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Old     (dave27)      Join Date: May 2005       01-27-2010, 1:33 PM Reply   
What size wheels are you guys running? I currently have 16.5 inch wheels. The problem with them is that it is really hard to get BFG All Terrain KO tires, 35x12.5x16.5. They are always back ordered 6-10 weeks. Right now I need 2 tires. Anyway I was just thinking about buying new wheels and tires so I don't have this problem in the future. If I buy new wheels what size do I get? 17, 18, 19, 20, 22? I like how the truck four wheels and drives now with 45lbs air pressure.
Old     (rio_sanger)      Join Date: Apr 2007       01-27-2010, 1:59 PM Reply   
It sounds like you may actually use your truck off road! I would not go over an 18" wheel. I'm sure I'll get blasted here with 20" this and 22" that, but the fact of the matter is sidewall height counts.
Look at any rock crawler, or baja racer, they run tall sidewalls for protection and flex. What year is your truck? 16.5's have not been equipment for some time.
I'd go to a 16", maybe a 17" max. just my $.02

As for size, a 315/75-16 or a 315/70-17 would both be just shy of 35"

This calculator is great:

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

(Message edited by rio_sanger on January 27, 2010)
Old     (denverd1)      Join Date: May 2004 Location: Tyler       01-27-2010, 2:04 PM Reply   
Pffftt... Only the lifted "concrete queens" would blast you and they're a bunch of posers!
Old     (adam4x4)      Join Date: Jan 2009       01-27-2010, 2:10 PM Reply   
I have 37's with 17" ( yes i do use my truck off road a lot)but if i had to do it again i would go with 18" just because there are more tires out there for them.
Old     (bac)      Join Date: Feb 2008       01-27-2010, 2:15 PM Reply   
16" wheels will most likely be too small to clear your calipers, keep that in mind when you consider new wheels
Old     (rio_sanger)      Join Date: Apr 2007       01-27-2010, 2:16 PM Reply   
Adam, 37"s on 18"s are cool, it's all about aspect ratio.

haha Nacho "concrete queens"

Good point TX surf, although if it's an older Ford, 16"s should be ok, but always check first! that's why I asked what year...

(Message edited by rio_sanger on January 27, 2010)
Old     (vanagonwake)      Join Date: Oct 2007       01-27-2010, 2:23 PM Reply   
Mall Crawlers as we call them.
Old     (dhcomp)      Join Date: Jun 2003       01-27-2010, 4:40 PM Reply   
17" probably has the best tire availability now.

If you are running 35''s, id go 17, but you could go 18. I think tires are more expensive for 18's though.
Old     (ktm525)      Join Date: Mar 2009       01-27-2010, 5:54 PM Reply   
I have 35x12.5x20 on my f350 with a 6 inch Pro comp lift. It doesn't see a lot of off road. I only use it occasionally and nothing serious. I would use max 18 if doing any serious off roading. Back in the day 1984 I had a 1976 f250 with 18 inches of lift 44x18.5x16.5 on it. It was awesome off road.
Old     (rio_sanger)      Join Date: Apr 2007       01-27-2010, 8:57 PM Reply   
I agree, 17's are probably the best availability and price. A 325/70-17 would be the closest diameter to your 35/12.5-16.5
Old     (rio_sanger)      Join Date: Apr 2007       01-28-2010, 6:32 AM Reply   
Here are some size options of BFG AT KOs just shy of 35, from tire rack, all available and in stock:


315/75R16
Raised White Letters Serv. Desc: 121Q
Load Range D
Price: $209.00 (each)
Estimated Availability:
In Stock

315/70R17
Blackwall Not Rated For Severe Snow Serv. Desc: 121/118R
Load Range D
Price: $242.00 (each) Special
Estimated Availability:
In Stock

325/65R18
Raised White Letters Serv. Desc: 127/124R
Load Range E
Price: $313.00 (each) Special
Estimated Availability:
In Stock
Old     (jonyb)      Join Date: Nov 2008       01-28-2010, 8:06 AM Reply   
04 F-250 with 8" Superlift, 38x15.50 Toyo's, and 20X12 Welds.

