I know there is alot of info about larger tires in this section, but I would like to bring it all together into one thread. Any one who upgraded there wheels and/or tires, could you please give any info that may help others (including myself) choose what set up they should go with.

Some questions:

What is the size, and make of your new and stock wheels and tires?

Do they rub, and if they do, how bad, and where?

Do you have a lift? If yes, what kind?

What advantages or disadvantages did you notice?

Did you recalibrate your spedo?

What was the back spacing on the rims?

Any one who can post pics of there truck with larger tires would be very helpful.

Thank you

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'99 F-150 XLT SC 4x4 5.4L Auto 3.55LS Tow pkg skid plates , Superchip, Gibson cat-back, K&N filter w/ airbox mods


[This message has been edited by NSS (edited 09-08-1999).]

 

I mounted 305/70-16 GOODYEAR WRANGLER AT/S on my truck, heres the info:
- 16 x 7 stock 5 star aluminum wheels
- They had a 14mm backset printed on center of rim
- No Lift, Towing package
- No rubbing, just enough clearence with wheels turned fully
- No front splash gaurds with factory sidesteps
- They look great!!!

Sorry, pics are coming soon, hope this helps... Gino

[This message has been edited by GinosF150 (edited 09-08-1999).]

 

forgot the profile...

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Gino Tedesco, '99 XLT 5.4l, SUPERCHIPPED, 3" Gibson catback exhaust,4x4 S/C Flareside D.wedge bl/Dk.graph, factory sidesteps & Tonneau cover, Manik grlgaurd w/Piaa lights, 305/70-16 Goodyear Wrangler AT/S tires

 

I have 305/70-16 Goodyear Wrangler MT's on American Racing Nitro wheels, 16 x 8 with 0 offset.

They rub a little bit on the air dam and mud flaps, but not enough to hurt anything, you can just hear it in the cab when they rub at low speed. I don't have a lift and I didn't recalibrate the speedo, the tires are only about 2% larger in diameter so I left it alone.

Now the truck actually looks like a 4x4.

Stock tires were the 265/70-17 Goodyear Wrangler RT/S.

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1999 F-150 XLT Reg. cab F/S Sport 4x4, Black w/ Gray Interior, 4.6 Auto, Lund Tonneau Cover, 305/70/16 GY MT on 16X8 American Racing Nitro Wheels, More to come.

 

NSS,

Gettin' new wheels and tires- cool!

I have American Racing Pythons 16 x 8 with BFG 285/75/16 A/T KO's. My stock tires were the 255/70/16 and just looked a little puney for a 4X.

I had the torsion bars cranked up 3/4" of an inch to have the front of the truck sit level with the back (could have been 1/4" to 1/2" inch higher). I don't know of an offset on the wheel but will look into it for you. I took the truck wheelin' for the first time over laborday weekend and didn't experience any rubbing. I don't wheel too hard though.

Hoped this helped.

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99 4x4 XLT supercab 5.4L Flareside, Deep Wedgewood Blue/Med. Graphite w/ Captain Chairs Pioneer DEP-4000, Tint, K&N, Bedliner, 3" Catback w/3 Chamber Flowmaster, 285/75/16 BFG A/T on American Racing Python wheels

 

Het loser,
How did you crank up the torsion bars to get a higher lift in the front, and does the truck ride harder, thanks.
Gino

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Gino Tedesco, '99 XLT 5.4l, SUPERCHIPPED, 3" Gibson catback exhaust,4x4 S/C Flareside D.wedge bl/Dk.graph, factory sidesteps & Tonneau cover, Manik grlgaurd w/Piaa lights, 305/70-16 Goodyear Wrangler AT/S tires

 

All I did was go from 255/70R-16 AP's (Goodyear OWL? and stock)to 265/75R-16 ATP's (Bridegstone OWL) with the stock weels. This is on a 97 Lariat 4X4. Much better look and better traction. Not too much more road noise. Put a Gibson Super Truck Exhaust on to drowned that out anyway! Recalibrated my brain for the 4% difference in speedo. Hope I don't forget!

 

GinosF150,

I've always had a shop do my T-bars on my trucks. You need to have the front end realigned after the adjustment.

The T-bars are the two bars the run from the front end to about the cross member. Each turn of the bolt raises the front end. You probally don't want to use the T-bars to go up over 1 1/2"s. The ride does get a little more stiff but nothing really noticeable.

So if you're just looking to level out the truck, this is a very cost effective solution. Let me suggestagain that you get it done at an alignment shop. They have always just charged me for the cost of the alignment, no extra cost for the T-bar adjustment.

I'm not a technical/mechanical genius. If anyone has anything to add/correct please do so.



