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I think the 18 and 20 inch tires are same in diameter.. 275.. it's just that the 20 inch tires are skinnier. I believe the 20 inch tires would be rougher than the 18 inch tires though...
I also believe the 20 inch tires are cheaper than the 18 inch tires.
Ford gives great deals on XLT's.. looking at the options between Lariat and XLT, it seems the price for the XLT model goes up faster for every single option compared to Lariat. So if I were to get a similarly equipped XLT or a Lariat at MSRP, the Lariat would have more equipment.. so discounting the XLT would be the most logical step. A member here really hates it when I discuss the heavy discounts on the XLT's, I don't know why, but I finally figured out how to set him on ignore so I don't have to listen to his drivel.
I can’t answer all your questions, but I can say that the shorter sidewalk on the 20’s are not as smooth as 18’s with the same outside diameter tire....more sidewall to absorb bumps. I have the 20’s, but they are pretty smooth...so it’s not like they have a rough ride. The 20” tires are more expensive.
I cant think of why the 20’s would burn more gas, assuming the tires have the same outside diameter. Certainly, the 18” tire/wheel combo is a little lighter, so it may save a fraction of the mileage in town, but it’s probably too small to notice.
Why do people want 20 inch wheels vs the regular old 18 inch ones?
Seems they would ride rougher, burn more gas, and have higher tire costs. Do they have any advantages?
Also why does Ford give great deals on XLTs and never on the next higher trim?
Not to mention filling out the wheel well better on the F150`s, in my opinion, they just look better. Yes, the 18`s will give a slight better ride because of the sidewall but it`s not a night and day difference between the two and I really doubt the average person would notice a difference.
As far as fuel mileage is concerned, if one sticks with the factory tire and wheel sizes, the mileage will be the same or within a MPG or two.
Ford gives discounts on their most popular and best selling trim level F150 which is the XLT. They really don`t need to offer the same discounts on higher trim level F150`s when buyers are willing to pay for the added features/options that the Lariat and up models offer. If you want a great deal on a higher trim level F150, this is the best time to buy because the 19`s are starting to hit the lots and dealers want to move the 18`s. So depending on the dealer, you might have a little more bargaining power but don`t expect the 5 figure XLT discounts but there will always be exceptions.
I also believe the 20 inch tires are cheaper than the 18 inch tires.
They are. Makes no sense to me, but if you look at factory tire sizes for this truck (17's, 18's and 20's) the 18's are always more expensive. The 20's are sometimes cheaper than the 17's, even.
All of the different tire sizes are very close to the same outside diameter and circumference. The difference is that the bigger wheels/tires have shorter sidewalls and wider tread area.
In general, this will mean that the smaller wheels will have more sidewall, and less tread. The larger wheels will have shorter sidewalls and wider tread.
Functionally, the taller sidewalls will have more "give" and will usually ride more smoothly and/or have the ability to handle larger bumps (and rocks). The wider tires (larger wheels) will have more tread on the ground, and at least in dry conditions will have more traction. Because there is more rubber "rubbing" on the road, the larger wheels/tires will generally not get as good gas mileage.
The size for the 18 inch is 275/65 R18
The size for the 20 inch is 275/55 R20
The OD for those tires is almost identical. There is roughly the same amount of rubber in them (275). The distribution of the rubber on the 18 is 65% sidewall, and 35% tread. The distribution of the rubber on the 20 is 55% sidewall, and 45% tread.
Well Ford requires 20" wheels on max tow trucks to gain all the upgrades. But on the other side to get a HDPP truck you have to stay with 18" and E rated tires. Not sure on the 20" tires being cheaper especially if you go bigger. I paid 375.00 each for 35x12.50R20 tires on my 2018.
Please keep in mind that tires rarely measure exactly to their nominal size. Here are the calculated numbers based on GlueGuy's specs.
275/65 R18
275/55 R20
OD's differ by only .17", the "Width" is overall, not tread width.
I'll admit that I was concerned about ride quality with the 20's, but they do ride great, evidently 6" of sidewall is enough.
Well, I just learned something. All this time I was under the mistaken impression that the first number was the tread plus the sidewalls. A little simple math would have been useful. Turns out 275mm is 10.82677 inches.
Why do people want 20 inch wheels vs the regular old 18 inch ones?
Seems they would ride rougher, burn more gas, and have higher tire costs. Do they have any advantages?
Also why does Ford give great deals on XLTs and never on the next higher trim?
In my opinion...
Why 20” over 18” - Because 20” rims are all the rage right now and most folks feel they look better than 18”. All other things being the same, they will ride rougher but cornering should be better. I’ve always thought the efficiency penalties were because the larger wheels weighed more than the weight they offset in reduced tire materials, plus the center of mass is farther away from the axle. But I’ve never seen anything authoritative to prove that.
As for why there are deals on XLTs, my guess is this is all supply vs. demand. Those seem to be the high volume production trucks and are the most plentiful on dealer lots. If you want to move the most inventory but there’s no need to discount the high margin premium trim levels, you focus the discounts where you have the most over-supply.
They are. Makes no sense to me, but if you look at factory tire sizes for this truck (17's, 18's and 20's) the 18's are always more expensive. The 20's are sometimes cheaper than the 17's, even.
Not quite sure what planet you are shopping on, but I've paid the price for running 20's for years. They are substantially more than 18's. Step up to tires on a 3/4 or 1 ton, and the cost of 20's will make your eyes pop out. Look at P and LT tires, NOT the oversized tires.
ON EDIT: It seems checking at Discount, some 20's are within a few bucks I'd 18's for the F-150. I suspect with E-rated tires, which I have more experience with due to driving Super Duties so long, the difference is drastic. The last time I replace 20's on my F-350, it was closer to $40 per tire. And the weight of 20's over 18's in E-rated are enough to affect mpg.
Personally I don't like the looks of 20" wheels unless they have at least 35" tires. I have 18" wheels but honestly I'd prefer 17" wheels. I can't stand the low profile look on a truck, especially on a F-150.
11-11-2018, 08:46 PM
