I actually like the look of the tires heavy-duty trucks use. They are usually thinner to keep the rolling resistance low and have strong, almost straight-looking sidewalls (as opposed to the typical rounded tire). What's the best way to achieve this look with an F-150?

-
steve
http://romej.com

 

http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/bfgap...erraintako.jsp

Well that's the problem. If you go to the web site and read the spec's they call for an 8-10" tire which mean they are shooting for a 9" rim. In the next coluum they give a measurement for tire section width on an 8.5" rim. Thats a full inch wider than 7.5"..

I never said it was risky. I just said you may not be happy with the tire wear at normal pressures. If you don't mind a muchy ride running the tires 5-10lbs softer you'll be fine.

I had all kinds of problems running 255/85/16E's on my F250HD's 6" rims. The truck came with 235/85/16E. E rated tires are 10ply 80psi rubber. With the 255's I had to run the rears at 40lbs to get the tread down on the road. 50lbs in the front. The truck was like a mush ball going down the highway. Ever since then I stopped thinking I knew more than the tire manuf's about rim width recommendations.

The thing is Ford screwed everyone when they went with 7.5" rims. It probably cut out about 70% of the insentive tire manuf's had to make bigger sizes in the 18". It wouldn't have hurt Ford a bit to put an 8.5" rim under these trucks. 7.5" rim is the minimum for the 275/65/18 BFG Rugged Trail and that tire would have been perfect on 8.5" rims. Now to do anything with bigger rubber you need to drop another 800+ into rims. Even at that you don't have much of a selection unless you spend 3-400 each on rims.

To go up to a 285 from a 275 is a waste of time. You can't barely see the difference and to take a chance they won't wear right going to them is even more foolish. They are rated at 3000lb@65lbs each. This means you can't run them up on pressure anyway because neither end of your truck will stand that much weight. With 6000lbs of carrying ability on each axle in rubber you will have to run them soft to begin with even on the right size rims. Pinch the mounting beads closer together on 7.5" rims and problem get's even worse... I would wait till you've got the bucks and go with a 10" rim and 315's or bigger. Of course you'll also need to lift the front end because Ford left no room for bigger rubber.

Sure looks to me like Ford didn't want bigger rubber under these trucks. Maybe all those alum front end components have something to do with it.

 

Dunk- Thanks for all the input and ideas! I would love to get a larger wheel but the funds are just not there right now. I think the KO's are an incredable tire but unfortunatly they are not made in 275 65 18's. I just can't go into the winter with these "Passenger car" Rugged Trail tires. They are pretty bad in the snow or anything else other than pavement. I will try my luck with the KO's and hopefully everything will be just fine.
This is a great truck, and it should wear some truck shoes!

BTW, I am having such a hard time finding the KO's in stock that I may not have a choice but to splurge for bigger wheels!

 

Yeah, I can see your point. If you are up in that snow belt area NY with the lake effect snows you need serious snow tires. You might consider finding a set of 17" rims. With all the guys on these pages getting wider rims...what are they doing with their stock rims?? Lots more tire options in the 17" size.

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/classifi...2&cat=8&page=6


https://www.ford-trucks.com/classifi...2&cat=8&page=7

 

Dunk- I am not even in the snow belt area, I live 25 miles east of NYC on Long Island. However, the last few years we have gotten some pretty good snowfalls, and I want my truck to preform like a truck! I never got stuck last year but I never really pushed the truck, when we got some big foot or more snowfalls. I like challenging myself and my truck in some adverse conditions, just like I challenge myself and my Mustang Cobra when the weather is beautiful. This year I will have the tires and front end lift to go anywhere I want to go in my 150!

 

Has anyone looked at the Toyo Open Country M/T's. They have an 18" option (but it shows a minimum rim size of 8"). Not being a tire expert, I don't know how these would look (or even work) on the 150. Anyone know? (toyo.com)