There are several opportunities for me to buy some 07, 08 stock rims. Can these be directly bolted on to my 03? I have searched and cannot find this specific issue. I have read blurbs on offset maybe being different. What does all of that mean?

This would make life easier so that I could run street tires during the year and save my M/Ts for hunting season. I know. I know. But some of us old guys do not like eating up the M/Ts (wallet) as much.

I'd appreciate a little education on the subject from someone NOT trying to sell me wheels and tires.

 

They will bolt on, but the offset is different. The WMS to WMS measurement on the axle from 05+ is wider than the 99-04 axles. In order to keep the same track width Ford increased the backspacing. If you put them on your truck they will rub the leaf springs at full lock and will look goofy. The only way to fix it is with wheel spacers, which is a bad idea. Why not get a set of stock 99-04 wheels? Its not like they're expensive or hard to find.

 

I wanted the newer look without going custom. I have a set of MT 16" rims now with M/T tires. I was just looking to pick up a set of take-offs at a good price. Now I see that I would have to spend even more to get spacers. I sold my stock rims thinking I would not ever need them again. That's what I get for thinking, huh?

 

How much more backspacing do the 05-07 wheels have than the 99-04?

 

You know those trucks with the wheels kicked in to run on the rail road tracks? That's what your truck will look like if you put the 05 and up wheels on an older truck.