Common upgrades - First Gen Expy
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Planet Earth
Most bang for the "modding" buck is typically upgrading your air intake and throwing a reputable cat-back exhaust on the rig. These mods let the engine breath.
In the cosmetic arena I've seen a whole lot of billet and chrome thrown at Expy's. There's a ton you can do there.
It is also common for owners to increase wheel and tire size....unfortunately most do not consider proper clearance and final gear ratio issues. Significantly changing the final gear ratio by increasing tire size puts a huge strain on the motor and kills performance. And not allowing for proper clearance results in bent fenders and torn up wheel wells.
Kind of a generic answer but hope it helps some.
Good luck!
In the cosmetic arena I've seen a whole lot of billet and chrome thrown at Expy's. There's a ton you can do there.
It is also common for owners to increase wheel and tire size....unfortunately most do not consider proper clearance and final gear ratio issues. Significantly changing the final gear ratio by increasing tire size puts a huge strain on the motor and kills performance. And not allowing for proper clearance results in bent fenders and torn up wheel wells.
Kind of a generic answer but hope it helps some.
Good luck!
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2008
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you need to get tires that are the same overall diameter as you have now, otherwise your ratio will change and you need to have same size front to back for abs and 4x4 not to be confused
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From: Calgary Canada
It's pretty common to go from the 265/70R17 to 285/70R17, mostly for aesthetic reasons.
That is more than 3% larger diameter, so it's not "recommended" by most tire shops.
I just did that upgrade to mine, and I like the look. Just need to remember that I'm driving about 4% faster than the speedo reads.
That is more than 3% larger diameter, so it's not "recommended" by most tire shops.
I just did that upgrade to mine, and I like the look. Just need to remember that I'm driving about 4% faster than the speedo reads.
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: bangor pa
Personally i think the best way to get the look of larger tires...if thats the look your after would be to do away with the skinny 17x7.5 rims and go down to a 16" rim and then your options really open up, as for brands, sizes, and most of all the price drop tires can be really pricey for these trucks if you after any kind of m/t tire and your quite limited as to who offers the styles your looking for
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From: bangor pa
the wheel manufacturers pretty much have that figured in they DO make aftermarket wheels FOR THIS truck, youll find them when you look.... the bolt pattern is a little weird and hard to find used wheels for it... its 5 on 135 and pre 97 f150's and broncos share a lug pattern with jeep and dodge(5 on 5.5) these wont fit.... you pretty much either have to buy them new, or get used wheels from an expedition or f150 that came from the factory with the ugly 16"steelies they are sometimes easy to find on craigslist cheap
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The problem I see with this is that by going down to a 16" rim to get the look of bigger tires is, you will be increasing the sidewall height of the tire trying to keep it in the same relative diameter as factory, so the speedo will remain accurate or close thereto. Therefore you will end up with more sidewall flex and the truck will feel unstable as it will wander more.
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Joined: Dec 2009
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From: bangor pa
This is true, but that is to be expected whenever you oversize the tires... kind of like a sacrifices must be made situation..... these trucks really dont hug the road to begin with i have the 265/70/17's on it now and 75 on the highway on a windy day i call it the dingy lol....
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