I have a wheel question that has left me the dark, so I will put it out here for your thoughs and ideas. I have a 1997 F150 with the offroad package and 17" wheels. I would like to swap them out for a set of the 17" factory chrome five spoke wheels that came later(1999-03?). I have heard that Ford switched stud sizes from 12mm to 14mm and so the newer wheels will not work on the older truck, or that the wheels may bolt up, but the center caps will not stay on.? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

All of that stuff was posted by people who THOUGHT they knew what would work. Stock Ford wheels will swap between 97-03. It makes no difference if the wheels the truck came off had 12mm studs or 14mm studs (change date was nov99/dec99). The bolt hole size on the wheels are the same. I've got a wheel off an F150 that had 14mm studs on my F150 with 12mm studs for a spare. I've taken out a caliper and the holes are exactly the same. The only thing you need to do is make sure you use the lug nuts that came with your truck. As far as the center caps not fitting, thats only if you have the covered FX4 lug nuts. They're not made to have center caps on over top of them. The wheels you're looking at will fit EXACTLY like your current 17s. Just use YOUR lug nuts.

 

That is not quite true, powerstroke. You can put a 14mm studed wheel on a 12mm studded truck, but not vice versa. I had a 99 with the ORP (17" Chrome 5-star 12mm) and bought a 2003 FX4. I wanted to swap wheels because I prefer the chrome ones. I could not get the 12mm stud chrome wheel on my FX4. The holes were not big enough. Same bolt circle, but smaller holes.

But I never tried the FX4 on the 12mm stud truck, but I am sure they would fit.

Anyway, Fordman44, 99+ hrome wheels will work, buy I would look for the ones that went on smaller studs, 99 for sure and I tihnk 2000. Or, I remember searching on here and found a web site that sells OEM rims for fair prices.

 

I had my 12mm wheels on klaibs27's truck with 14mm studs and they fit fine. Like I said, I have a couple of his stock 17" wheels for spares and I've taken a caliper and measured them and they had the same openings. Maybe they changed them again mid year, but I know the 12mm and 14mm ones I have are interchangeable.

 

Thanks guys, you have been very helpful and I really appreciate it!