Biggest tires that fit on stock 2022 Timberline

[Viking84]

Hi all! Potential new owner here, considering swapping out my 2020 F-150 Raptor for a 2022 Expedition Timberline - love the Raptor but I would prefer an SUV. Does anyone have experience fitting slightly bigger tires on these without doing a lift? I live in Norway, so any lift would have to be TÜV approved which is pretty much impossible to find for US trucks.

Will be using this truck as an overlander, nothing extreme but every little bit of ground clearance helps, especially as I've been spoiled by how rediculously capable the Raptor is

 

[Expy Gator]

I have been running Nitto Recon Grappler 295/70/18 with OEM wheels with no issues. I also have a Raptor and the Expy is no Raptor but its really quite capable for a big SUV - the rear elsd is not going to be as stout as the Raptor. It really depends on what your intended use is...

I'm curious - Is there a vehicle inspection in Norway which would expose a non TUV approved lift?

 

[Viking84]

Hi,

interesting comment there on the rear LSD - is there not a lockable diff on the Timberline expeditions? From the videos there seems to be a button just below the rotary gear shifter. Edit: Right, think I understand what you are referring to - the locker on the Expeditions is just pushing the LSD clutch plates together, no locking pin? Pretty sure that will still be good enough for my fairly moderate overland adventures.

Regarding the lift kit - yeah we have an inspection every 2 years (the EU control we call it, despite not being EU members) that would certainly spot anything like that. In addition you can get pulled for random controls but unless the truck looks veeeery modified that should probably not cause any trouble. We have lots of Arctic Trucks Land Cruisers driving around on 37s so the authorities are more used to that "look" on a truck than they used to be.

 

[sjwhiteley]

Sorry if this is going off topic, but you noted the ‘arctic trucks’ mods. It would seem to me that in Norway, establishing EU norms would be counterproductive. I would imagine that lifted trucks with oversized tires would be chasing function over form - that is, modifications to the vehicle that would increase capability and safety in a country like Norway ( I’ve seen the pictures and movies from my nice cozy warm couch!).

While some would argue that car manufacturers put a lot of effort into establishing the best performance (however it’s measured) for a vehicle and modifications compromise that performance and safety, but they are hampered by contradictory governmental requirements, which, by definition will compromise said safety in certain conditions.

(Hope you find your answer. Norway is a splendid country).

 

[Viking84]

Yeah it is a strange country when it comes to vehicle mods. Despite not being an EU country we have applied all the EU rules for vehicle modifications, and we are probably the most stringent of all European countries when it comes to actually abiding by them. Arctic Trucks can do what they do because they have a selection of vehicles they modify, and the mods hva gone through the Norwegian approval process. As an example, if I ordered a 37" conversion for a Land Cruiser (LC150 sadly, we don't get the LC300 or LC200!) I could not put 35" tires on it as that would not be what is approved in the rebuild.

We only recently got an excemption from EU laws on LED light bars and such, so we are thankfully no longer limited to just two lights. They all still have to be "E-marked", whatever that actually entails.

So, bloody annoying, but it is possible to work around My goal is to find a tire that is within the allowable 5% difference to stock that will fit on the Expedition without requiring a lift. Expy Gator is saying 295/70-18 will work and that is actually as big as I could possibly go (technically slightly too big but 5.2% is close enough that I'm willing to chance it!). Would have loved a moderate lift (2 inches maybe) but will have to see if anyone does anything TÜV approved before I go down that road.

 

[LazSlate]

My issue with 295/70/18 is the height

Its 34.26" or 870mm and I felt it was a little too snug in there.
I want something around 33.8 or 858 mm.

I spent 5 months with all kinds of tire sizes and combos, spread sheets to find the right size for stock timberline.

Issue is when you mix the width and rim size the height is all over the place.
For example

I wanted 17" rims
so a 295 width at 70 would put me at 33.26 height. To small.
and a 285 with at 75 would put me at 33.83 (good height) but be only 3/4" wider than stock.

I went with 305/70/17 which is a great height and the 305 with 12" wide and with +25 offset they do not stick out or rub.
My Timberline looks like a Artic explorer. Would look a tad better with a 1" lift, but that would be cosmetic only as the tires fit and ride perfect with no rub, no poke, etc. So a lift would be a waste and add nothing but looks with the setup I have.

 

[Viking84]

Thanks! Sounds like there is definately room for a slightly bigger-than-stock tire in there without a lift. Shame that a factory lift isn't available, or a factory option for a 35" tire (315/70-17 is what all the 35" Arctic Trucks use around here, easy to find in stock).

 

[LazSlate]

Thanks! Sounds like there is definately room for a slightly bigger-than-stock tire in there without a lift. Shame that a factory lift isn't available, or a factory option for a 35" tire (315/70-17 is what all the 35" Arctic Trucks use around here, easy to find in stock).

My tire the 305 is 1/2" narrower than they 315. Most 35"s are 34.5 or 34.8 never exactly 35". At least according to my charts I made. A 35" would fit and probably not rub depending on the offset of the rim. With my rims I could run a 35x12 and IMO it would not rub but look too crammed in there. Taking the Readylift (buy 2 kits to get the 1.5 pucks) would work. Or of course coil overs from Fox or King.

The sema lift had 2.5 coilovers

 

[LazSlate]

 

[Viking84]

These trucks really do look good with just a slight increase in tire size! Heck they look good stock too. Follow up question for those that have been kind enough to answer me - can you fit a spare of the same size under the truck?