Replacing the Tires on Your Ford Ranger

The Ford Ranger hit the market in 1983 to compete with the smaller pickups sweeping the Nation from Japan. The Ranger replaced the Ford Courier as Fords new small pickup truck first offered as a 2 wheel drive model and then a 4x4 model later the same year. The Ranger was inspired by its bigger brother the Ford F-150 in styling. The Ranger however offered a more economical and compact design. The same promise holds true today however unlike in previous years when a 4 cyl version was offered the Ranger is now only available as a 6 cylinder.

Choosing the right tires for your Ranger really depends on a few things such as if the truck is a 4x4 and your driving habits. Other things to consider would be are you going to take the truck off road and if you live in one of the Northern states are you going to run snow tires or run all terrain tires year round. All of these questions you should ask yourself before looking at tires.

If your truck is a 2 wheel drive then a basic mild all season will work just fine as well as installing a set of snow tires in the winter if you are in a climate where you have harsh winters. A ranger is light weight so a basic all season will fit the bill.

Now when it comes to the 4wd version this is when we really need to look at our driving habits. Most people go with a middle of the road all terrain tire and run them year round. This however is not the perfect scenario if you live where winters are harsh, yes you can get by but you will have much better safety and traction by installing snow tires in the winter. You also must remember that the truck is light weight and can slide easily so you need all the traction you can get.

Putting sand bags in the rear does help but isn't the cure all. For those of you who do install snow tires then you can get by with a basic all season or even a street tire in the summer months. By doing this you will also improve your ride especially if you travel mostly on the highway.

So we have gone over some things to consider for tires on your Ford Ranger. Ultimately it is up to you to look at what you use the truck for and what makes the most sense for your driving habits.