The last piece to go on the...
The last piece to go on the truck made the biggest difference. The 20x8.5-inch Boss Motorsports 304 wheels dwarf the 15-inch factory wheels and were mounted with a set of high-end Continental ContiSportContact 2 tires.
The tires were sized 255/35R20...
The tires were sized 255/35R20 and are some of Continental's best tires for high performance summer driving. The Ranger isn't going to need their Z-speed rating, but their solid shoulders provide tremendous grip while cornering. The larger footprint was also a welcomed improvement.
From The Driver Seat
The owner couldn't be happier with the way the truck handles. With the lowering kit and the stock wheels and tires, the truck drove like a small car, and the low-profile Continentals upped the grip tremendously. Whereas the tires were expensive, we didn't want to skimp on one of the most important improvements. With the 2/3 drop there's still plenty of travel and even with two people in the cab the ride wasn't harsh. There's hardly any body roll now, and the truck is much tighter. We didn't get to see how the larger tires affected braking, but the new wheels and tires are heavier, so a brake upgrade might be next on the list. The 14mm offset of the Boss wheels set the wider tires almost perfectly even with the fenders-- we love the look and so does the owner. We still don't know what the intake and exhaust will do for power and economy, although the truck feels the same even as the four-cylinder has to move around more wheel and tire than before. The sound is very mellow, which was what the owner requested. Up front, the Carriage Works black billet grille receives thumbs up everywhere we go and the fit and finish is topnotch. As is the case with Summit Racing, our shopping experience was a breeze and the parts arrived quickly.
Time Spent Working: Suspension 3-1/2 hours, Grille 1-1/2 hours, Exhaust 1-1/2 hours, Intake 2 hours
Degree Of Difficulty: EASY
Jason handled the suspension in no time, but with a jack and some stands, anyone could install the kit in an afternoon. We handled everything else and didn't have any problems.
Tools Needed:
Reciprocating saw, jack, jackstands, Unibit, drill, ratchet and sockets, 7/32-inch wrench, 5/16-inch and -inch nut driver.