2004 - 2008 F150 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 Ford F150's with 5.4 V8, 4.6 V8 engine
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Oddometer/Speedometer vs 20" tires

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 03-06-2008, 01:30 PM
edmundo7's Avatar
edmundo7
edmundo7 is offline
New User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: CC
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Oddometer/Speedometer vs 20" tires

All,

I had a question regarding the Oddometer/Speedometer and the 20" tires. Will putting smaller tires on the F150 increase the reading on the Oddometer? If so, do I have to take it into the dealership to adjust?

Thanks


Ed
 
  #2  
Old 03-06-2008, 02:40 PM
Twinsdad98's Avatar
Twinsdad98
Twinsdad98 is offline
Elder User
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Michigan
Posts: 680
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
no, it's done through sensors so you needn't worry. I run stock 18s in winter and 20s summer. Speedo has always been correct
 
  #3  
Old 03-06-2008, 03:38 PM
JimTex's Avatar
JimTex
JimTex is offline
Senior User
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Burleson, TX
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Twinsdad98
no, it's done through sensors so you needn't worry. I run stock 18s in winter and 20s summer. Speedo has always been correct
That is not correct. If you change the overall height of the wheel and tire, it has to be recalibrated in the computer to be correct. That is one of the reasons some people buy a tuner. The size of the wheel can be changed and with a different tire, the overall height might be the same and then you would not need to recalibrate. Some people go to the dealer to get it changed, but if they charge for it, you would be better off getting a programmer.
 
  #4  
Old 03-06-2008, 03:47 PM
SteveVFX4's Avatar
SteveVFX4
SteveVFX4 is offline
Fleet Mechanic
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Twinsdad98
no, it's done through sensors so you needn't worry. I run stock 18s in winter and 20s summer. Speedo has always been correct
you don't notice a speedo difference because your 20's have almost the same diameter as the stock 18's.

305/50/20 = 32.01 inches
275/65/18 = 32.07 inches
 
  #5  
Old 03-06-2008, 03:53 PM
SteveVFX4's Avatar
SteveVFX4
SteveVFX4 is offline
Fleet Mechanic
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by edmundo7
All,

I had a question regarding the Oddometer/Speedometer and the 20" tires. Will putting smaller tires on the F150 increase the reading on the Oddometer? If so, do I have to take it into the dealership to adjust?

Thanks


Ed
you need to tell us what size you have now and what size do you plan on changing to?

also, this site helps calculate the tire difference: http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
 
  #6  
Old 03-06-2008, 04:31 PM
edmundo7's Avatar
edmundo7
edmundo7 is offline
New User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: CC
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sure thing SteveVFX4,

It's a 08, 20"
I would take it down to 18"
 
  #7  
Old 03-06-2008, 04:35 PM
SteveVFX4's Avatar
SteveVFX4
SteveVFX4 is offline
Fleet Mechanic
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
you should be fine then if you stick with the stock sizes. The stock 20's come with 275/55/20 tires which are 31.9 inches tall. The stock 18" 4x4 size tire is 275/65/18 which is 32 inches tall. You won't have to do any kind of adjustment/calibration.
 
  #8  
Old 03-06-2008, 04:42 PM
edmundo7's Avatar
edmundo7
edmundo7 is offline
New User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: CC
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks All!!!!
 
  #9  
Old 03-06-2008, 05:20 PM
Deluxe05's Avatar
Deluxe05
Deluxe05 is offline
Posting Guru

Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Denver, Co
Posts: 1,617
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
You might want to do a few searches as well, this comes up pretty regularly....kind of like this one from last week....

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...ire+gear+ratio
 
  #10  
Old 03-06-2008, 05:27 PM
GordoPanocho's Avatar
GordoPanocho
GordoPanocho is offline
Elder User
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Austin TX
Posts: 615
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
And it's not that you HAVE to recalibrate. You can just leave it and remember that your speed and mileage will be 'off.' It's just a measurement, etc. ... no real bearing on the functionality of the truck, etc.
 
  #11  
Old 03-06-2008, 06:40 PM
Deluxe05's Avatar
Deluxe05
Deluxe05 is offline
Posting Guru

Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Denver, Co
Posts: 1,617
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
That's not entirely true. The series of computers that control your drivetrain rely on these readings for many things--not just to display speed & calculate miles traveled. Tire swaps can lead to automatic transmissions not shifting correctly & your ABS not operating optimally.

The larger the change, the larger the impact.
 




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:12 PM.