1997 - 2003 F-150

17 inch wheels, 2003 5 bolt - will 16 inch fit OK?

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Old 07-31-2015, 11:39 AM
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17 inch wheels, 2003 5 bolt - will 16 inch fit OK?

Have a 2003 F150 XLT Supercab 4x4 with 17 inch wheels and tires.
Am looking for another set of wheels so I can put on taller and narrower studded snow tires for winter. Will enable me to change out winter and spring without having to remove and replace tires on wheels, just switch out the whole wheel each time.

Anyone know which 16 inch wheels will fit this truck without any problems? The Local Ford dealer has no idea and wants me to buy $2000 in new wheels instead. (that is what I paid for the truck)

Can this be done or do I have to keep looking for 17 inch wheels?

If I use 17 inch wheels I'll go 235/80 R17 inch studded snow tires. Reason is a bit taller for more ground clearance. Also a bit narrower which works better on ice. Once it snows and gets cold we have iced up roads til spring. A few snowstorms and blizzards, but a lot of icy roads. A lot of gravel and country road driving as we are a few miles from pavement.

So, if someone knows which wheels I should be looking for I would appreciate it.
 
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Old 07-31-2015, 11:59 AM
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16s will work fine, just make sure they are for a Ford with your bolt pattern. Expedition and truck wheels fit.
 
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Old 07-31-2015, 01:18 PM
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My new 2000 F150 Scab 4x4 came with 16" aluminum wheels. It was an XLT and they came with 16". That is one reason I bought the XLT because with a 3.55 rear, it was geared too tall anyway in my opinion. the FX4 came with 17" wheels effectively gearing it higher.
 
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Old 07-31-2015, 11:03 PM
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Thanks. This helps in looking for an extra set of wheels to mount the winter tires. Looking to put tall and skinny studded snows on so I can change out winter and summer.
Odd to me that the Ford dealer parts guys and service folk don't know much about the wheels that will fit and interchange.
Would love to get a set of 17 inchers but in looking around the past couple weeks I have not found a set. A lot of 6 hole but no 5 hole wheels.
 
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Old 08-01-2015, 12:45 PM
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Lots of places on line sell used/refurbished/new wheels. I bought a used steel spare tire wheel for my 02 on line from a salvage yard in Texas. With free shipping it cost $50 shipped to Fl where I was working at the time. That was the cheapest one I could find. The outside lip was bent a little. I bent it back with a hammer and vise grip pliers. It ran true, not bent or warped otherwise.
 



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