George;


I really relate to your comments. I would love a small van built like my Subaru Forester, something with some clearance and something with AWD.


I also miss some of my Old Iron, with clearance and posi in the rear axal. We're in a new world and the TC is the closest I've come to accommodating my wish for space and mileage.


I understand that the TC is on the same platform as the Escape, which does have AWD and does have some clearance. It seems like a no-brainer.

 

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Good luck,
George

 

Good luck,
George

 

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I really relate to the Subaru wish. I'm a Ford guy (87 Bronco, 98 Explorer, 53 PU) but my wife got a Subaru Forester, what a vehicle! AWD, good clearance, reliable. If Subaru made a van, I'd go for it.


My understanding is that the Ford Escape is an AWD with some clearance, and that is the frame upon which the TC is built. Seems likes a NO-BRAINER.

 

Good luck,
George

 

So we have these figures so far... (?)

Transit Connect Wagon OE alloy wheel in 16 and 17 inch sizes have a negative offset of 45 mm.

Overall tire radius can be no larger than 26 inches.

Space in the TC wheel wells is quite limited.

Tires must be marked XL, according to TireRack.

Incrementally larger tire sizes possible on OEM alloys would then be limited perhaps to a 225/55 16 and 225/50 17 that measure 25.9 to 26 inches overall radius, if they can be found as an XL tire.

(Interestingly, the load rating for the OE ContiProContact 215/55 16 XL tire is 1609 lbs, while the 215/50 17 XL OE tire version has a lower load rating 1521 lbs. That's what I saw on the specifications list for each of those tires on TireRack's web site.)

 

Good luck,
George

 

215/60 16 tire might fit the TC fine... the overall radius comes out to be 26.2 inches for the ContiProContact in that size.

I drive in Maine where pot holes can swallow trucks in the Spring time. Our roads can get pretty nasty during the Spring breakup when the frost comes out of the ground. There can be a couple or 3 months time frame where the roads are more like rough ocean, than road.

Generally, you can get away with 45 series or larger sidewalls. You shouldn't damage a wheel, unless you don't keep your tire properly inflated or just driving way too fast for road conditions. I know a few people that have tried fancy 35 to 40 aspect ratio sidewall tires around our area and have terminally damaged some mighty nice rims.... $$$

 

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It would seem to me that a Ford Focus based vehicle, like the TC, would use the same basic wheel specs, 5X108 bolt pattern with a 45 mm offset. The two Ford factory wheel options for the TC are both only 6.5 inches wide. If you look at these wheels and tires on the TC itself, all reside well inside the wheel well's outer edge, fronts and farther inside for the rear.

There may be a little more room for width and radius increase than I'm seeing here. Anyone know someone that owns a current Focus with 17 inch wheels that would be willing to allow a test fit on a TC??

 

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And Volvo has some very nice alloys that would look great on the TC, too. This is painful.

Dealerships are not known for their willingness to help with fitment issues. Their modus operandi is to generally do the least possible for the most profit. There are very few actual enthusiast car guy/gal dealerships out there. I've found dealing with dealerships very disappointing. Their knowledge base is appalling in most cases, from sales personnel to service. I find most of these individuals totally disinterested in their very own product and industry... and it doesn't matter if it's a Ford/GM/Honda/Chrysler/Toyota/add any manufacturer's dealerships in this line. If they can't find the answer in their little corporate dealer computer database, it doesn't exist. Very sad.