What do ya'll think, 16x8 or 16.5x9.75? I want to lift my truck and put 35" tires on it with some new wheels. I don't like really wide wheels, but I think the stock ones are too skinny for mud tires. Any suggestions or comments as far as size, brand, or pics would be helpful. Thanks.

 

I am biased towards the BFG tires. But if you are really looking for serious mud, maybe a swamper is what you need.


For the wheels, there is a lot of difference with the tires. The 16" rims were designed for heavy loads. Most of the tire sizes are also narrow. So the tires will have stiff sidewalls and cannot be aired down as much as a 15 or 16.5 tire can be. They will not conform to the terrain when aired down either.

Now the 16.5 are like the 15s. Wide tires, you can air them down to like 15psi and they will totally conform to the terrain.

The only disadvantage to the 16.5 tires is that there are less tire brands and choices out there for them today than say like 5-10 years ago. So in the future it may limit you choice of tire.

 

Buckster

You can find 35's in the 16's and 16.5's. It's a matter of choice.

But this is what I am doing. I was in the process of building a suspension and the body lift all together, so I can installed BFG's 37's. The project was interrupted so I will have to make a parenthesis and even though I am buying new rims I want to stay in the 17" family. By doing that I do not have to worry about having to sell rims again next year when installing the suspension lift and the 37's( that are 17 inchers).

For now I will be installing 17x9 Mickey Thompson Classic II wheels (5" backspace) and 35x12.5-17LT Mickey Thompson tires. Using this combination I will be able to keep everything just inside the stock fender flares. This are not radials (I was looking for radials like the BFG) but by doing this I can stay with 17" rims and an agressive looking 35" tire that may give something between 30 to 35k miles until I start the second part of the project.

I just hit this week the 50k mile mark with the stock Good Years doing a 5 tire rotation . I am buying just 4 MT. We"ll see.



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1998 F150 4x4 Lariat Supercab Flareside 5.4L in Oxford White/gold, ORP, Tow Package, 3.55 Gears.

Modifications: K&N FIPK, Stepshield door sill protectors, Performance Accesories 3" body lift and Lift Lips.

See photos at <A HREF="http://www.communicomgroup.com/jmtruck

" TARGET=_blank>www.communicomgroup.com/jmtruck

</A>

 

Just another thought-Most tire stores readily stock 16" tires and usually 16.5 tires are special order. Only really matters when you get a tree rammed through your sidewall and have to run around on a spare till the new one arrives. Just something else to confuse you more.

 

One big thing to think about is your rim selection. You have only 3 or 4 choices with the 16.5 rims. There are alot of companys makeing 16.5 but only 3 or 4 with the 5 on 135 bolt pattern they are. American bajas,
Weld,Centerline and maybe one more. The 16" rims are alot more plentiful in the new ford bolt pattern.