Hi folks

I have a 2000 4x4 xcab stepside V8 that currently has the following combo:

305/45/22 Nitto 420S tires on Centerline wheels. The tires stand about 31.5 inches tall.
What I like: This combo fits in the wheel wells perfectly and does not stick out on the side of the truck. The tires are just about perfect width. I like the look of a large wheel.

What I want to change: I am going for a bit more off-road capability so I would like more tire (bigger sidewall) and less wheel but still want the overall 'space and placement' of the current setup. I was told that the wheels I have now are no longer being made so if I hit a rock and mess up the wheel, I am in bad shape. Plus I don't think I could fit a bigger sidewall tire on the 22 inch wheels without lifting the truck. I prefer to not lift the truck - it sits just right the way it is - any off-roading I do will be mild - nothing crazy and a little mud thrown in on occasion. I plan to ebay the wheel/tire set I have now.

I know I will need to go to 20's or 18's for wheel size to get the bigger sidewall without rubbing, etc. What I am clueless about is stuff like offset and backspacing. I don't want the wheels to stick out from the fenders.

What combination of wheel tire can I go with to achieve my goals? It seems like a 305/18/70 or 305/20/60 would be about right or something like that. Should I ask for 'stock backspacing, etc. to insure they will fit nicely in the wheel wells? If you need some pics, I can take some and try to post them on here. Any general comments on this are very much appreciated and also any general comments about the ins and outs of selling wheels/tires on ebay would be helpful.

Thanks

 

I'd suggest going to an 18x10 inch wheel with 4.5 inches of backspacing and a 325/60-18 tire (33x13.00). If you want 20's, you could go with a 305/55-20 (33x12.50) tire on a 10 inch wide wheel. It's just a matter of personal preference as to whether you like 16, 18 or 20 inch wheels. Also, the 305/45-22 tires you are running now work out to be a 33x12.50-22.

 

Wandell,

Thanks for your reply (even though I posted this in the OEM forum). I figured you would have some good input.

This is pretty much what I got from the local truck shop after some 'awe shucks, you came on a bad day - we can't get tire prices today'. They remembered they were supposed to be trying to sell me something after I offered to leave and go to the Goodyear store up the street!

After unwillingly looking at what I had and how they fit on the truck, they came up with a 18x9.5 or 18x10 wheel with 4.75 backspace and 6mm offset. They also spec'd a 315/60/18 A/T tire (Nitto Terra Grappler, I believe) - pretty much spot on with your suggestion.

I really like the bigger wheels but am limited to 50 or 55 (rare?) sidewall if I just move down to 20 inch wheels (and no lift). That just seems like not enough sidewall even for mild off-roading. I am hoping 18 will be a nice looking tradeoff although I saw a stock newer style F150 today and it had stock 18 inch rims that looked wimpy (could have been the tires, though.

Any way, thanks again.

 

Yeah, I think 18's with 33's look good. I just like a little more sidewall with an off road tire. At stock height, you are pretty much gonna be stuck at 33 inches. Of course, you could throw on a 3 inch body lift and run some 35's on 20 inch wheels.