Tires: Tires for a 1998 pathfinder, nissan pathfinder, gear ratios

Question
Hi. I'm looking for new tires for a 1998 Nissan pathfinder. the original tires are 265/70/R15. I want to buy a Dunlop Radial Rover RVXT as I can use it is a snow tire, but I can use it year round. This car only gets a few tghousand km a year, mostly for hiking and skiing in the backcountry.

A local store has a good privce on the tires, but they say that size is back ordered. they are recommending a 31x10.5xr15 instead. They say it is only 0.2" bigger. But it seems to me this is 1.4" bigger diameter. Is that ok to put these tires on? What will it mean re gear ratios, rubbing, chains, etc?

Thanks

Answer
Mike,

It is possible that this particular manufacturer makes the tire on the small side - and that's why the tire shop made that recommendation - but I don't know that.

This doesn't sound like a good idea.  It is going to slightly change the effective gear ratio and it is possible the tires may rub.  I can't be sure on the rubbing, because I would need to know how big the fenderwells are - and no one publishes a lists for all the vehicles out there.

But if you decide to go this way, I recommend you get the tire shop to assure that this will not be a problem - in writing.