Ford Ranger on 33s with no lift – Is it possible?

Is it possible to equip your ford ranger with a common off-road tire size like 33s, without a body lift? Will the tire rub? In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about 33-inch tires on your ford ranger.

Why is it better to have Larger Tires?

If you install large tires you can easily improve the off-roading capabilities of your Ford Ranger. There are a lot of advantages of larger tires like improving the ground clearance, approach/departure angles, and widening the tracks. Along with that they also provide a larger ground contact point. This increases the grip and improves traction. Last but not least, large tires improve the overall look of your ranger giving it a beefier appearance and a wider stance.

What is the largest size of tires you can equip on a Ford Ranger on a stock suspension without a lift?

The Biggest tire size that can be accommodated by a factory-stock 2019 Ford Ranger without any modifications is 31.6” or 265/65/18. How about fitting a 285/70/17 (33”) without a lift or a level? Is it going to be too close to the spindle and will the tires be far enough away from the crash bars? You have to keep a few factors in mind if you want to fit bigger tiers into a stock suspension like –

• Wheel Clearance
• Backspacing
• Stock Suspension Travel
• Bottoming Out
• Wheel Spacers
• Spare Wheel
• Aftermarket Rims

Wheel Clearance

Wheel clearance is a space between the tire and the nearest object i.e. the wheel arch. Ford ranger can easily fit a 32” tire on the stock rims without scrubbing or requiring any modifications. As soon as you want to fit a 33″ tire you need a lift or suspension upgrade to fit the large tires. You also have the option of changing to a 20+ offset aftermarket rim, so that you can accommodate 33” inch tires with a little wheel well modification. shocks

Crash Bars

If you want to accommodate bigger 33” tire sizes without a lift kit, you need to do a few modifications. The crash bars (or intrusion beams) of Ranger T6 stick out from the wheel well, so a bigger 285/70/17 tire will make contact. So these have to be removed so that the new tires are not damaged. They are quite tough to be removed so be prepared. Once they are removed completely and a 20+ offset aftermarket wheel is attached you will be able to fit 33” tires comfortably.

You can also swap them out for some aftermarket Intrusion beams from readylift

Note – We would not advise you to go for off-road travel and trails with the 285’s until you do a 2” suspension upgrade. The chance of rubbing is too great

Wheel Offset

The wheel offset refers to how your wheels sit inside the wheel wells. To measure the offset of your wheel you have to start from the hub mounting surface and stop at the imaginary center line of the wheel. You have the options of positive and negative offset wheels. In the case of positive, the imaginary line towards the front. In case of negative the mounting surface is towards the rear of the rim, which creates a deep fish effect. While fitting a 33” tire to a Ford Ranger with a stock suspension, you will need an aftermarket rim with a negative offset. This will make the tire come further outside which in turn will create more space in the wheel well. This will reduce the risk of contact with the spindle or UCA (Upper Control Arm) during turning.

Stock Suspension Travel

Suspension travel refers to the extension and compression of the spring. While trying to fit a 33″ tire without a body lift or suspension upgrade, you put the wheels at risk of scrubbing at full travel. Trying to fit large tires doesn’t decrease travel.

Bottoming Out

There always is a chance of the suspension bottoming out if you try to fit large tire sizes in the trucks. This reason is that a stock suspension is not designed to fit a heavier wheel combination. The suspension modifications help to keep your car at a level, despite the topography of the road.

Wheel Spacers

It is safe to fit a 265/70/17 on the T6 if you have a stock suspension. Tying to fit a 275/70/17 on the factory standard suspension will be very tight. In the case of a 265/70/17, there will be very little space between the inside of the tire and the upper control arm. This problem can be solved with a wheel spacer or a +20 offset aftermarket rims.

Spare Wheel

Never forget to upgrade your spare tire to the new size. If you use tires with smaller diameters there will be a huge strain on your spider gears. If the truck is driven in this condition for too long it will result in drivetrain damage. If you want to keep the initial cost low you may purchase used stock wheels of the same size, while upgrading.

Aftermarket Rims

You might be wondering how does aftermarket rims affect the tire choice? So by fitting aftermarket rims with a negative offset we increase the backspacing. This gives more room for larger tires. With an aftermarket rim now you can easily fit a 285/70/17. This will make the vehicle more stable and give it a wider footprint.

Largest tires that can be fit on 2019 + Ford Ranger without a Body Lift

2019 ford ranger on 33s, is it possible? Ranger Raptor has 32.7 inches stock tires. The Raptor has bigger wheel arches in comparison to the stock Ranger PX2, thus a bigger 33” can fit without much hassle.The frame design has new geometry for the large suspension. This gives the Raptor DNA, increased track and wheel travel. This means that the suspension setup is highly sophisticated and can fit larger tires easily.

Although fitting 33″ tires to the new 2019 Ford Ranger is not a big hassle you still have to add a bit more if you want to venture off-road and want maximum articulation the ranger has to offer. The combination of stock suspension and rim does not allow the 33″ to bolt-on. You will need a (3/8”) spacer so that the wheel does not rub against the spindle.

Also if you upgrade your wheels to something with a more negative offset for improving backspacing will help. In that case, you can fit a 275/70/17 easily. You will need a 2-inch leveling kit and 1/4 inch spacers in the front so that this setup works on factory wheels.

Takeaway

Always remember bigger does not mean always better. There are a few disadvantages of bigger tires that you need to know. Firstly, bigger tires put stress on the suspension components. That would require frequent maintenance. Also if you have too big tires it will have a negative effect on fuel economy and your speedometer reading. Having heavier tires will increase the unsprung weight on your 4WD which would lead to more fuel consumption. Before you upgrade your tires consider upgrading your suspension, particularly if you go offroading.

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