I was visiting another forum when I spotted it:

an 04 FX4 with the stock 18x7.5 wheels shod with the Terra Grapplers - 325/60/18. This truck also had the Daystar 2.5 inch leveling kit.

What are your thoughts with this tire size and the stock 18" wheel?

I am in a huge dilemma at the moment. I want better tires than stock. I am planning for the 2.5 inch leveling kit... but if I can get that tire on the stock wheel, that will prevent having to buy new wheels for a bit - sort of a money thing. If that is not safe to do, then I am thinking about the Helo Rhino 18x9 with the above listed tire.

Any thoughts?

 

150Jer, If you do get them, please post your thoughts. I was thinking of doing the same. BTW, where did you see that pix???

 

That sounds like way too wide a tire for a 7.5" rim. You'll need to run them with about 1/2 the recommeded air pressure to get the outer treads down on the road. You need to check the spec's on that tire to find out the minimum width wheel they can be mounted on..

The 275 x 65 x 18's that come on those rims have a recommendation of 7.5-9" wide rims.

 

I most definetly would not have a 13" tire on a 7.5" rim. I had the same tires earlier but on my 18x9 Eagles. Now I have 325/65R18's.

 

I was wondering if that size would fit. I'm waiting for either BFG or Goodyear MT/R's to be offered in a 33" for the stock 18's.

 

According to the Nitto web site they recommend 9"-10" wide rims for 325 x 65 x 18 Terra Grapplers with a target of 9.5" The 325 x 60's 9.5"-10.5". There's noway these tires will wear right on 7.5" rims at their rated air pressure. You can drop the air pressure to get the tread flat on the ground, but the truck is going to feel mushy..

 

Here are the pics.

http://home.comcast.net/~olivex3/index.htm

 

Dunk:

I understand what you are saying but realize that is the "recommended" sizes for the wheels. There are people out there that have tried it... and it appears to be working - unless one of those people that have tried/are using that tire size would like to pipe up and mention otherwise.

At this point, if no one here has actually tried it... it sounds to me more like guess work and conjecture. I am hoping to have someone prove me wrong with solid proof before I try it

 

I was thinking the same thing, but in the AT KO. Emailed BFG yesterday about it and this is what I got back:

Thank you for visiting our Web site and sending us your e-mail.

Regarding your message:

<A local dealer told me that BF Goodrich was releasing a couple new sizes in the All-Terrain T/A KO for an 18-inch wheel. Is this correct, and do you have an approximate date of availability? Thanks.>

There have been no new 18 inch sizes announced in the All Terrain T/A KO. There is one size currently, LT285/65R18 but it is on backorder.

If you have additional questions, please respond to this email or you may call us at 1-877-788-8899 (toll-free) between 8:30AM and 6:00PM Eastern Time Monday through Friday to allow one of our Consumer Relations Representatives to assist you.

BFGoodrich Tires

Consumer Relations Department

 

Anyone hear any updated news on this BFG tire?

If I go with the Nittos 325/60R18 am I risking my life putting them on a 8.5" rim which is below the 9.5 they advise? The posts above seem conflicting.

 

Is it really worth the risk of wearing a set out and or having one fail due to to small a rim?? If you can't afford the rims you should not run these tires on 7.5 rims period.

 

Ny, you won't be risking anyone life, but the tires won't wear right. I've been down this road before. As an example...If the 325's need 50lbs of air on 9.5" rims to carry their max weight....which is lots more than the truck needs to begin with...you probably have to run 30-35lbs in them to get the outer edges of the tread to be on the road. The too narrow rims pinch the tire rim mounting beads too close together. This causes the outer edges of the tread wearing surface to run in the air instead of on the road. Like I said you can comensate for this by running the tires soft, the whole truck will feel mushy going down the highway... The steering will be lots less responsive...


Personally I don't like this big rim small rubber look, but Ford should gone with 9" wide rims on their 18" Lariat rims. This would be the max wide rim for the 275 x 65 18" tire they put on the trucks. This would have given the tire manuf's something to shoot for as far building new sizes of rubber to fit stock rims..IN VOLUME... As it is now the only next size up in 18" rubber is BFG's 285's and even those need 8.5" rims to run right..


Like I said I've been down this road before. I put 255 x 85 x 16's on my F250HD. It had 235 x 85 x 16's "E" rated on it originally from the factory on 6" wide rims. 2000 miles into them it was easy to see the outer edges of the tire tread had never touched the road.. The 255's were "C" rated tires at 50lbs. I had to run them at 28lbs on the rear and 38lbs on the front to get them to wear right... The truck's ride was lots better, but any kind of highway manuver the truck felt like it was floating...

Bottom line... Pay attention to rim width requirements from the tire manuf'...they do know how/should the tire should perform. The next thing is the tire sellers. No decent/reputable tire dealer will mount 325's on a 7.5" rim.. If he does then he should garranty the wear....

 

Interesting points, Dunk. If I could get those BFG's in an 18" size I'd be set but they aren't available so I'm leaning towards the Nitto's on (already purchased) 8.5" rims. I'd NEVER put them on the factory rims as I've read others have done. That's just frightening! I have visions of them flying off the rim on the highway.

 

Which brings up the question: What are the safest yet biggest tires we can put on the 7.5 stock wheels? Some of us don't have the money to buy new wheels and need to "get by" for awhile.