I am looking to downsize my 20" factory rims to a 17" diameter. I have heard that 17's may not fit, but, most of the wheel websites I go to offer a 17" wheel. I installed a 3/2 Ready Lift so I could get 34" tires underneath to drive the NC Outer banks. I want to get as much sidewall height as possible so I have room to work with when I air down.

Thanks!

 

First 17s will fit. Whoever told you they won't must not even look at the stock order guide. The expediton regular length unit comes with 17s for SSV and base models.

Moving on I would keep your 20" wheels and just go with a 33x12.5x20 tire. Your 20" wheels are already 8.5" wide, plenty enough wide to even run a 35" 12.50 20 if you wanted. I've not needed to air down on my Silverado on 285/70R17s at OB before (I assume you are talking NC) and they are not as wide as a stock expeditions 18" and 20" tire.

What size 34"s do you have / want for your truck? IE 34X11.50 or 34X12.50. Personally if it were mine, not saying you need to do this, I would just run the 20"s with a nice 33ishX11.5X20 (or 12.50 if I could find one) and enjoy not putting my CVs, ball joints etc at undesirable angles. I'm going to upgrade my 18s to 285/65R18 Michelin LTX A/T2s when the SR-As are about 50%. This will raise my truck less than 1/4" and about a 1/2" more width. I'd like to have a 12" or 12.5" wide Michelin A/T but no luck there.

 

Thanks MC! I appreciate the info and your opinion.
I normally go out to Cape Lookout (but recently been going to Ocracoke and Duck area) The sand is always deeper at the Cape and I have always air'd down to about 20psi. Vehicle tends to float better and the engine/tranny run cooler.

I really have never liked the looks of the 20" wheel. The sand/sidewall height issue is the best excuse I have to scale down. But, I've found it's pretty difficult to find a basic aluminum cast wheel with the right offset and backspace at a decent price.

My first option was 18" wheels with the Michelins you mentioned. (@7.30" sidewall)
And then I thought about the 17" wheel and a 285 75 17 Toyo A/T II which is basically a 34 x 11.5 with 8.5" sidewall.
I do a lot of highway driving so a quiet tire is also very important. Option 1 is looking better and better.

Thanks again

 

Hey MC, I looked at a set of 275 65 20 Toyo AT II's on my buddy's Ram pickup and they actually looked pretty good and also looked like they can handle the sand with their somewhat aggressive sidewall when I air down.
So, that's what I decided to go with. Thanks again for the input.