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  #1  
Old 06-15-2011, 09:49 AM
sixshooter sixshooter is offline
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Default Bigger-than-stock tires - no power in 5th gear... gear ratio?

more details in my sig. I have put on 225/75-15 (28") tires instead of the stock 225/70-14 (26"). What is happening is at highway speed I'm having to keep my gas pedal pegged on the floorboards to maintain 70 mph. Passing is a joke, I always have to downshift, sometimes to 3rd just to get the revs high enough to pass, even at 60 mph. I got it into the 90s once going downhill (I don't always drive that fast, either, I was trying to catch up to someone on a road trip).

Here's the issue: I can only imagine that this lack of oomph (to use a technical term) is caused by the larger tires throwing off the gear ratio that the engine is designed to work with. I can also imagine that this is having a negative effect on my gas mileage AND is causing my engine and transmission undue stress.

Here's the problem: I'm going to school in the fall, and I'll be commuting twice a week (to school on Monday, home on Friday) and I'm concerned about my truck. It's going to be a lot of miles over the next 2 years.

Is it possible that 2" in overall tire height is really killing it on the highway? Around town it's fine, from a red light it'll squeal the tires and I'm always the first through an intersection, so it's not like I'm having engine trouble.

Any ideas or suggestions?

PS: should this have gone in "Wheels and Tires" or "Drivetrain Tech"?
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1995 • 2.3L • 2WD • 5 speed • 201k (10/10/15) • no A/C
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180k (5/17/13)

Last edited by sixshooter; 06-15-2011 at 10:08 AM. Reason: wrong sub-forum?
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  #2  
Old 06-17-2011, 10:16 PM
sixshooter sixshooter is offline
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Default Re: Bigger-than-stock tires - no power in 5th gear... gear ratio?

30 something views and no comments? Anyone have ANYthing to say?

How about some more questions from me...
Could this (theoretically) be fixed with a different set of gears in the rear diff?
Could this be an engine related problem that I'm unaware of?
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1995 • 2.3L • 2WD • 5 speed • 201k (10/10/15) • no A/C
{extra leaf springs, the rattiest set of AR Outlaw IIs you've ever seen, aftermarket lead foot, stock rust and other broken parts}
180k (5/17/13)
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  #3  
Old 06-17-2011, 10:21 PM
HazardousRanger HazardousRanger is offline
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Default Re: Bigger-than-stock tires - no power in 5th gear... gear ratio?

shouldve gone in drivetrain


what axle gears do you have? you might have too low of a gear that its harder to keep up w the engine...for 28s u prolly should have at minimum 3.55

but im just spitballling here..i know about HUGE tires...not 28s

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so to answer ur question...yes i think a different gear would help ALOT

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btw frf is active from like 4 to 10....bump ur thread durin that time and ur more likely to get an answer

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just in case u dont know ur gears.....
Click>>> http://www.fordrangerforum.com/drive...xle-codes.html
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  #4  
Old 06-17-2011, 11:17 PM
rstangboi rstangboi is offline
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Default Re: Bigger-than-stock tires - no power in 5th gear... gear ratio?

find new tires or a new rear axle with better gears.

the motors we have....we cant toss on bigger tires and not worry about gear ratios or torque issues.

cuz we just dont have either on our side!
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  #5  
Old 06-17-2011, 11:24 PM
pooleo pooleo is offline
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Default Re: Bigger-than-stock tires - no power in 5th gear... gear ratio?

yep, sounds about right. My dad had a similar problem, he went to 235's from 205's. Lost 5th gear all together. he had 3.73. We changed out to 4.10's. If you have a 7.5" I have a the stock 3.73 from his truck (if you have 3.08-3.27-3.55) And I also have a complete rear end with new Ford Racing 4.10's. I can take the gears out and ship em. Both are 7.5 as we later swapped in an 8.8 in his truck
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Old 06-20-2011, 11:35 AM
sixshooter sixshooter is offline
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Default Re: Bigger-than-stock tires - no power in 5th gear... gear ratio?

