Tire/rim advice
Former Vendor
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,362
Likes: 3
From: Hendersonville, NC
Originally Posted by AK1MKING
Hjudge49-
Tires - Yes 315's will fit on the stock rim, However they will buldge quite a bit. Most tire manufactures specify at least an 8" rim for 315's. Some tire installation shops will not install 315's on the stock rim, and some will. If you are considering heavy hauling or towing I would recommend going to an 8" rim. Most 315's are not E rated (D), but most have a load rating of 3195#'s per tire (Nitto, BFG, Toyo). This should be fine for all but the heaviest loads.
Rims - Also be very carefull when shopping for new rims to replace the stockers. Superduty trucks require a hub-centric design (vs. lug-centric). Hub-centric wheels have the center hole percisely cut so the wheel is centered on the truck via the hub. Lug-centric wheels use acorn type lug nuts to center the wheels via the lug-nuts. If you read your owner's manual Ford is very specific and cautions against use of lug-centic wheels. With lug-centric wheels the weight of the vehicle is placed on the lugnuts. With hub-centric wheels the load is placed directly on the hub and not the lugnuts. Many run lug-centric wheels and report no problems. I personally haul heavy loads, and often load the bed of my truck to the load rating (camper, snowmobiles on a deck), so I do not like the idea of a lug-centric wheel. Again, just a personal preference, as some are happy with lug-centric wheels.
Superduty trucks have a center hole diameter of 4.93" or 125.22mm (look for a wheel with these specs if you want hub-centric). Bolt pattern is 8 x 170. The downside is that hub-centric wheels are very very expensive due to tooling costs (i.e. since the center hole is percisely cut, and can only be utilized on a few vehicles). Weld wheels makes hub-centric rims for the superduty, so does Alcoa, but there are very few others. Expect to pay 300-400 per wheel for a hub-centric wheel. Also make sure the wheels have the proper load rating for your vehicle. I have seen many wheels mounted on superduty trucks that are only rated for 2,220# a piece! (this is not even enough to support the weight of the vehicle, without a load) - Scary.
Proper backspacing and offset of the wheel are also essential to prevent rubbing and interference problems. Look for a wheel with a 4.5" backspacing. This will keep the wheel offset close to the stock wheel offset preventing problems with steering scrub radius and keep the wheel bearings happy. Wheels with 3&5/8 backspacing are for GM trucks and will push the wheels way outside the fender, and cause rubbing problems at full lock on a superduty with only 3" lift.
If you really want to use the stock rims in conjuction with a 3" lift, you may get a little rubbing of the tire on the leaf spring at full lock. If you offroad heavily a 315's and a 3" lift will producing some rubbing as the suspension articulates. A 295/75/16 would be a better choice if you punish your truck offroad, otherwise I have seen 315's run on a 3" lift.
Sorry for the longwinded post, I hope this made sense and helps.
Tires - Yes 315's will fit on the stock rim, However they will buldge quite a bit. Most tire manufactures specify at least an 8" rim for 315's. Some tire installation shops will not install 315's on the stock rim, and some will. If you are considering heavy hauling or towing I would recommend going to an 8" rim. Most 315's are not E rated (D), but most have a load rating of 3195#'s per tire (Nitto, BFG, Toyo). This should be fine for all but the heaviest loads.
Rims - Also be very carefull when shopping for new rims to replace the stockers. Superduty trucks require a hub-centric design (vs. lug-centric). Hub-centric wheels have the center hole percisely cut so the wheel is centered on the truck via the hub. Lug-centric wheels use acorn type lug nuts to center the wheels via the lug-nuts. If you read your owner's manual Ford is very specific and cautions against use of lug-centic wheels. With lug-centric wheels the weight of the vehicle is placed on the lugnuts. With hub-centric wheels the load is placed directly on the hub and not the lugnuts. Many run lug-centric wheels and report no problems. I personally haul heavy loads, and often load the bed of my truck to the load rating (camper, snowmobiles on a deck), so I do not like the idea of a lug-centric wheel. Again, just a personal preference, as some are happy with lug-centric wheels.
