09 f150
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
Ya see, there it is. Looks.
To me, and many others on this board, having a pickup truck is not just about looks, it's more about how it handles the truck part, such as towing and hauling stuff.
I agree, 20" wheels sure do look good, but at what cost? They're much heavier, adding to unsprung weight, which hurts the way the truck rides. Also, since they have so much more rotational inertia they hurt acceleration and braking, as well as hurt fuel economy.
If you take two identical trucks, one with 20s and one with the standard 17s and hook a trailer to the two, you will notice quite a difference with the way it handles the tow.
IMHO 20s are great for a show truck, but downright awful for a work truck.
To me, and many others on this board, having a pickup truck is not just about looks, it's more about how it handles the truck part, such as towing and hauling stuff.
I agree, 20" wheels sure do look good, but at what cost? They're much heavier, adding to unsprung weight, which hurts the way the truck rides. Also, since they have so much more rotational inertia they hurt acceleration and braking, as well as hurt fuel economy.
If you take two identical trucks, one with 20s and one with the standard 17s and hook a trailer to the two, you will notice quite a difference with the way it handles the tow.
IMHO 20s are great for a show truck, but downright awful for a work truck.
Trending Topics
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 69
From: land of 10,000 lakes
Originally Posted by Crazy001
Ya see, there it is. Looks.
To me, and many others on this board, having a pickup truck is not just about looks, it's more about how it handles the truck part, such as towing and hauling stuff.
I agree, 20" wheels sure do look good, but at what cost? They're much heavier, adding to unsprung weight, which hurts the way the truck rides. Also, since they have so much more rotational inertia they hurt acceleration and braking, as well as hurt fuel economy.
If you take two identical trucks, one with 20s and one with the standard 17s and hook a trailer to the two, you will notice quite a difference with the way it handles the tow.
IMHO 20s are great for a show truck, but downright awful for a work truck.
To me, and many others on this board, having a pickup truck is not just about looks, it's more about how it handles the truck part, such as towing and hauling stuff.
I agree, 20" wheels sure do look good, but at what cost? They're much heavier, adding to unsprung weight, which hurts the way the truck rides. Also, since they have so much more rotational inertia they hurt acceleration and braking, as well as hurt fuel economy.
If you take two identical trucks, one with 20s and one with the standard 17s and hook a trailer to the two, you will notice quite a difference with the way it handles the tow.
IMHO 20s are great for a show truck, but downright awful for a work truck.
I could not agree with you more that is what it is becoming all a bought now days...looks…I’ll take functionally over looks any day!!
My dad had an 05 with 20’s and when I bought my 06 with 17’s he could not believe the ride difference empty and towing our unity trailer about 5,500-6,500 pounds. The night that I bought the truck he took it out on the road at 3:00 in the morning to check it out and called me to tell me what a difference…any way he ended up buying an 06 with 17’s just like mine 2 weeks later.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,863
Likes: 4
From: Airdrie Alberta
trucks now a days are getting bigger and bigger brakes, to do that we need bigger rims, i also would never go higher then 18's i don't think unless i wanted to stuff some massive brakes in them that required larger wheels
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 7,298
Likes: 45
From: Southern California
Originally Posted by Crazy001
They BETTER not use nothing but 20"s!!!
I like my 17"s on my '07, and I sure wouldn't buy a TRUCK with 20s...
That's almost enough to make me go elsewhere!
I like my 17"s on my '07, and I sure wouldn't buy a TRUCK with 20s...
That's almost enough to make me go elsewhere!
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 559
Likes: 0
I'd rather have 17's myself. It seems as trucks morph more and more into cars with small boxes on the back, the rims are getting bigger and bigger.
I'll take 17's on a Lariat or FX4 if available.
You see some of these trucks with 22" and 26" rims on them.
Those big rims are useless off road IMHO. I'd rather have more sidewall than a big flashy rim.
I'll take 17's on a Lariat or FX4 if available.
You see some of these trucks with 22" and 26" rims on them.
Those big rims are useless off road IMHO. I'd rather have more sidewall than a big flashy rim.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
The quietest exhaust would be the one that comes on the truck when you drive away with it...
Never seen an aftermarket exhaust that is quieter than stock...everyone seems to want nothing but LOUD these days....
Never seen an aftermarket exhaust that is quieter than stock...everyone seems to want nothing but LOUD these days....
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Fatblockford
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
8
Oct 13, 2015 03:24 PM
cis2711
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
3
Aug 28, 2011 09:13 PM
