Larger wheels
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Scandia, MN
Larger wheels
My 16 year old son is trying to get me to install 18 - 20" rims on my new black limited x. I must admit that when I went and looked at the larger rims and lower profile it looked great. Has anyone does this and how has it effected the driveability of the X?
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 394
Likes: 6
From: SEVA
Larger wheels
Low profile tires "look" cool, but do they have the required load rating to suit your X? Must be at least a D-rating because of the weight (7,000# + ?).
I once had low profile tires on my GT40, and while the cornering was fantastic, the ride was crap. I now have 60-series rubber on that machine ... and they did real good when running around Charlotte (now Lowe's) Motor Speedway at 140MPH.
One last thing to consider .... POTHOLES !!! The low profile tires provide minimum protection to your rims ... which brings us back to the weight issue ... the weight of your X will most definitely pound those rims into the far edge of potholes. If you go with the cool looking tires, the wheel store will love you ... especially when you keep returning to replace bent rims.
Low profile tires have their purpose, and it's mostly on the track. On the street you need something that will survive.
Buy them if you wish, but I've been down that road ... and will not go down it again.
I once had low profile tires on my GT40, and while the cornering was fantastic, the ride was crap. I now have 60-series rubber on that machine ... and they did real good when running around Charlotte (now Lowe's) Motor Speedway at 140MPH.
One last thing to consider .... POTHOLES !!! The low profile tires provide minimum protection to your rims ... which brings us back to the weight issue ... the weight of your X will most definitely pound those rims into the far edge of potholes. If you go with the cool looking tires, the wheel store will love you ... especially when you keep returning to replace bent rims.
Low profile tires have their purpose, and it's mostly on the track. On the street you need something that will survive.
Buy them if you wish, but I've been down that road ... and will not go down it again.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,314
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Larger wheels
Actually - they do 'go' around the corners better, but they also 'go' into potholes as well as stated above...
And what purpose would posting the reply on your son's door serve?
HE doesn't have to pay for the new rims
But really Dad, you know he has only ONE chance to be 'cool' at his age - spoil him for a bit until the cold cruel world descends on him
And what purpose would posting the reply on your son's door serve?
HE doesn't have to pay for the new rims
But really Dad, you know he has only ONE chance to be 'cool' at his age - spoil him for a bit until the cold cruel world descends on him
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 130
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From: British Columbia, Canada
Larger wheels
If you contemplate going off pavement, you can expect a kidney replacement before your warranty runs out.
I swapped the stock size tires to run low profile tires when I was 16 on a European sports car. as the car was used in novice competition, the performance was amazing. But only a teenage spine and ego can handle the ride.
Bushings and ball joints also suffer. Ford lower ball joints aren't known for their longevity so going lo-pro will likely have you getting a new set, but arguably not covered by the warranty.
If you plan to go off pavement, fergit it pardner! Pushing close to 8000 pounds, that's a ton per corner, is tough on wheels. Despite claims of "quality" and "strength", a lot of shine wheels bend under pressure of a misplaced track.
Save your spine, kidneys, joints, bushings and bucks. Keep your X forever and will it to your son. By that time he'll be older and just as wise as us!
Cheeres,
GeoQwest
A Safari Company
I swapped the stock size tires to run low profile tires when I was 16 on a European sports car. as the car was used in novice competition, the performance was amazing. But only a teenage spine and ego can handle the ride.
Bushings and ball joints also suffer. Ford lower ball joints aren't known for their longevity so going lo-pro will likely have you getting a new set, but arguably not covered by the warranty.
If you plan to go off pavement, fergit it pardner! Pushing close to 8000 pounds, that's a ton per corner, is tough on wheels. Despite claims of "quality" and "strength", a lot of shine wheels bend under pressure of a misplaced track.
Save your spine, kidneys, joints, bushings and bucks. Keep your X forever and will it to your son. By that time he'll be older and just as wise as us!
Cheeres,
GeoQwest
A Safari Company
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Scandia, MN
Larger wheels
Your responses have been appreciated. I guess I am past the age (43) of needing to look really cool and comprimising quality and perfoirmance. I just sometimes see through my 16 year old sons eyes and Oh my God! the things I remember.
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Larger wheels
nanuke1:
Here's a solution that might be the best of both worlds, cool and practical. Here's a site that manufactures/sells 19.5" rims (like the F450/550 use) with the 8 lug pattern that the F250/350 uses. You can then buy 19.5" commercial grade tires. If I was upgrading the wheels, this is the way I would go.
http://www.ricksontruck.com/
Here's a solution that might be the best of both worlds, cool and practical. Here's a site that manufactures/sells 19.5" rims (like the F450/550 use) with the 8 lug pattern that the F250/350 uses. You can then buy 19.5" commercial grade tires. If I was upgrading the wheels, this is the way I would go.
http://www.ricksontruck.com/
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Larger wheels
Just wanted to add my 2 cents on this topic.
I've just added a set of weld cheyene 8 wheels in size 20"x10" with toyo proxes 305R50 tires to my 03 excursion limited along with edlebrock IAS shocks.
I had tried one rim with a 325R50 tire but it rubbed at full lock on the inner wheel well.
The truck still rides very nicely, most likely due to the shocks as the tires do transmit much more road feel.
The truck is much easier to keep in the lane on the highway, and goes around corners much much better.
The wheels are rated at 3500lbs each, and the tires are rated for 3080lbs @ 50psi which is about 400lbs less than the stock tire @80psi.
I've towed 10,200lbs with at least 1000lbs on the tongue without a weight distributing hitch and have not had problems but I will be getting a WD hitch.
The only problem I had was the wheel studs were too long to properly clamp the rims using closed end lugs and locks (McGuard). These were 1.5" deep lugs.
The shop made some calls and came back with "Weld says to cut the studs where the treads end and the taper starts.
I made some measurments and decided to cut the studs back 1 thread past the taper, or 1.65" out from the mounting surface to ensure that the lugs did not bottom on the studs.
I do plan on using the truck on the beach, but have not made it out there yet.
I've just added a set of weld cheyene 8 wheels in size 20"x10" with toyo proxes 305R50 tires to my 03 excursion limited along with edlebrock IAS shocks.
I had tried one rim with a 325R50 tire but it rubbed at full lock on the inner wheel well.
The truck still rides very nicely, most likely due to the shocks as the tires do transmit much more road feel.
The truck is much easier to keep in the lane on the highway, and goes around corners much much better.
The wheels are rated at 3500lbs each, and the tires are rated for 3080lbs @ 50psi which is about 400lbs less than the stock tire @80psi.
I've towed 10,200lbs with at least 1000lbs on the tongue without a weight distributing hitch and have not had problems but I will be getting a WD hitch.
The only problem I had was the wheel studs were too long to properly clamp the rims using closed end lugs and locks (McGuard). These were 1.5" deep lugs.
The shop made some calls and came back with "Weld says to cut the studs where the treads end and the taper starts.
I made some measurments and decided to cut the studs back 1 thread past the taper, or 1.65" out from the mounting surface to ensure that the lugs did not bottom on the studs.
I do plan on using the truck on the beach, but have not made it out there yet.
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