Well it's probably the same old question you guys read over and over again.

Anyways, it's a Bone Stock 2004 F-150 XL 4x4 Reg. Cab. Currently has 265/70/R17's on it. Rims are of the 6-lug variety and are ugly grey and rusting. Great for the winter, not so great for the summer. It has the 4.6l in it. Everything on this truck that I've needed so far has been odd-ball from the dealer, so I thought I come here and ask.

I'm looking at BF Goodrich for tires, and want something offroad capable. I go hunting every october for a solid month, and see all kinds of conditions from snow to mud. This truck is my daily driver though, and sees a lot of hwy miles.

I like BFG for tires, and am having a good look at the Mud Terrains or the Rugged Trail AT's. I'm undecided. But what I want to know is how big of a tire can i safely fit on this truck? Probably go with 16" o 17" wheels, any suggestions? What's the stud spacing i need to get for wheels? 6x???

Thanks for any help.

 

Check out the 285x65x18 BFG All terrains on a 18x9 wheel these are close to 33"'s tall. Or if you want a MT you can go with a 285x70x17 on a 17x8 or 9" wheel. The wheel pattern should be 6x135. These ought to fit if your truck is not leveled. Your truck can use 17 or 18" wheels, it's up to you.

 

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I am in the same boat and was about to ask basically the same question. However, I have the 2.5" spacer on the front (4X4). I was almost certain I was going with the BF Goodrich All-Terrain TA/ko in 285-70-17. But now, I see that they just came out with a 305-65-17 and it has got me thinking again. Also, I've read that a 315 will fit. My concern is I want the biggest tire to help "lift" the truck, but I don't want it to look "stuffed" in the wheelwells with only an inch or less clearance between tire/well.

I've got the general dimensions of the 285,305,315 tires to help me decide, but would also welcome any opinions. At this point, I am keeping the stock 7.5" wide wheels, so I don't know if the 315's will even fit. Thanks.

EDIT: By the way, Menard666, when you decide and you purchase, post some pictures in your gallery (sorry, I forgot to see if you even had one).

 

I agree with PawPaw. Also the BFG AT KO's an MT KM's are a much better tire than the Rugged Trail TA's.
05F150Tex, I'd go with the 305/65-17's.

 

The classified section has a number of items, including one of mine that may be of interest to you all. I have a set of P265/60 BFG's on Lariat R18's Listed there.

 

Yes, sorry, i did mean the all terrains, not the rugged trails. How do you think the BFG MT KM's will wear with hwy use? What width of a wheel is good? I'm not dead set on what size of wheels. What are these leveling kits everyone is putting on? Easy to do?

So I can safely fit 285's is what you're saying, but not to go bigger without a body/susp. lift? What can the ford IFS handle?

 

Menard666--The leveling kits are basically a spacer that is put on top of the front coil which in turn, "raises" the front by approx. 2" or 2.5". It makes your truck sit more level where the front end is not "nose-down". It is a relatively easy process and takes only about 1-3 hours-my first side took about 1:45 since I had never done anything like this before, but the second only took 30 minutes.

Best of all, it's a fairly cheap mod--I think Autosprings (the spacers) run around $90-$100 but not sure on that. I was not aware of them when I did mine, and I used an EZ-Lift for $89.

 

If you are going to install a leveling kit and new wheels/tires, I'd go with a 2.5 inch Autospring kit and a set of 18x9 inch wheels with 5 to 6 inches of backspacing (depending on the stance you want) and a set of 305/65-18 or 325/60-18 tires. I just think there is a better selection of 18 inch tires. Also, Ford changed brake calipers sometime during the 05 model year which is causing fitment problems with some aftermarket 17 inch wheels. So if you bought new 17's, you may be limited to who can buy them if you ever decide to sell them.

 

I'm not sure on the leveling kit just yet. Without one what's the largest tires I could run without issues on 18 inch wheels? What about backspacing on the wheels without a leveling kit. Thickness of the wheels? I'm lost when it comes to choosing aftermarket wheels.

 

Your OEM wheels are 7.5 inches wide with 5.5 inches of backspacing. If you use the OEM wheels or stay with an aftermarket wheel close to those specs, you should be able to fit 33x12.50's easily at stock height.