I have a 2001 F-150 supercrew with 5.4 L and 3.55 axle ratio. The truck is an off road model and came with 17 inch wheels. I recently bought a travel trailer and learned that if I had 16 inch wheels I get anouther 500 lbs towing capacity.

My question is what do I have to do to change to 16 inch wheels? Seems to me at a minimum the odometer needs adjusting.

Thanks,
Joel

 

In changed to 16 inch wheels a long time back on my '01. Just went to a tire shop of choice and told them to match the overall diameter in a 16 plus the width I wanted. Don't know if it raised my towing load limit any, I just wanted different wheels and tires and there was no selection for 17's in '02.

 

...Welcome Joel, to Ford Truck Enthusiasts!

See you on the boards. ….

 

Joel, the idea is to use 16 inch rims and the same WIDTH tire or a size narrower. this will make the overall diameter 1 to 1.5 inch smaller on the outside of the tire. If the tire was 32.5 inch OD, the 16 inch rim would have a 31 inch diameter tire (lets assume). that 1.5 inch smaller is 5% so you would need to change the speedometer setting 5%.------ What happens is that 5% is like changing the rear axle ratio 5% or the same as going from 3.55 to 3.70 ratio. Thats why you get the extra towing capacity. If you keep the overall diameter the same when you change to 16 inch rims, you have lost the advantage you are talking about.