Early 99 F250, V10 SCSB, 130k. Runs/drives great. I have 3.73s open diff. Locker coming.

I just got my taxes done, and have some more disposable income.

Looking for a 6" lift.
Looking at the 36x12.5x16.5 Humvee tires. They are cheap. Very cheap.
Looking for cheap 16.5" wheels with proper offset for 36" tires on my truck.


How many of you guys with 6" lift can't go into car washes, or drive thru-s? This is my primary concern at the moment. I intend to do a lot of mudding with this truck when I get some decent rubber on it, and going through Delta Sonic (car wash place) 5 times to get it clean is very convenient. I don't have a power washer... and I really don't want to spend the time 2x a week to do it.
Parking garages, I barely fit into now... so I don't see that happening. No biggie.

After some research on here, and input from other members, the DH 4.5" Hanger kit is very popular. Is there anyway to fit this skinny 36" tire with that kit? Would it all be depending on the offset of the wheel?

How are the 3.73s and a locker going to be with the 36x12.5s? I'd imagine I would still be able to pull a 16ft pop-up trailer from Buffalo to West Virginia with no problems right? I can honestly move the trailer by hand no problem.

Why are there two very different views on the Humvee tires? Those who have them love them. Affordable, durable, and aggressive. Those who have military experience with them "wouldn't touch them with a 10 foot pole and your truck". Apparently they become unstable at or around 80mph... I don't see 80mph daily, but I will on long road trips like the one mentioned above. Is this a Humvee problem, or a bias ply problem?

If I was concerned with comfort on the road, I wouldn't have bought a Super Duty. I don't expect a Cadillac ride out of these things... but I'm not expecting them to ride like hockey pucks either. Anyone have first hand experience with them?

Those are my concerns... someone please calm my nerves so I can blow some of this tax return.

Pic of the truck while I was fixing the running boards:


And a couple months ago when I bought it:

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I Have ~9" of lift with 38" tires.....soon to run 40" tires.

I fit through fast food drive thrus.

I don't go through bank drive-ups though since I would be hanging waaaayyy out of the truck to grab the canister. I have to reach down in my stock F-150

I've always gone to the self service car washes. Fit fine in there.
I actually do fit in at least one parking garage...had 8'2" clearance.
I fit in my garage at my house (8'9" tall door)

36/12.50s would be a little tight under a 4.5" DR, the 6" would be better to clear them in my opinion.


Bias ply tires do ride rougher and don't dissapate heat as well as radials.....so the high speeds aren't too good for them.

With the V10 I would regear to 4.30s or 4.56s (if you think you may eventually go bigger).

 

I'm going to start searching through the junk yards for a new set of gears for this thing. Hoping to just pull both axles (housing/diff/everythihng) and put it in my truck... $2k to regear is steep. I'm a mustang guy, so this is a big step up in $$$.

 

The HMMWV tires, 36" bias-ply tires aren't a good choice. Even the military has switched to radials, hence the 36" bias-ply abundance.

The 37" radial on the other hand works quite well and although they wear pretty fast on a Hummer H1, they are smooth running and have very good off road performance (on a Hummer anyway). My Hummer, a 1993 model, was limited to 73 mph by the governor so I can't tell you how they work at 80. I wouldn't buy the bias-ply at any price unless they were going on an on-site work truck.

 

Thank you for your input. Your suggestion alone has led me to just spend the $$$ on a decent set of radials.

 

Stalwart is right the bias-ply are cheap. But I have a lot of experience with the radial's and can't complain, except having to build them with the run flat. That's about an hour or two.

 

I had a set of those on a lifted silverado that I used to have. I think that "for the money" they are ok. But, you are going to feel every bump. I put them on my silverado because I didn't drive it very long distances and basically didn't want to spend a lot of money.

If I lift my SD, I won't put these tires on. I don't regret putting them on my silverado because ride quality was not an issue. They do look good and I did get a lot compliments on them.

I hope this helps.

 

Jack, if it were me, I'd go w/ 6" lift and 37" radials. I really wanted 37's under my truck but the significant other isn't having it. And I'd also go w/ at least a set of 4.56 gears. I've got 4.30's w/ 35's and it's adequete at best. But I'm an acceleration junkie, so take it for what it's worth!!

 

Ive got a 6.5 inch procomp lift and 37 inch toyos. The truck looks great, but the 3.73's have to go. I would recommend this setup to anyone. Some people say Procomp isn't great, but I cant complain so far. Pics in my gallery!

 

I am looking at the 37" radials as a replacement for my 35" Mickey's. I have the Baja MTX and they do most everything well. I use my truck both on-road and offroad. On-road driving is mainly long highway trips (70+ MPH) and offroad is anything that I can do with my big ol truck but usually limited to mudding.

I want to move to 37's for more diff clearance. How do the military 37" radials compare to the Mickey's both on-road and off-road?

Oh and BTW, the reason for looking at the Hummer 37" radials is budget constraints. I either go with these or I will have to stick with my 35" Mickey's.