Spk210

hello all,
I have a 2004 f-150 heritage, 4.6 v8 XLT.
The stock tires are 235p and wheels are 16". About 7 years ago I put 305's by 7 which should be about 30" tires. I want to upgrade again and this time I want wider tires. If I get 30" by 8 or 9" with 16" by 8 or 9" wheels, are there any complications that may arise? other than having to cut the front bumper.
I know that spacers are garbage and cause a lot of stress on the axle, will the increased offset on the wheels cause that same stress or cause any other problems?


Thank you,
Sean

Red-Ford

2wd or 4x4?

As far as spacers, they put the same load on the hub as say an offset wheel the same size. Where the wheel is safer is that it is directly bolted to the truck. Not bolted to a chunk of aluminum bolted to your truck.

Spk210

Yes it's 4x4. are you saying they sell spacers that you bolt your wheels to instead of the wheel hub?

Red-Ford

The spacer will go on the hub the same way the wheel would, and then the wheel goes on the spacer.

If it's a 4x4 you can go up to a 35" tire with minor rubbing, or stay safe and go with a 33 (285). Also keep in mind that in a metric tire size, when you say 305, 285, etc, that's the width. The common size would be 285/75/16 or 285/70/17 which is a 33" tire. That first number is the width, and the second number is the aspect ratio.

Spk210

so my stock specs where P235/70R16 with rims 16x7 .0J
my specs now are LT302/70R16 with rims 16x7 .0J


are you sure I can get 35" tires to fit? Currently I have about an inch between the tire and the bumper when the wheels are turned.
Thanks for the help btw.

Red-Ford

Yep, you crank your torsion bars, and cut a little from the bumper, here is my truck back when I ran like that.





If I where you, I'd stick with the 305/70R16's though, that's about a 33x12" tire, not quite 33 but right there.

Spk210

that's a good lookin truck, almost as nice as mine haha.
I might stick with the 33" tires but I definitely want wider tire/rim combo. So if I go from 16x7 rims to 16x8 or 16x9 will the strain on the axle be the same, less or worse as using a spacer?

Red-Ford

The width just adds weight, what is going to start killing the hubs (weight excluded of course) is the offset. You'll have to figure out what a close stock offset on a 16x9 or 16x10 would be to the stock size. I run 17x9 without issue, I don't think you'll have much issue until you get ridiculous deep dish wheels, but past that it shouldn't matter too much.