I have an 02 lightning and I'm thinking about putting 20" chrome wheels on it that look like the stock wheels, but I wanted to ask a few questions about it first.

Will aftermarket wheels void my warranty?
Will they mess up my odometer and if so how can I fix it?
Will the bigger wheels make my truck slower and if so will it be a
noticable difference?
and last Will my truck ride rougher with the lower profile tires?

 

As long as you stay with the same overall diameter of tire and wheel, you're speedometer will not be effected. The 295/40/20 tire is very close to the 295/45/18 diameter so this would be your tire of choice. I can't imagine a cosmetic wheel change having any impact on your warranty, but that is probably a question for your dealer. Overall wheel and tire weight will be more, especially if you go with chrome plated rims, but I don't think you will have any perceptible feel in the acceleration of the truck. Anybody sporting 20's on their L's should chime in on ride quality!

 

No.

Not if you stick with 295/40-20s.

Maybe. But there are many 20" wheel and tire combos that are actually lighter than stock. If not, see Rollin' on Dubs

Yes.

 

good article, thanks tim

 

295/40/20 = 29.3"
295/45/18 = 28.4"

The Tire Rack says the 20s are almost an inch taller.

 

3% difference in circumference (and diameter) would only throw off your speedo by 2mph when you are driving 60mph. Not a big deal.

 

well according to the calculators found here: http://binaryinc.org/Auto_Calc.html

With those tires, if your speedometer says 60, then you are actually travelling at 61.901mph.

 

Chrome wheels, especially in 20" and up, will slow you down a little. You may not notice it in "seat of the pants" but you will notice it in your track times. If you can stand it, go with some silver wheels in 20". For those that remember my ghetto style wheels I had before, they were heavy as he11. The silver 20s I replaced them with are much lighter, by virtue of not being chrome plated.

 

If the 20" wheels will cause my speedometer to be off by about 2 mph, is there any possible way to fix that or do you just have to leave leave it the way it is.

 

You can go to your local Ford dealer and they can reset your truck for any type of wheel and tire combination. Plus at the same time check for any faults or codes.

 

I left mine alone. Nearly every factory speedo runs fast. I figure the 20's just got me back to normal.

 

Please tell me that you are not suggesting that a sub-millimeter coating of chromium adds any appreciable weight.

Many 20s are actually lighter than stock. So long as the tire is not heavier, the installation of such wheels will actually help performance.

 

Tim,
Your right, there probably some 20s that are lighter than stock. If so, I haven't run across many, actually none at all. But I don't doubt that there are some that are lighter than stock. If you look at any wheel distributors' website, you'll see probably 98% of the 20" plus wheels have very elaborate designs, the bling factor. Very few of them are simple designs. Nothing like a simple 5 or 6 spoke wheel in a silver finish, except for the ones on my truck and your truck. It was in that respect that I made the comment about them being heavier than stock. Since they are so elaborate in design and usually are chrome, they have more material (aluminum or whatever they may be made of) making them heavier.

 

ditto, those 20's with throw off your speedo a little.

 

The answer my friend is BILLET WHEELS. Regardless of design billet wheels will be lighter than cast wheels, excluding cast magnesium/titanium wheels.

You'll have Function & Fashion. The 20" Boyd's I had on my old truck were 15 lbs. lighter (w/tire) than the factory 18" cast wheels. That's per wheel