I have a 2005 F-150 with 2.5" HBS leveling kit and 18X7.5 OEM aluminum wheels with 275/65/18 tires. My truck is black, and I'm considering blacking everything out, including the wheels. The Moto Metal MO957's are totally black and look pretty cool. I did a search of "backspace" and read most of the threads.

Will I encounter any problems by adding these wheels (18X9, 4.5" backspacing and -12MM offset) and BFG Radial T/A KO 305/65/18 tires?

My current tires are 10.8" wide and 32.1" tall and the BFG's are 12.0" wide and 33.6" tall, for a total of 1.2" wider and 1.5" taller. It appears to me that going from OEM 5.5" backspacing to 4.5" with the wider tires will result in the tires sticking out 1.6" farther than stock. Correct?

 

Those wheels will stick out 2.5 inches farther than the OEM wheels. Do you have a 4x4 or 4x2? If it's a 4x4, that combo may fit with minor trimming.

 

I agree with Wandell. I believe you will need to trim. When I had just my level in my 295/65 18 Duratracs rubbed at full lock in reverse when I got my new rims.

 

FX4

I'm still trying to do all the math to picture this. The wheels are 1.5" wider than stock. That means .75" wider on the inside and .75" on the outside -- if the backspacing was the same as OEM. The backspacing on these newer wheels is 1" less than OEM, so that means that the inside distance from the rim to the undercarriage should be .25" greater than OEM.

The tires are 1.2" wider, meaning .6" outside and .6" inside. Subtract that .25" surplus in inside clearance in the preceding paragraph from .6", and it means that the inside clearance is .35" less than OEM. Will that 3/8" or so reduced clearance in all probability cause rubbing?

Would I be better served to find wheels around 5" or 5.5" backspacing? It seems to me that less backspacing than stock would be better though, as it brings the wheel/tire out away from potential rubbing issues.

 

The wheel is 1.5 inch wider than your stock wheels and have 1 inch less backspacing. 1 + 1.5 = 2.5 inches.
When considering wheel width and backspacing, you have to find a compromise. Too much backspacing and the tires rub steerin/suspension components. Too little backspacing and the tires rub the wheelwells, sheetmetal or bumpers. A 305/65-18 will fit easily using the stock wheels. You will probably be ok with a 9 inch wide wheel with 5 or 5.5 inches of backspacing.

 

How about an 8.5" wheel with either a 4.99" backspace and 6mm offset or a 5.34" backspace with 15mm offset?

I'm wanting an all-black wheel, and the Moto Metal 957's don't seem to come in anything other than the 4.53" backspacing. The above 8.5" wheel is an ATX Mace.

 

You shouldn't have an issue with either one of the ATX rims. I'm running the same level on an 05 with 8.5 wide rims and 35x 12.5" mud tires.

 

I think the 8.5 wide wheel with the 5.34 backspace would be the best bet not to rub.