I see standard F150s with 17-20 inch wheels. I have 17 inch wheels on my XLT and they seem a little small, but doubt I would do anything just for looks. I seem to recall from reading about sports cars that the larger wheels had less sidewall and thus stiffer for high performance cornering at the expense of a harder ride and possible damage from hitting a curb,etc.

For example, I know that the max tow package has 20 inch wheels, so assume that there is a reason but don't really know why.

 

Other than esthetics, you've pretty much summed up the difference: More sidewall = softer ride, less chance of curb/obstacle damage vs less sidewall = better handling/cornering and a firm/harsh ride.

 

Thanks.

 

For most people the overall diameter and width of the tire is what matters most. You can get all the same overall sizes with 15",16", 17", 18" or 20" wheels. The only difference is the size of the hole in the middle of the tire.

The main reason you see trucks going to larger wheels is to have room for larger brakes. Back in the day 1/2 tons all came with 15" wheels, 3/4 and up came with 16" wheels. The trend toward 17" and 18" wheels is simply to be able to get bigger brakes on the trucks. If you use the truck as a truck for hauling, towing or driving off road the 17" or 18" wheels are a better choice. They put more rubber between the wheel and road giving a better ride and more flex to the tire off road.

Most of the 20" and larger are for the guys who want to drive the truck like a sports car. The less rubber between the wheel and road means better cornering in aggressive driving and a stiffer ride. I say MOST 20" wheels. There are some of the larger tires on 20" wheels that do get enough rubber between the wheel and road to still be a good towing and off road tire.

But they start getting pricy too. You can usually buy a 16" tire with the same overall dimensions for less money than the same size tire on a 17" or 18" wheel.

 

Personal observation of wheel size 20" vs 18" and under. I have always had 18" or smaller wheels on all of my 4x4 F150's dating back to 1997. I never had a problem. In 2019 I purchased a 2015 F150 Platinum with 20" wheels and outfitted it with BFG LT A/T K02's. That hunting season I had 2 cracked rims and 1 bent rim that all leaked air. The area I hunt is not really bad but it is rocky and has wheel ruts. After that I switched to 18" rims with the same BFG tire. I've had no problems since switching back to 18's even though I spent much more time in the same area. My opinion is it's not so much a problem of the 20" rims being weaker as it is a combination of the strength of the rim and the height of the side wall of the tire not being a good combo for off-road.

I have ordered a 2021 KR Hybrid, one of the main things I refused to give on when ordering was that it had to have 18" wheels.

Anyone else have similar experience?

 

I wanted to stick with 18 inch wheels for a better ride and cheaper replacement but that damned configurator on Ford's site is so set in it's ways that I keep getting forced into the 20s by other unrelated options. Back in the day it was the foreign cars that came bundled so tightly with the "factory knows better" odd grouping of options and the US had each lug nut on a separate line for you to pick and choose from. Oh well.