G'day all,

I have an 02 F250 crew cab which I just put a 4" lift on, but now with the stock 16" wheels she looks a bit like a roller skate, so im looking for a 'bigger' set and tyres to ' fill out the guards ' a little nicer.

I was thinking around 18" with some 33/35s or similar but wonder what anyones thoughts are and any good suppliers in Aus, preferably West Aus but may still be cheaper than import from US where ever in Aus, which im also looking at.

Oh and like the look of the black rims XD Revolver or Fuel Revolver, (you don't have any for sale do you

Anyone with sum pics of your truck with nisse blk wheels out there? and where you bought em? Cheers.

 

One good option worth considering is going for a 275-75 16" tyre on your existing rims - they'll give you a 33" diameter and be good for any rougher stuff.

I'm just about to blow off my 20x9" wheels for a set of 16x8" wheels and go the same tyre as above.

If you're driving on sand then a good combo is a 16x9" rim with 315-75 or 315/70 16 tyres.

The good thing about staying with the 16" rim size is the high availability & price factor.

 

Thanks SSSimon, yeah that was my original thoughts, put a bigger tyre on my standard rims (as I don't mind them) but wasn't sure how much of a difference that would make, and as they are only 7'' 275s would be about the limit? + wouldn't have to fork out for new rims.

Looking at other posts seems to be a few differing opinions on how big a tyre you can get on the 16x7s?

Is the main reason you are flicking the 20's due to tyre cost?

And any good thoughts on where to get rims for these trucks?

cheers

 

Has anyone had anything to do with Wheelsforless in the USA, they gave me a price of 4x 18x9 revolver wheels including shipping to Aust at @$1600 US, that seems pretty good? Wheelsforless - American Racing | Foose | Moto Metal | Ion Alloys | XD Series

 

I haven't used wheelsforless, but I think you can probably get a better deal than that. Look at what the cost in the US is, and add $140 for shipping from USAtoAus: USAtoAUS | Locating American Cars for import
If you are shipping wheels, you will want to buy the tires in the US (look at tirerack.com) as you will save a lot of dollars. It's cheaper for me to buy tires for my F250 with 20" rims in the states than it is to buy tires for my Ranger with 15" rims in Aus...


In regards to how big a tyre you can fit on the standard rim, I wouldn't go past 11" width on the tire. (i.e. 275 width max), a lot of people run 285/75 R16's... but I wouldn't.

You can find some tire makes that make 35x10.5x16/34X10.5X16 or a 255/85 R16, which is what I would look for if I was in your position, typically they will only be M/T treads, but still... (Bighorn, Interco, Simex, Silverstone that I can think of) no messing around with backspacing to make the tires fit, no additional load on balljoints etc. etc. I personally don't like wide tyres anyway, as it causes a lot more rolling/aero resistance and a lot worse fuel economy.

If you want to change rims, I would not go to 18's, tire cost is more, and the range of tires is less - I personally would look at 17", (they are kind of the new 15" in the off-road tire range)

 

I have 285/75/16 BFG AT's on the factory rims with a moderate lift and they work quite well with no fouling or issues. That said, technically they should be mounted on a minimum 7.5 inch rim. You can buy rims like the 16 x 9 American Racing ATX Artillery in Aus from Aus suppliers for around the $300 per rim (distributed by National Tyres). Only issue may be insurance, a lot of companies baulk at anything over one inch increase in width.

Cheers,

Pat

 

I'll post some pics of my new rims. I bought 6 x 16x8" (zero offset) Dick Cepek Torque rims from TireRack, shipped them over using USAtoAUS, whole shooting match to my place is $1400 for 6 rims with matching wheel nuts and 8 centre caps. I want to build a trailer with matching rims & therefore have 3 'spares' for the truck on the big tour (whenever that might be).

I've had no issues with my 20 x 9" rims, rego here said that the wheels resulted in the max allowable track increase (+1") for the vehicle, with the 20x9's being -12 offset (or 24mms wider for the pair). So 10" rims (which require -25 offset to clear the leaves) will not be legal here and will put a hell of an added strain on the trucks suspension components.

The truck drives great with the 20x9's with 305-50 Coopers, but these wheels and tyres are only really good for the tarmac. I'm not sure if I'll keep the 20" wheels for just highway use as well as have the 16's for touring. Once I drive the 16" 285-75 I'll decide whether I could be bothered doing wheel swap thing.

One of the main issues I've heard with shifting to 17 or 18" rims is the tyre availability esp for F-truck req'd Load Range E tyres. If you're outback and wreck a tyre it could cost you a lot to get a replacement to where you are.

 

Usually the issue with insurance (and registration) with wider wheels is changing the track significantly.

 

+1 for tirerack and 16's.

I've got 18's on my 2012 F250 and getting tyres is a pain (I just did 26,000 k's around Australia and no one stocks them and most brands don't even have them officially delivered here).

I'd say stick to 16's if you can, with the bigger rubber. Most good aussie tyre places will stock them or can get them pretty quickly (and not cost a fortune).

Here is a pic of my truck with 18's (33's) for reference.



Cheers, Mal.

 

O/T - I enjoyed reading the blog of your travels Mal.
It's a pity 16's won't fit on our newer trucks.

 

Cheers. Yep, it was an awesome trip.

I was told a lot of Toyota Landcruisers run 16 inch 33's and that's why those tyres are easy to get.

 

5.5" of lift via 2.5" leaf packs and 3" block and shackle. Saying that I believe I have had considerable sag in the front leaf packs over the last three years.
35" tyres on 20" fuel offraod Octane rims. Wheels and Tyres sourced form Clay in the States. At full lock combined with a bump the outer side of the tyre will hit the inner plastic fender guard. Im hoping that when I get the springs reset that the problem will be resolved

 

Looks awesome Brian. Would it be worthwhile getting a spare 20" tyre sent over just in case?
Concur on the stock front springs sagging - a 2.5" levelling kit actually lifted my truch 3.5" as the additional spring pack also corrected the sag.

 

I will at a later date get another spare sent over. I have my original set under the house. If I was to do a trip out the back of nowhere I would put them on.

 

Hey all, appreciate your thoughts on my issue,
Those fuel octane look the goods, great pics nisse looking truk, I hear what you are saying on the 18's, I was just thinking they would fill out the space better than anything smaller but maybe not.
I checked out the tyrerack website, a few good looking rims there.

I am just a little worried ordering some wheels from the states and finding they don't fit properly? Looking at all the offsets and bolt spacings has me a little confused, and knowing the USA truck years are a little different to ours here in Aus, has anyone got any advice on the correct fitment, for a 2002 they all seem to be 8x170 bolt spacing, backspacing and off set seems to vary?

Hey SSSimon looking forward to sum pics of ya wheels.

The more I see the more I just cant decide haha.