It's a totally stock rear end. I have no idea about gearing. Is changing the gearing a huge undertaking for a daily driver? What would you do? It's a '95 with 164k miles on it. I'm just hoping it lasts another couple years... is it worth it to change the gearing?
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1995 • 2.3L • 2WD • 5 speed • 201k (10/10/15) • no A/C
{extra leaf springs, the rattiest set of AR Outlaw IIs you've ever seen, aftermarket lead foot, stock rust and other broken parts}
180k (5/17/13)
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  #7  
Old 06-20-2011, 11:40 AM
Ramsey Ramsey is offline
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Default Re: Bigger-than-stock tires - no power in 5th gear... gear ratio?

you could get a 4.0 but thats a little more expensive than mosts price range my truck has 33's and 4.10's its got plenty of power but its a 4.0 so i guess i may be talkin outta my arse
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Old 06-20-2011, 11:40 AM
DiabloBlanco DiabloBlanco is offline
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Default Re: Bigger-than-stock tires - no power in 5th gear... gear ratio?

yeah i have 4.10s in an 8.8 housing, still no balls in 5th. Its your motor as well bud.
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  #9  
Old 06-20-2011, 01:46 PM
HazardousRanger HazardousRanger is offline
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Default Re: Bigger-than-stock tires - no power in 5th gear... gear ratio?

Quote:
Originally Posted by DiabloBlanco View Post
yeah i have 4.10s in an 8.8 housing, still no balls in 5th. Its your motor as well bud.
what speed range is 5th gear?
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Ford Ranger Edge Supercab, 2004 3.0 Auto, 2WD, 4.10 Axle 31x10.5x15 BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A KO's


My Truck Is My Mountain Bike's Ride!

Class III hitch, Rhino Bedliner, Almost Maxed T-Bar Crank, Tuff Country Add A Leaf, Custom Low Anchor Points, OEM ('99) Tow Hooks, Pro Comp Offroad Lights , Mustang Dome Light, Clear Corners, Slim Toolbox, Blinker Mod,Cargo Brake Light Mod,Expo Lighted Visors, Ultra Silverstar heads/fogs, Fog/high mod, Reverse/switched lights, Bike Fork Mounts
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  #10  
Old 06-20-2011, 01:47 PM
DiabloBlanco DiabloBlanco is offline
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Default Re: Bigger-than-stock tires - no power in 5th gear... gear ratio?

60- 65 uphill bout 70-75 downhill
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  #11  
Old 06-20-2011, 01:50 PM
HazardousRanger HazardousRanger is offline
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Default Re: Bigger-than-stock tires - no power in 5th gear... gear ratio?

^^ cuz of ur 31s? i do pretty good going uphill, granted its not a 250 or something lol
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Ford Ranger Edge Supercab, 2004 3.0 Auto, 2WD, 4.10 Axle 31x10.5x15 BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A KO's


My Truck Is My Mountain Bike's Ride!

Class III hitch, Rhino Bedliner, Almost Maxed T-Bar Crank, Tuff Country Add A Leaf, Custom Low Anchor Points, OEM ('99) Tow Hooks, Pro Comp Offroad Lights , Mustang Dome Light, Clear Corners, Slim Toolbox, Blinker Mod,Cargo Brake Light Mod,Expo Lighted Visors, Ultra Silverstar heads/fogs, Fog/high mod, Reverse/switched lights, Bike Fork Mounts
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  #12  
Old 06-20-2011, 03:39 PM
Rg1Baja Rg1Baja is offline
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Default Re: Bigger-than-stock tires - no power in 5th gear... gear ratio?

Odds are you have 3:73's. Throw some 4:56's in it. Wake it up. Should be a tag on the rear end with the ratio stamped.
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  #13  
Old 06-21-2011, 09:01 AM
DiabloBlanco DiabloBlanco is offline
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Default Re: Bigger-than-stock tires - no power in 5th gear... gear ratio?

nah its cause of my 3.slow
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