Used off-road or not, who cares?

Upload
Old    swass            01-28-2010, 8:13 AM Reply   
Giggity! I love me some concrete queens. Nice truck, John.
Old     (denverd1)      Join Date: May 2004 Location: Tyler       01-28-2010, 8:28 AM Reply   
The truck is very nice, would look better with a little mud on the rocker panel. All that ability and she never gets to stretch her legs...
Old     (fireman38539)      Join Date: Jul 2008       01-28-2010, 8:47 AM Reply   
2005 F-350 6" Lift 37's on 20'sUpload
Old     (jonyb)      Join Date: Nov 2008       01-28-2010, 9:14 AM Reply   
Nacho, if you knew what mud does to the underneath of these trucks and ever had to work on one, you'd change your mind.

People modify vehicles to their taste, and just because it's got bigger tires doesn't mean it needs to be in mud.

I work hard to pay for everything I have, and I'll be d a m ned if I go tear it up off-roading!
Old     (mendo247)      Join Date: Mar 2005       01-28-2010, 10:14 AM Reply   
Run 18's or 20's... They just look soooo much better. A customer of ours has a truck similar to yours and he just went from 17's to 20's and it looks like a whole new truck. He mentioned to me he never used to get compliments but now every time he hits the gas station someone is complementing it. And unless your doing serious offroading your not gonna notice a performance difference.
Old     (nelson)      Join Date: Jan 2009       01-29-2010, 8:12 AM Reply   
Lets face it 95% of trucks on the road are pavement princess's who wants to take a truck that they have $50,000+ invested into and go beat it. I know my trucks have never seen much more then a few gravel roads. The tire technology had to catch up with the auto makers with more power came bigger brakes and with bigger brakes came bigger wheels. There are a lot of choices for tires now, I would personally go at least 17's or 18's you will have a lot of choices and more of a chance if you had a problem on the road and you needed a tire your chances of finding one in that size is going to be good. Personally I like 20's but you will loose a little ride but in my truck that does not matter. Upload
Old     (wakedoctor)      Join Date: Dec 2004       01-29-2010, 9:12 AM Reply   
First off, I have no problem with lifted trucks or jeeps that always have tire shine on. Lift modifications and larger tires do add ability to your vehicle. This is why I stand where I do with the ghetto wheel trend. When you add a larger wheel to your vehicle and put a pair of tires on with no side wall you have added nothing to any performance area. It is a waste in a way. I don't understand the whole mud desire either. Dirt roads and trail riding interest me, but running through the same puddle of water over and over and over again, not so much. Plus it even makes a simple oil change annoying.
As for wheel size with tires I would look at price then worry about looks. If you are an off roader or a concrete queen the smaller wheel the better. I am not saying 20" wheels don't look great, but you will protect your rim better the more side wall you have and when it comes time for new tires it won't be so much of a dreaded day.
Old     (jarrod)      Join Date: May 2003       01-29-2010, 9:52 AM Reply   
I wouldn't go bigger than a 20" wheel on 35s. The truck rides rough already. The less side wall, the rougher it gets.

Couple years ago my buddy came through to pismo with a huge lifted Titan. All custom, dana 60s front and back, lockers, all the off road stuff you could ask for. He had huge wheels on 40" tires. But, he couldn't even pull his car trailer across the sand. I used my F-350 with 35s on 16.5 wheels just like yours, and pulled his truck/trailer around in circles. You loose a lot of offroad traction with big wheels.
Old     (jonyb)      Join Date: Nov 2008       01-29-2010, 10:39 AM Reply   
Lose traction with big wheels. That makes no sense whatsoever.
Old     (02redws6ta)      Join Date: Aug 2008       01-29-2010, 11:37 AM Reply   
You do lose traction with bigger wheels/less side wall. Would make a big difference in the sand where you only run 10lbs of air.

