Moving From 20" to 18" Tires

[Shutterbug57]

I have a 2019 Expedition Max 4x4 with 20" wheels. I want to move to 18" wheels to do some light off roading. If I get 18" 9" wide wheels with a 44 offset, will a KO3 in LT275/70-18 (33.2x10.8 R18) fit without rubbing assuming I do not do any changes to shocks, control arms or other lifting methods? I appreciate your input.

 

[Pawpaw]

I have a 2019 Expedition Max 4x4 with 20" wheels. I want to move to 18" wheels to do some light off roading. If I get 18" 9" wide wheels with a 44 offset, will a KO3 in LT275/70-18 (33.2x10.8 R18) fit without rubbing assuming I do not do any changes to shocks, control arms or other lifting methods? I appreciate your input.

I run the same size tire but in a KO2. Using stock FX4 wheels and not close to rubbing.

 

[rovertrader]

I went to 17” Raptor wheels, so I have a set of factory 18’s if interested…

 

[pnwjetsled]

A 275 will probably look really skinny on a 9” wide wheel.

 

[BigOleFordFan]

A 275 will probably look really skinny on a 9” wide wheel.

Skinny + big SUV = no workie for me

I have 275's on my '011, but the rims are only 8" wide, so it looks nicely balanced, at least to me anyways...

 

[mbrown1]

@Pawpaw Did the FX4 and Max Tow Package increase the lift over a stock XLT (or Limited) ?

 

[robdgagne]

2018 Platinum with 22" rims/tires. I take my vehicle to Baja Mexico and wanted taller sidewalls due to excessive pot holes. I also trust the engineers to figure out what wheel size works best for their vehicles.
That being said, I found an almost new set of stock 18" rims and tires, (off an Expedition XLT) on Craigslist for ~$800. The person wanted to move up in wheel size.
When I go to Mexico, I put on the 18" and when I get back, go back to the 22". Works really well for me.

 

[Shutterbug57]

Thanks for the input. I have round 2 of the cam phaser issue and cannot see paying $5K every 45K miles or so to keep this truck on the road. I am moving on to a RAM Bighorn.

 

[Pawpaw]

@Pawpaw Did the FX4 and Max Tow Package increase the lift over a stock XLT (or Limited) ?

I think they're about the same height if a 4x4. Going to a taller tire raised mine a bit.

 

[Pawpaw]

A 275 will probably look really skinny on a 9” wide wheel.

Not too bad...being a little on the skinny side they handle puddled water better than wide tires. Drove both wides and skinny's and the skinny's don't hydroplane as bad. We get lot's of rain in Louisiana.

 

[Left Coast Geek]

I have a 2019 Expedition Max 4x4 with 20" wheels. I want to move to 18" wheels to do some light off roading. If I get 18" 9" wide wheels with a 44 offset, will a KO3 in LT275/70-18 (33.2x10.8 R18) fit without rubbing assuming I do not do any changes to shocks, control arms or other lifting methods? I appreciate your input.

LT275/70 R18 KO3 are specified for 7.0 to 9.5" rims, so 9.0 should be fine. random some other LT275/70 R18 said 7.0-8.5, so a 9.0 might be a bit wide.

 

[pnwjetsled]

Not too bad...being a little on the skinny side they handle puddled water better than wide tires. Drove both wides and skinny's and the skinny's don't hydroplane as bad. We get lot's of rain in Louisiana. View attachment 84097

I agree on skinny tires. A 275 looks great on a stock wheel. IMO they don’t look great on a 9” wide wheel. I live in Wa so know all about right. Don’t think it’s stopped raining here since October. My last f150 I ran 275/70-18 on stock fx4 wheels and they looked and worked great.

 

[Hellwig]

I have a 2019 Expedition Max 4x4 with 20" wheels. I want to move to 18" wheels to do some light off roading. If I get 18" 9" wide wheels with a 44 offset, will a KO3 in LT275/70-18 (33.2x10.8 R18) fit without rubbing assuming I do not do any changes to shocks, control arms or other lifting methods? I appreciate your input.

If you really mean "some light off roading", I don't see why you can't keep the current 20" wheels. You don't even need designated offroad tires. All terrain tires should suffice the request. It's an extended wheelbase Max, anyway.

 

[mbrown1]

265/70 R18 from a 24 Timberline on a 23 Limited. Michelin Defenders in an XL load rating to be installed early next week.

 

[Shutterbug57]

If you really mean "some light off roading", I don't see why you can't keep the current 20" wheels. You don't even need designated offroad tires. All terrain tires should suffice the request. It's an extended wheelbase Max, anyway.

This is the type of trails i am thinking of. Seems like 18” tires aired down would fare better and be more comfortable than 20” tires at road pressures. I plan to remove the lower air dam under the front bumper.

 

[Hellwig]

This is the type of trails i am thinking of. Seems like 18” tires aired down would fare better and be more comfortable than 20” tires at road pressures. I plan to remove the lower air dam under the front bumper.

View attachment 84153View attachment 84154

Looks like somewhere close to Moab. I was on Shafer canyon and long canyon trails with 20-inch wheels. Not comfortable, but workable.

 

[Shutterbug57]

Looks like somewhere close to Moab. I was on Shafer canyon and long canyon trails with 20-inch wheels. Not comfortable, but workable.

It’s all about keeping mama comfortable. Last year, we took a 30 mile washboard road to go from a camp site to dinner. Mama hated that ride and we took a 85 mile return trip on asphalt roads. That was on 20” tires at road pressure. I suspect on 18” tires aired down, she would have been ok.

 

[GixxerJasen]

Eeew, 30 miles of washboard, even on aired down 18" wheels sounds miserable. Can't remember if it was Gemini Bridges Road or Long Canyon Road that we had to do a couple miles of that, I think it was the latter. Definitely not fun and I remember being pretty miserable trying to not shake the Expedition apart on it and just wanting to get through it. The rest of the ride was great and worth it though. 30 miles would suck no matter what.

 

[Left Coast Geek]

you can't air down very far if you don't have bead locks.

I've not done any significant off roading yet on the Expedition, I did a fair amount on my F250 before it, and a Tacoma before that. The F250 had /75 series tires and I had LT265/75R16 'E' BF Goodrich KO2's, which were absolutely awesome on that truck. The truck was so solid and heavy that you didn't really notice washboard, I'd drop the backs to around 50 PSI instead of the specified 70 PSI as long as I wasn't heavily loaded, and leave the fronts at 55 PSI as the 7.3 powerstroke was such a heavy pig of a engine.

 

[rjexped]

265/70 R18 from a 24 Timberline on a 23 Limited. Michelin Defenders in an XL load rating to be installed early next week.

How have you liked those tires?
I’m contemplating getting them.

I have some f150 takeoffs 275/65/18 Goodyear wrangler territory ATs. They seem so squishy, regardless of the psi. If I ran them at 35-40, it looks as if the side wall is touching the road.

Wonder how the MD xls ride for you and how squished they look or if they do?
Please and thanks.

I hesitate to get load Es for the ride quality, but I want to make sure I’m safe loaded up with bikes, gear, and people. The GWs look doesn’t give me much confidence with how much they squish down. I never tow, gotta a truck for that.
Ryan