I found a set of 22's and tires for really cheap, and am really thinking about picking them up. I want something done to my truck until I lift it. So does anyone on this site have a 97(or same body style) SuperCab with 22's? And if so, can you please post pics? I really want to see what it would look like. If it looks stupid, then ill just pass on them and wait till I get the lift and everything. Thanks guys!

JB

 

Wandell??? I know your the man to come to. How do your 22's ride? Any input would be great. Thanks....

 

I was concerned about ride quality with 22's also. I didn't want my wife complaining about her new Expy riding like crap. That is one reason I went with a 305/45-22 tire, for more sidewall. When they were installed, they rode pretty rough and I was afraid I was gonna catch it from the wife. But when I got home I checked the air pressure and found 50psi in each tire! I dropped it down to 40 psi and it rode completly different. The ride is very slightly firmer than stock, which is a good thing and the overall handling is much, much better. The main thing is the wife is happy!

 

Ok, that helped me out a lot. The biggest wheels ive had before this were 18's, and those are on my Grand Prix. But these 22's have pretty much brand new tires(less than 500 miles) and im getting the wheels and tires mounted and balanced for $1,000. So I really cant pass this up. But I just really wanted to know how 22's felt, and what they would look like on my truck. I know that the tire is what counts when throwing off the speedo, so can you give me a size that will keep me about the same? And what did the 22's do to your MPG in the Expy? Thanks for the help Wandell. I really appreciate it.

JB

P.S. I have to get some adapters for my truck. The wheels are for a 6 lug, and mine is a 5. Are there any that you would say to buy? I know nothing about adapters at all.

 

I really didn't see a difference in milage. However, my Expy came with 32 inch tall tires and my new tires are only an inch taller.
I would not use an adaptor. They cause more problems than they solve. At the very least, they will probably push the tire/wheel outside the wheelwells and look bad.
What size are your OEM tires?

 

245/75/16 is the OEM size.

I have heard mixed reviews about the adapters. Are they really that bad? I just really didnt want to pass up on that good of a deal on 22's with new tires. But if you think that adapters are really that bad, then I guess ill just have to pass on them. If you dont mind, list the cons of having them. Thanks Wandell for helping me out...

 

A 245/75-16 is basically a 31x9.50 tire. A 305/40-22 (32x12.50) would be a good tire size since it is only an inch taller and is a very common size.
Wheel spacers put more stress on your steering and suspension components and this will lead to premature wear.
Now days, most wheel manufacturers do a good job of making wheels that fit a specific vehicle, rather than compromising fit so a wheel will work on several trucks. Since the wheels you are considering have a different bolt pattern they were obviously made for a different truck which probably has different backspacing requirements. If you top that off with an adaptor to "make" them fit your truck you could very well wind up with a setup that looks like crap. You don't want to wind up with a set of 22's on your truck that stick 3 inches outside the wheelwell with people pointing and laughing at you.
I'd suggest saving you money for a set of wheels that were made to fit a F-150 whether you decide to buy new or used.

 

They were on an F150 before, but it was an 05 I think. But I honestly appreciate your input. Your right, I don't want the wheels sticking out 3 inches. That would just look stupid. I just hated to pass up a deal like that. 1,000 for 22's is just insane. I basically just wanted to do something to my truck untill I get all the stuff for my lift ordered and put on. Since lifting the truck requires WAY more than just putting wheels on, I figured it would be a cool way to make it look nice for now. Thanks again Wandell!!

JB

 

Ok Wandell, one more question. With my truck, can I just get a leveling kit, and fit 33's? I already know what wheels and tires I want to go with for my truck. And if I can just level it out and fit 33's for now, that would be awesome! Also, how big of a 33 can I go with, without having problems? I dont mind doing some MINOR trimming. And if this can be done, what size kit to you reccomend? 1,2 or 3"? I figured about 2 or 3, but I know your the man. Thanks again!!

 

Yea you can fit 33s on your truck. I have some 33x11.5x16 (285/75/16) on my stock 97.

 

Do you have a 4x4 or 4x2?

 

97 4.6L 4x2 SuperCab

Sorry, I should have given you the specs earlier. Also, which leveling kit is the best to go with, if in fact you advise me to use one? AutoSpring seems to be the most talked about. But whats you opinion?

 

I don't know if AS makes a leveling kit for the 97-03 4x2's but Daystar does.

 

Well it doesnt matter to me which one I go with, just as long as it is a good product. How many inches should I go with? Im going to run a 16" wheel, so how wide can I go with the leveling kit? And do you think a leveling kit is a good idea? Sorry to ask so many questions, but I just want to do the right thing the first time, and not make a costly mistake. Thanks Wandell...

 

I'd go with the 2 inch Daystar leveling kit. You may need a set of camber adjustment bolts to get the alignment correct. You can get these for about $40 at most parts stores. For tires, I'd suggest a 285/75-16 (33x11.50) for the stock wheels.