for, my luck id brak a bit or tap, or it would end up being off somehow. i'll just keep it simple.

 

[racsan]

think ive finnally decided how to do my centercaps, thought about drilling/tapping and using the originals from my alloy wheels, but i happened to have a old rusty set that ive painted with primer then clearcoated, will do the same (grey primer/clearcoat) to the brake drums and front lockouts. not sure if i'll bother with paint on the front calipers, will just get dirty quick or discolor from the heat of brake useage. ready for it to warm up so i can get the tires and new sway bar on, see how it will be with a set of wider tires. going with a 255/70/15, im not sure how im going to like the tires being a little outside of the body, but since i got 3-1/2 offset instead of the 4" it was supposed to be, i cant do much about it, just hope its not too much of a load on the wheel bearings with the off-center loading...guess i'll find out!, i plan on going through the front end before i put the new tires on, make sure my bearings are good to begin with and i have fresh grease and proper preload in place.

 

[racsan]

going with these tires:
Tire Details Futura GLS Super Sport | Pep Boys
cooper tires, 60,000 mile rated tire, probly just run these in the summer anyways, too wide for winter useage, might try them and see, pickicing them up saterday, im sure theres still some snow left this winter. would have rather had the generals, but these are quite a bit cheaper and for what i do with my truck , these will work and probly be better on mpg's.

 

[racsan]

bought my new tires saterday. wont get them on until after i go through the front axle, probly in another month, too cold out right now to work outside. best thing is, when they rang up my tires, they listed them as a 225 70 15, when really they are 255 70 15. so i got 96 dollar tires for 80 bucks per tire! didnt even notice their mistake until i got home and was looking over the receipt. i know i got the right size on my rims, i checked that out before i loaded them into the truck.



going to see if i can find a cover of some kind to go over the lockout knob, ive noticed when i have the front end apart for maintenence and i put oil in the hubs, i will have some leak out by the knob, if oil can leak out, then water could leak in. going to paint the lockout, cover and rear brake drum the same grey that ive painted the rear center cap with.

 

[racsan]

today i started seeing what i needed to do to put my new rear stabilizer bar on, turns out i need to pull the bed, old link on the drivers side i cant get to the nut on the backside without pulling the bed or dropping the tank, guess it will have to wait until its warmer out. since i had the jack out anyways and it wasnt too bitter cold, figured id roll a tire out and see what it looked like, just tried it on the rear, tire is right at the edge of the flare at the top of the wheelwell, just outside the edge of my mudflap. i'll probly get a longer bolt where the mudflap bracket joins the frame and kick the flap to the outside a 1/2 inch. also took a picture of the new tire beside the ones im running right now, its noticeably wider. wish it was warm enough out to go through the front end so i could put them on, got some seals from autozone yesterday, if im lucky all i'll need to do is regrease things, the good bearings are 25 bucks per bearing, but if their needed im putting them in.

 

[DNFXDLI]

That is quite a bit wider, should be pretty quiet with that tread pattern as well

 

[racsan]

one step closer to getting them on today, had to put in a new radiator so that ate up alot of my time and it started turning colder before i could get much done with the front axle, while i was waiting for the wife to get home with the last hose clamp i needed i took off a front tire and put one of the new ones on. this same side is now stripped down to the steering knuckle, hopefully it warms up tomorrow and i can finish things up and get all the tires on. at least the bearings on the right side seem good, hopefully the other side is good as well, then its just a "repack and reassemble". wish i had a garage, i dont mind working out in the open as long as its nice out, which it wasnt bad until about 4 today, then it turned cold and started spitting rain, which turned to sleet.

 

[racsan]

finnally got them all on, looks so much better than the steel jeep wrangler rims ive been running for winter.

 

[Beach66Bum]

nothing like new rubber and rims
looks good