17 in tires
 

I am looking to buy new tires for my 99 F-150. It currently has
Goodyear Wrangler AT/S LT266 70 R17. What's a good replacement tire? The same time but in a RT/S is about 20 buck per tire cheaper.
Also, the spare is raised white letters also, so I could use it. However, there are deep indentations where it was cranked up against the underside of the bed. Is this tire safe to use?

Thanks,
Tom

Very good question TOM. I'm going to be in the same boat soon with my 17".

I'm leaning towards a set of Michelin (just because I know that they make a GREAT set of tires) but, I'm not sure about the tread design.

I never go off-road (4X2) and thus, I'd be looking for a road style tread.

ANY SUGGESTIONS?

RP :D

Mine is 4 X 4 with about 10% off road. Hope to get some good ideas.

Procomp 33/12.5/17 MT or AT. I chose the MT for mine and love them. You will LOVE these tires if you get them. The 33s will fit on your truck with no lift. (note, mine are 35s and will not fit without a lift).

kev

Hey Kev,

How much noise do you get off the 33's as compared to the stock tires....was it a noticable difference? That is a big question in my book when looking at tires.

Thanks

RockPick,
For a real nice performance tire that won't kill the pocketbook, these Falkins are real nice..
See my signature.

I'll check those out...

I have an inside track on getting rubber (grandfather owns a tire shop) so, I'll have to see what he can get his hands on and then, from there, I guess I'll decide.

RP :D

If you want the best sport truck, street performance tire, if you want the most sensitive steering, widest tire you can get, maximize your "take-off torque" with a shorter tire, look at the 275/55/17 Perelli Scorpion Zeros (only 28.9 inches tall). However, they are high priced at $140 per tire (not including shipping or mounting/balancing) and the tread life is somewhere around 35,000 miles only.

Next, would be the Toyo Proxys or Falklins, or the Duelers or Kumho Estas STX

a 275/60/17 is a great size as well, but a 275/55/17 is shorter and wider.

Iron Horse,
Both tires are the same width. The 55's are shorter in the sidewall..

WLF,

Whoops!

Just checked the tire calculator...of course you are right. It looks like the 275/60/17 is a 30 inch tall tire and the 275/55/17 is a 28.9 but both are the same width. I guess that is why 98 screamer recomended the 60 series to me. He said that the 275/60/17 is a stock size, therefore I should be able to find tires cheaper.

I am considering that, but want a shorter tire for more "off the line torque and increased handling. I got some new F-150 oem "buzzsaw" directional 17x 7.5 rims that have been triple chrome plated. Got them off Ebay Motors for $390.

My used truck came with stock 16 inch rims and new 265/75/16 tires at 31.6 inches tall, yet they have only a 35 psi. They have way too much sidewall flex and are robbing me of "take-off torque".

edit, posted twice??

iron horse,
When you decide on which tire, go to their web site and see the rim that is recommended. I had 275/65-17 on my saw tooth ORP
wheels. On the shorter tires, you may need to have a wider wheel. The 7.5 inch was just wide enough for the 275/65-17's. You want to make sure the tires will fit.

iron horse,
Check out this site
http://www.falkentire.com/html/index.htm
They have a nice 50 series that will fit your rim.

WLF,

Thanks for the info.! I was looking at the 275/65/17s as well. I had called "The Tire Rack" Expert hotline. I asked them what the shortest and widest tire I could get for the oem 17x7.5 "buzzsaw" rims. They said the 275/55/17 was as far as I could go. But, then again, they are trying to sell me tires! ha!

I am going to check out the falken site, you provided, right now. Thanks again!

WLF,

The Falken site is a good one. The S/TZ01 275/50/17 looks real good. Great tread design and its has 51 lb.s psi (very good). But, it is 28 inches tall. I am trying to stay between 28.5 to 29 inches tall (Lightning uses the 295/45/18 which is 28.5 inches tall and has one of the best "off the line" times, so I figured that someone at Ford must have spent a lot of hours determining the best tire height for speed in relation to our F-150 rear end ratios, etc.? )