Is there any benefit of getting 20 inch wheels other than looks ? I assume they last longer than 18 inch, but is there any effect, good or bad, on mileage, ride, etc. ?

 

Looks only. Ride is harder. Mileage less and less towing capacity. I preferred the 18 inch on my 05 screw. My 07 has the 20's. I do like the look, but doesn't seem practical on a truck.

 

yeah, looks only...not the most practical on a truck....like f150dude05 said

 

That's past me a little. I don't have a large knowledge base about the physics of wheels and tires, but why are the 20's so bad? Why would they be offered if they're so bad? Wouldn't the mileage be better if the wheels are making fewer rpm's due to wheel size? Mine has the 20" wheels and the 3.55 gears, so I was thinking my mileage would be maybe a little better. The ride is nice, and as for practicality, what's the difference? I like the look of the bigger wheel.

 

$$$$$$$$$$

 

I'm not totally sure about that. I'm not saying it to defend my truck either. But if the 18" wheel was the biggest one Ford offered, I bet you wouldn't lose any sales to dodge or the others.

 

That's past me a little. I don't have a large knowledge base about the physics of wheels and tires, but why are the 20's so bad? Why would they be offered if they're so bad? Wouldn't the mileage be better if the wheels are making fewer rpm's due to wheel size? Mine has the 20" wheels and the 3.55 gears, so I was thinking my mileage would be maybe a little better. The ride is nice, and as for practicality, what's the difference? I like the look of the bigger wheel.

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going from a 18" to 20" tire is not bigger they just take out a percentage of the sidewall.

 

All of the OE wheel/tire combos are in the 30-32" tire diameter range, so I don't think you would see a large fuel milage difference difference between them. The weight of each combo varies some, but not much compared to the total vehicle weight. If tire compounds were equal, I also don't think you would see much difference in tire life either.

The tire sidewall is shorter w/ the 20" wheel, so it's going to ride harsher on rough, pot-holed roads and it will be that much easier to dent the wheel. On the flip side, the shorter sidewall should also improve the cornering feel, but we're talking about a truck here, not a sports car, so whether the effect would be noticed is questionable.

If you do any off road driving, I would say steer clear of 20" wheels. Tire selection is poor, in my opinion, for 20" A/T tires, and you're likely to dent the wheel doing some serious off roading.

If you don't off road, do love the big wheel look, and don't mind paying more for less rubber for new tires, then the 20's may be for you.

 

I hear a lot of 20" hatin, not much lovin. What's up with that?

 

I like my 20's (General Grabber UHP).
1. Make the truck look awsome.
2.They were cheaper to buy ($128.00) than the original 17" michelins ($189.00) the truck came with.
3.Nicer rims available.

Everyone has there own reasons.

 

I haven't had to worry about new rubber, especially since it has 1700 miles on it. What tires did you get for replacements? I am thinking about getting a meaner tire since the pirelli ones are a little too low-profile for my liking. I also agree that the 20" Ford wheel looks best, but I know you'll get a lot of negative reactions to your #3 point.

Do you have a picture of yours?

 

I don't think it has anything to do with hatin'. Like said before there's less sidewall on a 20" tire making for a rougher ride. Less sidewall meaning less rubber to absorb the impacts of traveling over roads and terrain. I also enjoy taking my truck offroad, and a 20" wheel would get easily damaged, less options (or no options maybe) for a good all terrain/mud tire, so the 20" wheel doesn't meet my needs. Not hatin', they look nice but are inpractical for my purposes.

I do think gas mileage may be slightly affected on a 20" wheel versus a 17" with the same overall tire diameter. The rotating mass (weight of the tire and wheel) on a 20" would probably be greater and adding weight times 4 (for each wheel) may cause you to use more rpm's in each gear to get/maintain the same speed as compared to if you were running a 17" or 18" wheel.

 

yeah, not hatin....just not practical for a truck...thats all....bad for off roading....bad for hitting pot holes.....only thing they are good for is cornering and well.....we don't have sports cars....besides that they look good....thats it....and the tires are more expensive when compared to 17 or 18" wheels....

 

ain't you been watchin MTV cribs lately???? slammed cars are out it's a truck era now. makes me want to vomit, but hey not my call.

 

i guess it's more a ? of are you buying/using your truck to be used as a truck? or for a car?

what i mean is, with those fancy, shiney 20" "blades" and yer low-pro super-grip nitto extreme racing slicks, do you really think you'll be driving great offroad and/or pulling people if needed?

i use my truck as a truck. i put larger, beefier tires on to help in offroad/towing applications. with these (don't get me wrong) nice looking, large rim/small tire combos, i don't think you'll be doing a lot of offroad use. so, if you're looking purely cosmetic and no function, go with the purdy ones. just trying to be honest here guys...