Superduty trucks have a center hole diameter of 4.93" or 125.22mm (look for a wheel with these specs if you want hub-centric). Bolt pattern is 8 x 170. The downside is that hub-centric wheels are very very expensive due to tooling costs (i.e. since the center hole is percisely cut, and can only be utilized on a few vehicles). Weld wheels makes hub-centric rims for the superduty, so does Alcoa, but there are very few others. Expect to pay 300-400 per wheel for a hub-centric wheel. Also make sure the wheels have the proper load rating for your vehicle. I have seen many wheels mounted on superduty trucks that are only rated for 2,220# a piece! (this is not even enough to support the weight of the vehicle, without a load) - Scary.
Proper backspacing and offset of the wheel are also essential to prevent rubbing and interference problems. Look for a wheel with a 4.5" backspacing. This will keep the wheel offset close to the stock wheel offset preventing problems with steering scrub radius and keep the wheel bearings happy. Wheels with 3&5/8 backspacing are for GM trucks and will push the wheels way outside the fender, and cause rubbing problems at full lock on a superduty with only 3" lift.
If you really want to use the stock rims in conjuction with a 3" lift, you may get a little rubbing of the tire on the leaf spring at full lock. If you offroad heavily a 315's and a 3" lift will producing some rubbing as the suspension articulates. A 295/75/16 would be a better choice if you punish your truck offroad, otherwise I have seen 315's run on a 3" lift.
Sorry for the longwinded post, I hope this made sense and helps.
Ill definately use this when tire changing time comes around; should be soon.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 660
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From: near Daytona
Originally Posted by tn mac
RCKYNTD-PSD
You might want to have some one turn your wheel all the way to full lock and look at the tire it will rub the spring usually on the drivers side, and when you run 315s on stock tires it will crown the tire and will cut your tire life in half the least you can run and get a flat tire footprint is 9.5 rim which is usually only offered in the 16.5 rim . you can run what ever you want but you will probably get poor milage. good luck
You might want to have some one turn your wheel all the way to full lock and look at the tire it will rub the spring usually on the drivers side, and when you run 315s on stock tires it will crown the tire and will cut your tire life in half the least you can run and get a flat tire footprint is 9.5 rim which is usually only offered in the 16.5 rim . you can run what ever you want but you will probably get poor milage. good luck
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2004
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RCKYMTD-PSD
I had the 315s on my 2000 with stock rims and when you turned the wheel full lock they rubed the drivers side spring never made any sound just noticed the rub mark on the spring when under the truck doing oil change,also you must not haul anything with the truck, cause I did and couldnt get any milage out of my tires had to run tire pressue higher to handle load,I am pretty good at taking care to rotate and balance just couldnt get any milage out of the bigger tires on the stock rims or the 8 inch rims, I am trying the 285/75/16 on 8 inch rims now and am happy with the wear so far.
I had the 315s on my 2000 with stock rims and when you turned the wheel full lock they rubed the drivers side spring never made any sound just noticed the rub mark on the spring when under the truck doing oil change,also you must not haul anything with the truck, cause I did and couldnt get any milage out of my tires had to run tire pressue higher to handle load,I am pretty good at taking care to rotate and balance just couldnt get any milage out of the bigger tires on the stock rims or the 8 inch rims, I am trying the 285/75/16 on 8 inch rims now and am happy with the wear so far.
New User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 22
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From: newark, de.
I have a 2003 F350 duallie with 235x85Rx16 tires and I'd like to put on a 285 or 315. The truck came with Alcoa rims so I contacted them and they do not make a rim and bigger than the one on the truck. Can you tell me where I can get a rim for either of thses size tires that will fit my truck. Need 4 Aluminum ones and two steel ones. Thanks, Chris
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