Ok so 265 - 275 - 285 --- 65 - 70 - 75....the numbers confuse me.

I did the V-code front springs with the B-code mod in the rear of my excursion. I now want a tire that fills up the space more without rub when in full turn. The current tires on it are 285/65- 18 and need to be replaced. I will be keeping the rims and want to get new tires. So what is the largest I can try to go with?

Options:
Stay with 285/65-18
Get 275/70 - 18
Or something else

Seems like I have more options for tires in the 285/65 and the 275/70 range.

Again don't really know what the numbers mean....taller wider??

I did use this site to get a rough idea of tires size.
Tire size calculator

 

I think most go with a 285-75. That's what's on mine and will go back here in a few weeks.

 

Are yours on 16 inch rims. I think you have more options in that rim size. With the 18 inch rims the 285-75 does not have many options.

I think your size is equivalent to the 285/65-18.

Tim

 

Ahhh yes they r. Didn't look close enough at ur pics. I really want some newer wheels but can seem to justify the price of the spacers.

 

The rims I have on my Excursion are the only OEM 18 inch rim that don't need spacers and are hub centric.

They are a rare rim from the F250 / F350 which came on some of the King Ranch or Harley Davidson truck from 2004.

There was a discussion on this in this thread.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...with-18-s.html

Tim M

 

Great question:

Tire code - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

1. 285/65-18 - This tire according to the site is 285cm wide by 285*.65 = 185.25 high

2. Get 275/70 - 18 - This one is 275cm wide by 275*.7=192.5 cm high

Tire one is wider and shorter and tire two is more narrow but taller.

So tire two would fill in more but is not as wide.

More to think about...

Tim M

Sean thanks for the link ..sorry but I need to spread some rep around I guess...

 

285-65-18 mean 285 mm wide, 65 is the aspect ratio (the thickness of the tire) mean 65% of the width of the tire, in this case it is 65% of the 285 mm = 185.25 mm. 18 is the rim diameter measure in inches, To convert to metric 1 in = 25.4 mm, 18" = 457.2 mm. For the tire with 285-65-18, the height of the tire is: 185.25 mm x 2 = 370.5 mm (the total thickness of the tire) plus the rim diameter. 370.5 mm + 457.2 mm = 827.7 mm equal 32.59 inches high. 285 mm = 11.2 inches.

285-65-18 mean 11.2 inches wide and 32.6 inches tall.

 

remember too that youre on a leaf sprung truck. So if you go too wide without adding more backspacing, you will end up rubbing the tire on the leaf spring in tight turns. With stock rims you can add spacers. With aftermarket rims the idea is to order them with the correct backspacing to keep your tires off your springs.

On a wet road, wider tires will increase the risk of hydroplaning. On a dry road, they will increase the contact patch. The opposite for narrow tires. Off road, a wider tire can give you more float, but in many situations a narrow tire will find traction where a wide tire can't. Its no simple answer.

If you are trying to keep stock wheels, you will find that you are limited in how wide of a tire you can go. Putting too wide a tire on a narrow stock wheel will result in your truck feeling floaty due to sidewall deflection, and can result in the tire cupping or ballooning, causing irregular wear.

 

Tim, I see that you have said you plan to do a lot of camper towing with your EX. With this in mind I would take a look at the Goodyear Silent Armor (available in 286/65R18) and Nitto Dura Grappler (available in 275/70r18). I have pulled our ToyHauler several thousand miles with a set of Silent Armors in the stock 265 size and have loved them, quiet, solid feel under load and very good wear. I have also done a lot of reading about the Dura Grapplers and they have gotten some pretty good reviews too, When I put new tires on my 18' rims they will be Nitto Dura 305/70R18E's.
By the way, they are some pretty sexy rims you got there!

 

hasteranger and Tom

Both great information.

1. So I want to be careful not to go too wide with my current spring setup.
2. both those tires seem to be about right. I was hoping for a little taller 285 tire but I don't think they have any available. The 275/70 gives me a bunch of options.
3. How were those silent armors in the snow?

I wanted to rep you guys again but I needed to spread some around so I did. Then I ran out and will have to rep you guys tomorrow (24hr lockout)

Tim M

 

We had very little snow this year but last year we had tons of it, my Silent Armors did fine, no problems at all getting around my hilly little part of the world.

 

Tom ...
Not only are your rims SWeeeeeeet......but I love the color of your truck. My rims need some TLC. What compound did you use to polish them?

By the way I may have to hijack your pet name for your Excursion and use it with my kids.

Tim

 

Tim, When I got my wheels they had some seriously dirty centercaps and all of the wheels had some degree of scratches, from minor to some pretty bad scuffs and scrapes that went completely through the clearcoat in a few grain of rice sized spots. The caps I cleaned with Maguires Mag & Aluminum polish. I used Turtle Wax red rubbing compound on the wheel scratches that I could feel with a fingernail, and then Turtle Wax white polishing compound on the entire surface of each wheel. Before I started I cleaned the inside/backside surfaces with a Scotchbrite pad to remove all of the old brake dust buildup. I then used the white compound on the backside to help flatten the surface so it would take wax better. If you have any areas that have the clearcoat chipped down to the aluminum I would use white compound on those areas first so if any gets imbedded in the chip edge it won't show like the red will. Then after that go at the area with the red to rub the scratches out and then onto the white to smooth everything out. I finished everything off with a coat of Mothers pure carnuba paste wax, even the backsides. Unfortunately I didn't get any before pics but the difference was huge. Every time I've washed the truck since they have been on they cleaned up very well with just a quick pass of the soapy mitt and having the backsides waxed makes it just as easy to clean the large areas that can be seen through the those big openings.
The Aspen Green color is fairly rare on these trucks, I've only ever seen one other XLT in this color. When I first saw the online add for the truck I wasn't too crazy about the color but once I saw it in person I loved it!
Between the color and it's size the nickname was a natural!

 

Wow ....now that's some serious cleaning. Its inspiring, I may have to try it since your rims look so nice.

Tim M