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99 4x4 XLT supercab 5.4L Flareside, Deep Wedgewood Blue/Med. Graphite w/ Captain Chairs Pioneer DEP-4000, Tint, K&N, Bedliner, 3" Catback w/3 Chamber Flowmaster, 285/75/16 BFG A/T on American Racing Python wheels

 

Loser1, I'm curious to know if by cranking up the t-bars, was it enough to clear the factory mud flaps that comes with the flareside? Or was there trimming needed? I'm looking to get 285/75/16 BFG M/T's soon.

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'98 F-150 XLT Reg. Cab Flareside 4x4, Black, 5.4l, 3.55LS, tow package, K&N, GTS headlight covers, Alpine changer w/FM mod, Clifford alarm system w/keyless entry & starter disable // Future considerations: 285/75/r16 Mud Terrain BFG's, bed mat, tonneau cover, suspension lift.

 

Fordification,

I didn't run the truck b-4 the T-bars were worked. There seemed to be plenty of room for 285/75/16's with out upin' the T-bars (at least thats what the guy at the tire shop told me). No, I haven't trimed any thing and the mud flaps are fine, nothing rubs.

Happy wheeling!

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99 4x4 XLT supercab 5.4L Flareside, Deep Wedgewood Blue/Med. Graphite w/ Captain Chairs Pioneer DEP-4000, Tint, K&N, Bedliner, 3" Catback w/3 Chamber Flowmaster, 285/75/16 BFG A/T on American Racing Python wheels

 

I have American Racing Baja's with 305/70/16 Goodyear AT/S. I cranked the torsion bars up about an 1 - 1.5" but didn't have to.

The tires rubbed the factory mud gaurds on the front. I took out the dremel and trimmed 'em a little and bent them back slightly. No rubbing now and they look awesome!

 

My truck: '97 F150 XL 4x4 SC
-From 235/75-16 to 265/75-16 Wild Spirit MPT
-Still mounted on stock XL steel wheels
-No rubbing
-No lift yet
-Better ride
-Speedo is way off (about 10%)
-I have about 35,000 on tires and getting close to replacing. I want BFG's and and different wheels. Considering my truck came with 235/75-16, I would like opinions on how big and how wide would look and work good. What about a speedo gear?

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'97 F150XL 4.6L 4x4 SC, Quicksilver Metallic,
265/75-16 Wild Spirit MPT tires on factory steel wheels, K&N air filter, Lund fiberglass topper, Access Roll-Up Cover, bug deflector, rear custom Ford mudflaps, bedliner, Pioneer Supertunner CD, 4 Cerwin Vega Speakers. Future mods: BFG's and wheels, bucket seats, duel exhaust for starters.

 

Wildchild,
I do have the 3.55 gearing that came in the truck. In going from a 235 to a 265 on the stock 16x7 steel wheels, what does my gearing end up being? In the future I would like to go slightly wider and taller. Probably a wider wheel. I am confused in what wheel/tire combination to go with and where my gearing will end up and where my speedo will end up.

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'97 F150XL 4.6L 5 spd 4x4 SC, Quicksilver Metallic,
265/75-16 Wild Spirit MPT tires on factory steel wheels, K&N air filter, Leer fiberglass topper, Access Roll-Up Cover, bug deflector, rear custom Ford mudflaps, bedliner, Pioneer Supertunner CD, 4 Cerwin Vega Speakers. Future mods: BFG's and wheels, bucket seats, shocks, duel exhaust for starters.

 

A "quick and dirty" method that works pretty good as long as rim size is constant:

235/265 = 0.887

0.887*3.55 = 3.25

Your "effective" ratio is now 3.25:1.
Your speedo is off almost 11% (1-0.887=0.113)

Neal




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1997 4x4 Expedition- 4.6L, true dual exhaust w/glass-packs, K&N air filter, SuperChip, airbox mods, Edelbrock shocks, 285/75R16 BFG ATs, Optima "T-Bone" wheels, and Clarion In-dash CD player. Just added Smitty Bilt push bars and nerf bars!!

1993 4x2 F150 Reg. Cab LWB- 5.0L, cat-back dual exhaust w/glass-packs, K&N air filter, Superchip, fresh paint, and Line-X bedliner.
http://members.visualcities.com/NoMo

 

doesn't matter what tires were stock. what does matter however is what gear ratio you are running. the taller the tire you go with the higher ( numerically lower your ratio will become) i have a chart for this from a 4x4 mag i could look for it if your interested in knowing what ratio is appropriate for what size tire. going to a 31 inch tire is generally easy even 33 inch if you have the 3.55 ratio