While I did copy off a bunch of a thread from LightningDammit regarding his replacing his original tires with a particular size of Nitto, I did not accumulate all the info. As the search function is down, I just need a little help.

Basically, I just found out due to a flat on one of my front tires that both fronts are gone. The rears have plenty of tread left, but I want to replace all four at the same time.

About a year ago, LightningDammitt published a lot of pics of what I believe are Nitto 305/55/18 tires he put on his Lightning that were about 31/32 inches in height. Whatever tires they were, these are the ones I would like to fit as replacements for my F1-s. Can anyone verify if that is the size that LightningDammitt fitted to his truck?

Thanks for any and all input
Bill Murray

 

Bill, try this:

 

SILVERLIGHTNING:
Thanks, that got me the info I needed.
Now, and to really tick some purists off, I am researching if anyone does an 18" wheel similar to the Wheel Vintiques Street Rod Wire Wheel that I could perhaps paint white and with a vintage Ford V8 center cap.
I would, of course, keep the original Lightning wheels for any future owner.
Bill

 

Bill,

I put the same ones on my truck a year ago. You will need to eithere have your chip reprogrammed or see your friendly svt tech to get your speedometer set for the tires. I initially had the PCM reprogrammed by the tech. The size tires they can reset the PCM to is 6 less revolutions per mile than the Nittos actually are. If mt memory serves me correct the NItto NT 404 305/55/18 are 666 revolutions per mile. The largest size tire (i don't remember the size) that the PCM can be set for is 660 revolutions per mile. If you have a chip the tuner can make it 666. These change a 99 0r 2000 final ratio to about 3:23 and helps with with the gas mileage a little.

I like them a lot, but they are heavy compared to the F1s.

Ron

 

Masterloggie/Ron:

Thanks for the input. Question, though, do I need to get my chip/chips reprogrammed for normal street use if I do a manual adjustment (brain adjustment) for the speedo error?

I am running a really old Superchip flip chip for the moment which serves me really well. I also have a PSP chip which is more aggressive, also about 2 years old, which I also like but which is a bit harder on the trannie.

If changing to the Nitto's only gives me a slightly false speedo/odo reading, I can live with that. If it screws up something else, it would be good to know. I do realize that it will not accelerate quite as fast as with the FI's and all of that, but as I don't race much anyway that is not an issue.

Thanks for your comments and help.
Bill

 

I went with the 404's but then I'm old and I like to see rubber on the sidewall of a truck. Yea, I know it makes the 18" wheels look like 16" but what can I say, I like stripes too.


Alvin

 

Doh!

Didn't see this until today...

Yes... 305/55/18's!

I now have 35K on them, and I'm expecting 40K before I change two of them out... This is with very few rortations, and going to the track about once every two months...

I haven't made any changes to compensate, and notice a little less than 10% speed error...

At the track, I've ALways run them at full pressure... 38-30 #'s I believe....

My 60' times improved from 2.0's to 1.9's and a few 1.8's... I'm sure alot of that was due to a learning curve tho.

I think they are an AWSOME tire... but drag radials WOULD give a little more traction.

Also... the extra width COMPLETELY solved the rim dinging problems from curbs and such!