I run 37's on 22's but like many others won't take my 50k dollar truck that weighs 7k lbs off road. I have a CJ5 and a Yamaha Rhino for that stuff.
Old     (nelson)      Join Date: Jan 2009       01-29-2010, 12:03 PM Reply   
J-Rod is correct the bigger wheels make the tire stiffer due to the smaller sidewall, the tire can't flex, so in soft surfaces like sand a hard tire sinks vs a tire with a little more sidewall will flex and provide a better surface area. I will be the first to say my truck sucks offroad. If I want to go offroad I take my rock buggy. If you liked the 16.5 and it worked for you. I would go 17's they are always in stock and very comparable to the old prices of 16.5's. Every tire store stocks them and there are lots of styles to chose from.
Old     (bstroop)      Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Athens, Alabama       01-29-2010, 12:07 PM Reply   
You don't lose traction with bigger wheels. You lose traction with shorter walled tires on the big wheels.
Old     (dave27)      Join Date: May 2005       01-29-2010, 1:50 PM Reply   
Upload
Here is a picture of my 2001 Ford with J-Rod's old Malibu, the truck we all have been talking about. I think 18's sound like the way to go. Now lets pick out some wheels that look good with a two tone truck. Thanks for all the good info.
Old     (factorykitted)      Join Date: Jul 2009       01-29-2010, 2:30 PM Reply   
How often are you going through tires?? It makes no sense in investing money in new wheels. Buy one/two extra for a spare and when the time comes for tires - plan ahead and order them...

I ran 36x16.50/r16.5 for years w/o a problem
Old     (wakemikey)      Join Date: Mar 2008       01-29-2010, 3:24 PM Reply   
rediculous monster trucks lol
Old     (extremeisaac)      Join Date: Aug 2005       01-30-2010, 12:09 AM Reply   
37s on 17s.. you wont regret it

Upload
Old     (guido)      Join Date: Jul 2002       01-30-2010, 8:58 AM Reply   
Personally I'd go 18's or 20's.

We're not talking about a Jeep or a Land Cruiser here. It's a F-350. How much "off-roading" are you really going to do in it. Probably the most extreme it would get with one of these trucks is snow use, fire trails, or sand. Let's be real.

Here's my stock F-250 with 34's on 20's. It's been a lot of places off road just fine.

Upload
Old     (hillbilly)      Join Date: Aug 2002       01-30-2010, 11:03 AM Reply   
I have an early 99 with 16's and no issues. But I think it was 2k and up that might of had the problem with clearance.

I must be getting old as I'm thinking of going to a smaller tire than a 315..LOL
Old     (adam)      Join Date: Feb 2009       01-30-2010, 12:11 PM Reply   
Pavement Princess's... lol

I have a LandRover LR3 and I beat the hell out of it.. It's a BEAST off-road... In my opinion, why spend money to hook up a truck if you're not gonna put it to use.. might as well leave it stock... If its just to look cool, thats a huge waste of money..

The question I ask is, Who would invest $50,000 in their truck and not put it to use? PS.. Eric, Nice Malibu.. =D

Thats like spending $70,000 on a boat and never taking it on the lake... but it looks good in the garage.. =)

No offense, thats just my opinion..
Old     (ktm525)      Join Date: Mar 2009       01-30-2010, 3:11 PM Reply   
Here is my 2006 F350 with a 6" Pro Comp lift. It has 35x12.5x20's on it.Upload
Old     (extremeisaac)      Join Date: Aug 2005       01-30-2010, 7:31 PM Reply   
Looks Great Don.. would look even better with your KTM in the back!! haha
Old     (dave27)      Join Date: May 2005       02-01-2010, 8:00 AM Reply   
Calvo, you are right, I only go through tires about every 50,000 miles, and the way my truck is set up right now I only need 2 tires. The other two tires have more than half the tread on them. I am just planning on the future. I hate waiting 6-10 weeks for tires. Plus if I go to a bigger wheel, then I can get a 9 ply tire. I am just trying to make my life easier in the future and maybe update my truck style a little.

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