For an '06 250 diesel, any downside to the 20 inchers like ride quality, towing, mpg's etc....?

Thanks,
Matt

 

The cost of replacing the tires. The ride quality may be a slight bit stiffer. Who cares anyhow they look 10 times better.

 

This says it all! I have the 20"s, and they make the truck look awesome! I'm not looking forward to replacing those Goodyears when they wear out, though! I really haven't noticed any difference in the ride quality between the 20's and the 18's.

 

There was an interesting article on this subject last week in the LA Times. One quote was from Judge Ito(Of Simpson fame) who had two vehicles with low profile tires and said he would never do it again. The cost of repair, harsh ride and short tire life were not worth the cool looks.

This reflects my opinion and experience. I had several cars with profiles of 50 down to I think 40. Tire wear was a bit greater than 60 and higher profiles. But more tellingly, the ride was harsher, noisier and rim damage was a real threat.

I damaged two rims on one pothole a couple years back. The sidewalls of a low profile tire just don't have the "cushion" room to handle typical road hazards. I have driven cars since 1973 and NEVER had trouble with road damage to rims until I got low profile tires. Could just be bad luck, but other magazine articles say road damage is common. If you hit a good pothole or similar road hazard, you can figure your odds of damaging both tires on that side are good. Figure the cost of replacing two rims and two tires and at least for me, I rapidly moved away form low profile tires.

If you drive where roads are billiard table smooth then OK. Otherwise, expect tire and maybe rim damage and a harsh ride to be part of paying dues. The shorter service life was attributed to the softer compound used on low profiles whose real purpose is better handling. Performance anything is a compromise that takes your vehicle away from the original design parameters with the built in safety margins and comfort factors. You can do it but there are costs.

It really comes down to whether the looks and maybe handling outweight the cost and damage and harsh ride. All depends on what you want.

Still it does look cool.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

 

Hmmmm. I think Jim is thinking about the 20" bling-bling wheels and the tiny tires that are popular. The rims and tires we are talking about are the factory 20" rims, and the goodyear tires that are on them. These have a standard sidewall height, they are not the tiny sidewall tires that alot of customs have on them. Take a look at my gallery, my '06 has them.

 

Unsuitable for plowing if that were an issue.

 

The 20" act like a built in lift kit as well. Mine just, by 1/2", fits into my garage. If I leave the moon roof open in the rear position it doesn't fit.

I don't think there is a replacement tire out other than the OEM Goodyears yet either, but they are pricey, have a ways to go to replace thou . . .

All in all a real funtional and great looking tire. Even makes you need the boards to get in it too!

 

I didn't think we were talking about Ferrari Enzo wheels and tires. By no means are these tires low profile. Is there a urban editon superduty I am not aware of, with 20" spinners and black gumbands for tires.

 

The sidewall of a tire allows roll so a lower profile tire is typically better for slalom/cornering because there is less side-to-side roll. The 20” wheels will have a smaller sidewall for any given height. A 35” tire is 35” tall regardless of wheel diameter, so there is less sidewall.

Weight rating and revolutions per mile would depend on the specific tire, and the wheel specifically should not have much to do with the tire, except that there may not be tires of a specific type available in all sizes.

Your ride quality will suffer with a taller wheel, unless you also get a taller tire to compensate, and if the height of the tire were to be the same between two different height wheels, the taller wheel will have less sidewall and less cushioning, but probably better cornering. If you stay with a 31” or 32” tire you’ll probably not like the ride, unless your truck rides too soft for you J If you’re getting tires with your wheels you’re probably getting taller tires anyway and it’ll somewhat compensate.

 

The tires are the factory tires, Goodyear LT275/65X20E BSW tires.

 

I don't think you'll dislike the ride then, but it won't be as "cushy" as if you had 34" - 35" tires and 17" wheels. Although, load E tires are typically more stiff than lower load range.

 

Mine ride as good or better than the F 150 I had w/ OEM 17" wheels and tires. The ranchro Shock system that the F 250 Fx4 SD has makes a world of difference as well.

 

Mine rides pretty good, even with the FX-4 package. But, it is a crew cab longbed, so that helps a little.

 

Mine is a SB CC and I get more ride complements as to what they expect.

 

You overall gear ratio will now be taller (now 3.62, stock 3.73) due to the larger overall diameter 34.1" vs the stock 18" wheels/tires which are 33".

This will affect towing heavy loads at Hwy speeds, I see no difference in city or mountain towing, but can see it on the Hwy.

Truck (f350, CC, LB, 4x4) rides just fine, better than my 02