Question for those who have installed bigger tires

[seafarrer]

I had 245/70/17 R tires installed after doing the rough country 2 inch lift kit. The guy who installed the tires told me that the front tires rubs the felt lining when fully turning. he told me I should take a box cutter to the felt to cut out the areas where there is rubbing or the car could potentially catch on fire.
I’ve noticed there is only rubbing when doing a U-turn or a tight three-point turn in a parking lot at low speeds. I know other people have installed the same size tire on their Maverick. I’m very hesitant to take a box cutter to it. I wanted to hear if this has been an issue for other people and if they’ve needed to do anything about it and if actually cutting out some of the felt with a box cutter is a good idea.

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[Grand Nat.]

I wouldn't worry about setting you Maverick on fire unless you are in a constant 360 degree u turn and doing Donuts. However the rubbing could be annoying to some owners .

 

[IHateSpeedbumps]

Self clearancing tires. Let them rub till the noise stops.

 

[Montana]

If you are rubbing at turning the wheels you are rubbing so many more times on the road, you just don't notice it.

That setup is overkill. 245/65R17 is bigger than you'll ever need on a Maverick and you can run them stock. All your lift did on this unibody was pull the front tires to the rear and your rear tires forward. So you lost space there with the lift alone. Then a size tire that is known for rubbing.

Your only solutions are trim, or downsize.

 

[Snox801]

Depends on where it rubs.
if in the front inside of liner do not cut it. It can rub and will never catch fire you are not turning at that angle at any speed or time that would catch fire. But if it’s rubbing in that spot just take a heat gun and warm up that liner and push it out of the way when it cools it will keep the shape you put it in.

If it’s rubbing in the back no sense cutting because you have a pinch weld behind it. Again just let it rub. You will only rub when at almost full wheel lock which you won’t achieve at any speed high enough or long enough to catch a fire.
Tire will eventually rub through the liner and polish up the pinch weld nice.

 

[seafarrer]

Depends on where it rubs.
if in the front inside of liner do not cut it. It can rub and will never catch fire you are not turning at that angle at any speed or time that would catch fire. But if it’s rubbing in that spot just take a heat gun and warm up that liner and push it out of the way when it cools it will keep the shape you put it in.

If it’s rubbing in the back no sense cutting because you have a pinch weld behind it. Again just let it rub. You will only rub when at almost full wheel lock which you won’t achieve at any speed high enough or long enough to catch a fire.
Tire will eventually rub through the liner and polish up the pinch weld nice.

No tire rubbing in the back, just in the front at full lockout. I like the idea of a heat gun to reshape it. I’ll give that a go

 

[Scupking]

245/65R17 would be the max I would ever go on a Maverick but that's just my opinion...

 

[Mdmac]

If you are rubbing at turning the wheels you are rubbing so many more times on the road, you just don't notice it.

That setup is overkill. 245/65R17 is bigger than you'll ever need on a Maverick and you can run them stock. All your lift did on this unibody was pull the front tires to the rear and your rear tires forward. So you lost space there with the lift alone. Then a size tire that is known for rubbing.

Your only solutions are trim, or downsize.

I have a set of Hankook Dynapro AT2 in 235/65/17 and absolutely no rubbing just FYI. Good Luck

 

[Montana]

I have a set of Hankook Dynapro AT2 in 235/65/17 and absolutely no rubbing just FYI. Good Luck

Exactly. 245/65R17 KO2's here and they are total overkill for this truck. I'll be going with 235's next time.

 

[CFR68]

I had 245/70/17 R tires installed after doing the rough country 2 inch lift kit. The guy who installed the tires told me that the front tires rubs the felt lining when fully turning. he told me I should take a box cutter to the felt to cut out the areas where there is rubbing or the car could potentially catch on fire.
I’ve noticed there is only rubbing when doing a U-turn or a tight three-point turn in a parking lot at low speeds. I know other people have installed the same size tire on their Maverick. I’m very hesitant to take a box cutter to it. I wanted to hear if this has been an issue for other people and if they’ve needed to do anything about it and if actually cutting out some of the felt with a box cutter is a good idea.

Same size tire, is NOT overkill, haven't caught fire yet in just over 1,500 miles having my tires. The rubbing will work itself out as the tires wear. Send it and enjoy the new cooler look.

 

[prsncat]

I had 245/70/17 R tires installed after doing the rough country 2 inch lift kit. The guy who installed the tires told me that the front tires rubs the felt lining when fully turning. he told me I should take a box cutter to the felt to cut out the areas where there is rubbing or the car could potentially catch on fire.
I’ve noticed there is only rubbing when doing a U-turn or a tight three-point turn in a parking lot at low speeds. I know other people have installed the same size tire on their Maverick. I’m very hesitant to take a box cutter to it. I wanted to hear if this has been an issue for other people and if they’ve needed to do anything about it and if actually cutting out some of the felt with a box cutter is a good idea.

I have 17x7.5 ALPHAequipt Halo CUV Black Painted wheels with 245/70R-17 Vredestein Pinza All-Terrain tires on my 2023 Maverick and they don't rub.

 

[AzureBlueBill]

"Catch fire!" LOL, that's a good one.

 

[Montana]

Same size tire, is NOT overkill, haven't caught fire yet in just over 1,500 miles having my tires. The rubbing will work itself out as the tires wear. Send it and enjoy the new cooler look.

If a truck just like yours running 235's parked right next to it, it would look just as cool and the difference wouldn't be noticeable. Just saying. Yours almost even looks too high in the front but I'm assuming that's just the weight of the tires in the bed and the angle.

It's funny though, the majority of people across the board that go multiple tire sizes up on any vehicle will defend their decisions with their lives. It's not that serious. But two sizes up on the Maverick is definitely overkill. You knew it when you bought them and the goal was to look cool and fill a small gap that nobody notices. Cool. The entire forum knows it lol. It's two sizes up and provides no real world benefits on or off road in these vehicles. You'd be better off going with 225/65R17 mud tires if function was the goal.

 

[CFR68]

If a truck just like yours running 235's parked right next to it, it would look just as cool and the difference wouldn't be noticeable. Just saying. Yours almost even looks too high in the front but I'm assuming that's just the weight of the tires in the bed and the angle.

Thanks for your reply Montana, "just saying" really sells it. I can assure you it sits level, notice there is some weight at the very end of the bed with the 4 tires. You may be right that a casual observer won't see the difference, but Seafarrer and I will and appreciate the added cool factor. Oh, and you do know 235 vs. 245 is a width difference, NOT height, right?

 

[Montana]

Thanks for your reply Montana, "just saying" really sells it. I can assure you it sits level, notice there is some weight at the very end of the bed with the 4 tires. You may be right that a casual observer won't see the difference, but Seafarrer and I will and appreciate the added cool factor. Oh, and you do know 235 vs. 245 is a width difference, NOT height, right?

You do know going up from a 235 to 245 DOES increase height, right? I guess maybe I should spell it out in crayon with the entire tire size for you? But regardless, 235/65 to 245/65 (and 70 obviously) WILL increase diameter.

Lots of great advice apparently from someone who doesn't even know what changes in tire size actually does.

Here is a tool you can use in the future:
Tire size calculator



Just. Saying.

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