i am lifting my husband's truck for him while he is deployed. it is a 2009 f150 4 door, i am buying pro comp lift, 20" xd wheels, problem i am having is w/ tire size. i know we are going w/ 35", will 13.5 in wide fit or do i need to go w/ the 12.5? i was looking @ pics on the forum trying to decide. i think the 12.5 looks thin, but w/ out fender flares would the 13.5 mess up his paint. need some opinions b/c i really want to do this right.

 

What lift are u getting. Level kit, 4 or 6 inch suspension? If just a level the 12.5, if a lift kit the wider may fit. If u read on the specs for whichever lift u are getting, they usually have max tire size listed. Wheel backspacing is also very important. And yes generally the wider the tire the more gunk it will throw up on the paint. Whether it be mud or rocks.

 

6 inch suspension

 

okay, thanks for your help. i didn't even notice max tire size is 35x12.50 so that answers my question. the 12.5 tires look so thin in the pics, hope they don't look like that on the truck.

 

I'd stick with a 12.5 for just a 6" lift. That's awesome you're lifting his for him and tell thanks for his service

 

there has to be a way to fit 13.5's. alot would depend on wheel choice, but at 8" of lift you can fit a 37/13.5

the member with the black 09-11 w/ 6" and 37's any one remember his username or what width tire he had?

i'm sure depending on tire choice and wheel choice you could probably squeeze with trimming. have you talked to the local shop and asked them what their recommendations were? possibly they will have a set laying around 13.5" wide that you could test fit once lifted, if not just go with 12.50's

 

he sold his 04 cobra to get a 2nd family vehicle so he deserves it

 

the only problem with the 13.50 that customers have had is the fact that they rub on the inner fender and the plastic on the bumper. some have complained about scrapping the knuckle but upon my attempt to make it happen i have only seen it rub against the two mentioned above. i run 12.50 but just to save the paint.

 

Backspacing comes into play also. Probally want to get 5 or 5.5 backspacing. 4.5 BS will sometimes kick the tire into the corners of the fenders when turning. I am dealing with this problem right know. Also a good rule of thumb on tire width; Max tire width= rim width + 4". Anymore you you can have cupping issues(uneven tread wear).

6" procomp, 20x9 5 or 5.5 backspacing(which ever XD makes in the rim your buying), 35x12.5/20(when 12.5 is mounted with weight on it will be more like 13.5 wide so dont worry about that)

Just my opinion but try and stay away from the big name off-road shops (ie: 4wheelparts and offroad warehouse) if you can bc they have a large mark up on there stuff.

Dont forget to have the tpms sensors in the stock rims transfered or purchase new ones before tires are mounted on rims or you will be paying to have it done 2x.

 

all i can say, is "what a woman!"

 

I am with you. My wife bought me a lot of gifts when I came back from Iraq but nothing like that. If she would have tried to 2 things probally would have happend; 1. overpaid like crazy 2. purchased all the wrong stuff. I love my wife but cars are not here thing.

 

lol. i'm probably overpaying but he got the truck for a really good deal on his r&r so maybe that makes up for it.

 

thanks for all of your help, i am going to stick w/ the 12.5. hopefully will have it lifted in june, he comes home in july. can't wait to see his reaction when he sees it

 

35x12.50's will look great.

 

just wanted to update to say thanks for all of the help, he loved it (almost three years ago now!), he still has and drives his lifted F-150 and we paid it off (the truck) over a year and a half ago so that says a lot that he liked it!