I just bought a new (to me) 2008 F250 4x4 XLT Supercab with 4.10's gears and I'm trying to figure out what wheel/tire options I have without having to lift or level the vehicle and something that won't screw up the speedo badly or anything like that. Right now it has the base 17" steel wheels on it with LT 265/70R17 Pirelli Scorpions (pic below).

What I'm wanting to know is basically how big of wheel/tire can I go without having to add a lift or leveling kit. This is almost entirely for cosmetic purposes but that said, I don't want reduce functionality either. While this truck will spend %90 of it's life on paved roads in the city I will use it for off-road towing (medium load, nothing crazy) in the mountains several times a year so it still needs to be able to do that as well. Thanks for any and all help!!

 

Without doing anything else, you should be able to go up to a 285/70R17 E on your stock rims. It will fill out you wheel well a bit more.

 

I'd like to put new rims on as well. The stock ones, as you can see, are pretty damn boring! I'd like to go with 18's or 20's and some more aggressive looking tires but I'm not sure how big I can go before it would require a lift/level.

 

If you go with 18's if you want wide a 305/65/18 (33.7 o.d.)or for narrow 275/70/18 (33.2 o.d.) 20's wide 305/55/20 (33.4 o.d.) or narrow 285/60/20 (33.5 o.d.) or 285/65/20 (34.1 o.d.) I have 295/70/17 on mine which is 33.2 o.d. The speedo is not off much. If you want tall you can go up to 35 0.d. without any lift.

 

I have the same truck! For a couple hundred bucks you can add 350 blocks and a 1-2" spacer up front and have it look like a 350! I have the same wheels and need to get more aggressive looking tires myself. Its hard to find a good aggressive 285 in load range E to keep the TPMS happy, but I will find one.

 

What about width? What's the widest I can get before I have to worry about rubbing?

 

I ran LT285/75/18 (35x11.5) on stock 18" aluminum rims for a while with no rubbing at all. They fit well and don't look too stuffed.

 

I'm starting to think I'm going to nee to atleast get a 2.5" leveling kit. I don't know much about them though, are they hard to install?

 

Leveling kits are relatively easy to install depending on whether the kit includes spacers or new coil springs. However, you truck sits level now so adding 2"-2.5" of lift in the front is going to make the truck look like a pre-runner. You will need to change the rear blocks to return the truck to a level stance. Like rjfetz1 recommended, you can use the rear blocks from a F350 to lift the rear approximately 2". With this setup, you can run 35" tires with no rubbing.

 

You should be able to go with 20" wheels with 275-65-20 tires. (34" tall) My 08 came factory stock with that size.
Doesn't look you need a leveling kit, maybe the rear needs raised an inch.

 

I have to ask why all of the sudden you think you need a leveling kit? What size tires do you want? If you want a taller and wider tire without effecting much then you can do that without a leveling kit. What is the point of the leveling kit, for what you want to do?

I have 295/70/17 tires and they fit with room to spare (295 is the width, not the height). So, you can get a 35x12.5x17 on there if you don't offroad but a couple times a year and not hardcore. Based on what you said originally though, I go with a 285/70/17 or a 285/75/17 if you can find one. Width-wise you can put about a 12"-ish on there, or about 305 or 315mm.

However, if you are going to put a leveling kit on it anyway why not go all out and get a nice 2" to 4" lift and put 35 - 37" tires on it. I'd either do it or not (meaning, lift and tires and deal with speedo stuff, poorer mileage, less power...or, I'd leave it stock and put some more aggressive 285/70/17 tires on it).

It's all a trade off though. You can't change one thing without effecting another, i.e., if you raise it at all and add tires you'll effect the power and mileage. Go even taller and the mileage and power suffer accordingly. So, it's really about how much you're willing to give up to get the "look" you're after.

Maybe a leveling kit will give you the "look" you want, but you won't need it to fit a slightly larger than stock tire/wheel.

 

Honestly...because I don't know what the hell I'm talking about. I just don't like how the truck looks right now. I want to put nicer wheels and wider tires (with more aggressive tread) on it but I don't want to take a big hit in towing power, mpg or stress out any factory parts. I do understand you have to accept SOME amount of that stuff but it's not worth it to me if my truck takes a big step backward in functionality and/or reliability. Bottom line I think what I'm struggling with is where is the middle ground here, where is the sweet spot, the bang for buck?!

 

Yes, have the same rims on my truck. While they may be boring, they probably will not be stolen either. Having had custom wheels stolen before I pretty much stick with boring stock wheels now.

 

If you want wide I myself would go with a 305 or 315. If you have time drop by a tire store and ask if they have any in stock you could look at to get a better idea of what you want. If you go with the 18,s or 20's there is less choices for a tire rated for your truck and they cost alot more. Here are some sizes you could ask about 305/70/17, 305/65/18, 305/55/20. You need an e-rated tire or at least a d-rated would be fine if your not hauling or towing heavy loads. All of these sizes you could put on without doing any mods and should not make a huge differance except for looks.

 

I understand now where you're coming from. It's tough, because there is a line between performance and the mods.

Cost goes way up with taller wheels, meaning there are fewer tires to choose from and they are higher in price. Taller tires will change the performance and mileage. Taller wheels will change the ride for a given tire height (less sidewall usually will provide a stiffer ride).

Anyway, what I would suggest, is figuring out what you want or a couple scenarios and putting it all down on paper. Pick you wheels, pick your tires, pick whether you need a leveling kit and write out a little spreadsheet or whatever with prices and see too if one option then gets nixed (i.e., once you start pricing tires for 20" wheels, or see what tires are and aren't available you may not consider 20" wheels at all).

What will be painful is if you decide on a wheel for example and then find out the tires are $100 each more than a size for a different wheel (i.e., 20" tall or 10" wide or whatever you decide). Or if you have to put a leveling kit on with one selection and didn't realize it until after you bought the tires.

I guess I'm being cheap, but I'd suggest 18x8 or 20x8 Ford factory take off wheels and a 285 or 305 tire, but I'd find out if the 20" or the 18" is cheaper.

Good luck in whatever you decide.