20" WHEEL EXPLANATION
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 945
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20" WHEEL EXPLANATION
Why is it today that with these rim/tires setups you see hardly any tire? All you see are rims. This "low profile" stuff makes such options as 20" tires misleading does it not? Will this be the case with the F-150 06' option of 20" wheels?
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 67
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From: Texas
Its a style or fashion. It will pass like bell bottoms. Ford is doing it because Dodge and Toyota is doing it. A certain portion of the market demands it. Its not misleading, just the proportion of rubber to metal is different. Traditionally there has been more rubber, but they latest trend is less rubber more wheel. On my car before I got this truck, I put some custom larger wheels along with smaller profile tires, not extreme like some of them. I think it freshened the look of the car, but made road noise, and although it did handle a bit better, it did ride rougher. As far as road noise and rougher ride, I don't think the indended market cares, they just want the bling.
I like them on trucks but I hear they can decrease towing efficeincy.
I like them on trucks but I hear they can decrease towing efficeincy.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 559
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From: CT
For a race car, less rubber is better for handling, but for a truck that spends any time offroad you want as much rubber as possible, which means the smallest rim possible. The more rubber you have the less chance of hitting the rim on a rock. I laugh at these trucks with 20-22" wheels and then have only 4-5" of rubber. They would be flat in a second off road.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 84
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You can still put a nice size tire on a 20 " wheel . Its all in what you like the looks of. I have a 34" truck tire on a 20" wheel, still has plenty of side wall to protect the wheel and i think it looks modern, like these new style trucks. Just my opinion.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 30
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From: NC
My two cents, 20" wheels can be good looking to fill the wheelwells but a-lot of the choices are "ghetto" looking. A good classic Cragar style or Keystone would do just fine.
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If any one is interested the 20" optional tire's for the 2006 FX4 and Lariat are Pirelli P275/55 R 20 
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 185
From: Dedham, MA
In response to the initial question about sidewall size, it's a plus sizing issue. The speedometers are geared for the factory tire size in relation to axle ratio. You could easily put on a 20" wheel with more rubber, but your overall wheel/tire diameter would exceed stock, throwing off your speedo and making the truck slower "down low". I myself don't think this is a big deal, unless you go extreme (35" tires would make a huge difference). The other issue is increased unsprung weight from a larger wheel and tire combo. It's a matter of choice --better looking means some compromise with ride quality, speedo, and suspension characteristics.
American Racing makes a nice 20" wheel..think it's the torque thrust, not blingy at all.
American Racing makes a nice 20" wheel..think it's the torque thrust, not blingy at all.