New wheels

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Mar 12, 2025 | 06:21 AM

Red Rascal

Thread Starter

Mountain Pass

Joined: Jun 2015

Posts: 128

Likes: 9

From: Louisville, Kentucky

New wheels

I am thinking of replacing my tires and steel wheels on my 2020 Ford F150 XL, automatic trans, 4x4, extended cab. I would like to upsize the tires and wheels to alloy 18s or 20s; HOWEVER, this may not be worth the effort. My question is: What would I have to change/modify on my truck to make everything, speedometer, cruise control, etc, work? I would like to hear from someone that has actually made the switch?
My previous truck was old enough that I just had to replace the speedometer output gear on the trans tailshaft.
Thanks in advance!

Mar 12, 2025 | 08:28 AM

scott91370

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Dec 2008

Posts: 1,911

Likes: 134

From: Burleson, Tx

If you go up in overall tire size (wheel size does not matter) you can use Forscan to make changes so the speedometer will read the correct speed. You could also buy a tuner that will do this but there is the cost of the tuner associate with that.
If you do not change the speedometer, everything will work as it should but your speed will be off by X%.

Mar 12, 2025 | 08:37 AM

Red Rascal

Thread Starter

Mountain Pass

Joined: Jun 2015

Posts: 128

Likes: 9

From: Louisville, Kentucky

Thanks for the info Scott!!

Mar 12, 2025 | 09:42 AM

GlueGuy

Lead Driver

Joined: May 2015

Posts: 5,881

Likes: 359

From: Mts. S. of San Francisco

You can change the wheel size if you switch to a different tire profile that has the same OD as the original tire and not have to change anything.

If you look at new trucks with different wheels/tires that's exactly what Ford does so they don't have to change programming at all.

Mar 12, 2025 | 10:08 AM

nitebreeze

Laughing Gas

Joined: May 2020

Posts: 970

Likes: 449

From: Adirondacks

I replaced and upsized tires on my 2010 and 2014 F150s. When going up only one size taller tire, you don't need to do anything except adjust Forscan tire size if you want accuracy... but not needed otherwise. On the 2014 F150, I first went up only one size taller tire 32" to 33", and then decided to go to 34", and that needed a two inch front suspension level for tire clearance. Changing to a larger diameter rim size does not matter, and going from steel to alloy does not matter. If your rim diamter gets large like 20", you start to diminish road ride comfort from the decreased sidewall. If you go to aftermarket wheels, pay attention to wheel offset. The farther you go from stock wheel offset, you get a chance of creating wheel fender corner rubbing.

Mar 12, 2025 | 11:13 AM

JKBrad

Moderator

Joined: May 2005

Posts: 8,227

Likes: 1,242

From: San Antonio, TX

Look on your local Craigslist, Offer Up, or Facebook Marketplace. You will find many people who have taken brand new, or nearly new tires/wheels off their trucks and are selling them for less than the cost of new tires. I've done this a few times for various vehicles. The only downside is that most people take the TPMS out and transfer them to their new wheels.