I have ordered my new 2006 FX4 Screw and want to swap out the 18" factory wheels and tires with the Helo Maxx 6 17x9 and BFG 285/70/17 tires. I am planning on putting on a 2.5" leveling kit as well.

My questions are, what offset/backspace do I need to keep them from sticking way out or from being too far in and rubbing? I've seen them in 17x9 6x135 bolt pattern and 18 offset and also in -12 and even 5.5 which must be inches instead of metric. I'm confused and need a quick tutorial on what backspacing and offset mean. More importantly, which ones do I get for my truck that will look good....meaning that they stick out just a little from the wheel well? Thanks.

 

I can't answer that question, but I will tackle another topic: tires. First off, sure you want 17s and not 18s? These trucks dwarf wheels...even 22s don't look that big anymore.

Secondly, especially with the levelling kit those tires will be too small I think. Make sure you see some other trucks with the same size and the levelling kit before you order..I would hate to order tires and then not be 100% happy

 

Backspacing is the distance from the rear lip of the rim to it's mounting surface (where the wheel bolts to the spindle/axle). The OEM backspacing is 5 1/2 inches on the factory 7.5 inch wide wheels. You want to stay near this. The less backspacing, the more the wheel will stick out.

 

I understand why you want to go down a size.....Price!! Those 18 in. Helos are expensive. I'm getting ready to to order some Helos for my truck also. I plan on running the 17x8 with a 33-12.50-17. That's about as big as you can go with just a level kit. (4.25 Backspacing)

Another question of concern is the 17x9 size. The reason I'm ordering the
17x8's is that I have been told it's the only version of the maxx6 in the 17 in. version that will clear the brake calipers. It suposedly has been redesigned to fit over the large brake calipers that Ford changed over too sometime in the 05 model year for the F150. Do some researching, and you'll find some info on this topic. Also I think there is like 4 trucks with the 17x8 Helo Maxx 6's on here and I think they all look good.

 

I saw a 4x4 leveled with these tires at the dealership and it looked good. It didn't have Helo wheels but they were 17" rims so I should be able to find something equivalent in the wheels I want. I just keep reading conflicting information and haven't been able to figure out what actually will and will not work. sigh.

 

I just bought my 18X9 Helo Maxx6, 325/60/18 Nitto Terra Grapplers, and 2" Autospring leveling kit off ebay.

For rims, lugs, locking lugs, and valve stems (all chrome and all brand new), the tires had about 5,000 miles on them, and I checked with tread depth gauge and compared to a buddies that have about 5000 on them and they were within 1/32", and the 2" AS kit powder coated. With install of the leveling kit, mounting/balancing tires and aligment.

Rims.......................$808 shipped
Tires......................$620 shipped
2" Autospring...........$110 shipped
mount/bal/aligment.....$85
autospring install........$50
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Total.....................$1673

I think that I ended up doing pretty good, considering that a local shop wanted $2700 for just the rims/tires, mounted/balanced.

Unless you have a local shop that will give you a great price. Look on ebay