Wider lower tire ok?

Question

My Ford Ranger "passenger car" takes a 225/75R15. Any problem with using a 235/70R15? Hankook Mileage Plus at $100 each out the door.

Answer 1

The car will be lower to the ground.  The might might scrape against speed bumps and get damaged.

Answer 2

The wider, lower-aspect tire will be right at an inch shorter in circumference.  It means your tires will turn ever so slightly faster to get you down the road, but the difference is only about 1 percent.

If you're currently cruising at 60mph with an engine speed of 2000rpm, you're going to need 2020rpm with the new tire.

That plus the slightly wider tire width may cause you to burn a teeny bit more fuel, but you can easily counteract that by altering your driving habits a tad.  So, is it okay?

I can't see why not.  Check the owner's manual to be sure, they'll usually give a range to warn you away from tires that are wide enough to rub inside the fenders.

Answer 3

1. The vehicle will have a rougher ride.

2. The speedometer will be off somewhat.

3. You might set of the (VSS) depending on what year you have.