Hey guys I'm having a little problem with my 2000 flareside F150. I'm looking to make it more aggressive looking by adding maybe a 3 inch lift, but here's the bad part, I'm running 20 inch wheels now with low profile tires and it would look terrible with a lift. I used to think that maybe I could get away with keeping the wheels but then wrapping them in some beefier tires, maybe 33 inch tall since the lift would clear them.

But now I'm curious if maybe getting a set of cheap, but still functional wheels, maybe 15's with the same size tires would be a better option as far as cost. But I do need new shocks on the front and rear, so I guess my question is would a set of smaller wheels with bigger tires be a good option? I know it's sort of an open ended question that pretty much boils down to what sort of look I'm going for, but has anyone used a set up like this before?

thanks! I know that was a pain to read through.

 

The smallest wheel you can fit is a 16". What kind of lift are you looking at getting? Are you 4x4 or 4x2?

If your 4x4 depending on the wheel specs you should be able to fit a 33" tire with no lift. Also if you like the 20's you have now, and the wheels spec out right for clearing 33's (whether with no lift or with it), then I say keep them. No point in buying new wheels that are smaller if you like the way bigger ones look. The only downside I can see is low pro tires ride rougher (of course I'm sure you already know that since you have them haha) and tires cost a bit more.

 

Oh it's a 4x4. sorry I should have mentioned that earlier. I'm not a big fan of the 20's I'm running now...I was only thinking of keeping them to avoid the cost of buying new ones, but then that would require a lift if I wanted the bigger tires so as to avoid any rubbing problems. I'd much, much rather have bigger tires and smaller wheels than the other way around.

If I was to get the lift I was wanting a suspension lift, maybe 3 to 4 inch at the most since I'm going to be in the market for new shocks anyway soon. I'm basically wanting to make the truck look intimidating and tough, and less like a 4 wheel machine with street wheels....

 

Well for small lifts here's your options basically: crank the torsion bars (around 2ish inches), body lift (2 or 3" kits available), or 4" suspension lift. The link in my signature covers them all in some more detail too.

 

Thanks man! I'll take a look at that!

Actually the lift/tire combo you have on your truck is perfect....that's basically want I'd like to do to mine.

 

Haha thanks man, I'm 2wd and have 35's on some 16x8 wheels with 4.5" backspacing. So you could clear them with wheel specs like that on a 4" lift, with some possible minor trimming, or you could clear them perfectly with a 6" lift. And be able to go to a little bit wider of a wheel like a 9" without trimming which would help the aggressive look you want too.

 

All depends on how much you wanna spend...

 

pizzaman what is your tire/wheel combo? i have a black scab flareside with 33" mud grapplers and 16's

 

315/75r16 (roughly rounds to a 35x12.50) Yokohoma Geolander m/t's on 16x8 ion alloy 174's with 4.5" of backspacing. But I'm dropping to a 33" tire next time around.

 

Just gear it man

 

Just tired of the rub at full lock and the occasional huge pothole down in Richmond causing the tire to still wanna catch the inner fender haha.

 

You could run 295's. Those are like 33.5's. Or 305's. That way you could keep the bigger tire look without worrying about the rub since not only are they a little more narrow, but a little less overall diameter. 33's might look a little small with how big you are. I mean I'm running 33's on only a 3 inch haha

 

Yea I'm planning to go to 305/70's most likely mud grapplers, love the look of them, and nitto spec's them out at a 31.07x12. They should still fill it out nicely because of the aggressive tread and eliminate pretty much any chance of rub. And the first number in a metric size is the width, the second number is the height. Like your 285/70r17's are according to the nitto site a 32.7x11.5, not exactly 33's haha.

 

Pizzaman has a 4x2 so your 4x4 with a 3 inch body lift will basically look the same. The 97-03 4x4's sit about 3 inches taller than the 4x2's.
Also, 35's on a 20 inch wheel will look fine.

 

I was saying the 295's or 305's still keeping the 75 height. But those Mud Grapplers, like you said, should fill it out nicely being so aggressive.

And I know mine aren't "officially" 33's, I just say that as a quick reply or answer when somebody asks instead of saying the full, actual size lol