We get a lot of questions about wheel choices. This should hopefully clear up some of the confusion people have, especially when dealing with IFS lifts. The backspace and rim width are the two critical items when selecting a wheel to go with an aftermarket lift. The backspacing will determine the clearance to the steering knuckle. This is very important, because too much backspacing will put the rim in contact with suspension components, and will vary by the rim size
Often times the factory rim will go back on after a kit is installed, but only with a stock tire. You can see how much a tire overhangs the rim (tire bulge), this gets a lot worse when you go up to a 35 x 12.50 tire. The factory width tire on most of trucks is 275mm, which translates to 10.8 inches wide. Adding a 12.50 tire would decrease the clearance by almost 1 inch, and this is enough to make that combination not work. This is why we specify a certain width wheel (to eliminate some of the tire bulge) and a certain backspacing (to guarantee clearance to steering components).
Too little backspacing will put the wheel outside of the wheel well really far. This is great for suspension component clearance, but really bad for fender clearances. When the tire sticks out it is likely to rub on the bumper and backside of the front fender while the wheel is turned. Sometimes some creative trimming will fix this problem, but most people do not like to trim excessively on brand new trucks. The other problem with a wheel that sticks out really far is it increases tire scrub. This can cause issues with traction control systems as well as increase the wear on factory components.
If you are in love with a certain wheel, contact us with the specifications, check with us before you order them. We can let you know if you will have possible interference issues. Don’t be too upset when we say that you should think about a different rim. We have test fit lots of different rims and our listings represent the best specifications for getting the biggest tire on your truck.
May 11, 2012 at 12:43 pm
i have 2 inches of body lift already on my 2001 F150 and i was told i could fit 38′s after installing this kit, is this true if not what is the largest tire i can fit, the widest, and what wheel size is recommended?
May 16, 2012 at 2:06 pm
@Justin H
Which kit are you asking about, combining our 6” suspension lift with a 2” body? The max size is really dependent on the wheels and tires you select, the width and the wheel backspacing. Some 38′s measure out to be 36.5” actual height, so a flat answer to will 38′s fit gets a little tricky… A wider tire or smaller backspacing (stuck out farther) will be more likely to rub when turning. If you plan to run the stock fenders and stock bumpers I’d say a 37×13.50 is probably a safer bet to run with your setup. We haven’t tested combining the suspension/body lifts with that tire so we can’t guarantee their won’t be some trimming necessary, but I’d look for a 9-10” wide rim with 4.5-4.75” backspacing. Wheel diameter is up to you, the larger you go the more expensive the wheels/tires get.
October 8, 2012 at 6:27 pm
I am thinking about installing either your 4″ or 6″ suspension lift on my 2004 F150 4×4. I am currently running stock wheels (17″) with 285/70/17 Nitto Terra Grapplers. Would I run into any issues by staying with my current wheel/tire setup? Or would I need to buy an aftermarket wheel with different backspacing?
October 9, 2012 at 9:48 am
Hey Nick, the stock 17s will not fit back on the truck after installing the lift do to clearance issues of the tie rod mounted to the new steering knuckles. We have more information on our website about recommended wheel/tire specs and feel free to call our tech support line for further clarification (888) 998-9663
November 13, 2012 at 8:55 pm
Hey there,
I am considering your 6″ Suspension lift for my 2011 F-150 4×4. It has the 20″ wheel option, which I believe is 20 x 9.5″.
Would I be able to continue to run the stock wheel and tire combination on this truck, and if so, what size wheel is ideal in either 18 x 9″ or 20 x 9.5″
(offset / backspacing).
I like the appearance of the wide lipped wheels but I realize these have huge backspace and thus, are generally not suitable in my application.
I’m content with something like the PRO-Comp Diesel, but don’t know if any of their stock sizes are suitable for this kit.
Thanks
November 14, 2012 at 9:31 am
Hey BeeRad,
tech support is better suited to discuss these questions, please contact them at tech@zoneoffroad.com or (888) 998-9663.