Which F150 wheels for my Expedition EL looks better?

[Discobee]

Hi Forum...new member here. I like all the info that's available here! I recently bought my 2007 Expedition EL Eddie Bauer and I just love this SUV! It's smooth, bold and feels so safe when I'm transporting the kids. I previously owned an Explorer so this is so much bigger and better.

When I bought the EL from the dealership, they had slapped on a new set of 22" bling bling type wheels/tires which I was not so fond of, but they offered to include a set of 17" chrome stock F150 wheels with the sale (the stock Expedition wheels weren't chrome, so I opted for the F150 chrome wheels). After I bought the EL, I took it to the company that outfitted the 22" wheels and they offered to do a swap of a set of brand new tires for the 17" (plus TPMS, mount, balance) and take back the 22" set, which I gladly did. (I know I lost out more value on the swap, but it saved me time from having to try and resell the 22" wheels on my own).


Now my EL looks like this, with 17" chromes and P265/70/17 tires. I like how it looks, and the style of rims is shiny and easy to clean/wipe.


But last week I came across of a set of 18" F150 Lariat chrome wheels w/caps for $300 on Craigslist, so I swooped it up just because it looked so nice. Now I am contemplating putting these wheels on my EL, with P255/70/18 or P275/65/18 tires. The problem is that the price of 18" tires vs 17" is quite a bit of an increase...AND I already have a brand new set of tires on the 17s at the moment....

So now do I:

1) just keep the 17" on since the tires are brand new; and then put the 18" on when I need new tires a few years from now

2) just keep the 17" on because 17" tires will always be less costly than 18"; and resell the 18" wheels and try to make $100 profit or so

3) just put the 18" wheels on and buy new tires too; then try to resell the 17" wheels/tires to recover some of the cost of the 18" set since the 17" set was really no cost to me to begin with.

What do you guys think? What would you do? Does anyone have a picture of their Expy with these type of Lariat wheels on for me to compare? I'm so torn haha. Anyways, glad to be here and be able to talk shop with other Ford Expy enthusiasts. Thanks for your input or feedback.

 

[eddiemoney]

I don't have Lariat wheels, but I do have F150 wheels

Personally I prefer the in town handling of the bigger wheels. I even noticed a large difference between 20s and 22s

 

[GAINMOB]

i like the 22's better

 

[GAINMOB]

you shouldve kept the 22's and took the 17's...sell the 22's...they would sell...what is your ultimate heart desire? sounds like you ultimately want 18's...so put the 18's on...sell the 17's...worst case...get money for them by selling them to an aluminum shop

 

[tallsville]

i had those 17's on for awhile. they were on there cuz they were cheap. Ex wife paid $300 for all 4(fresh take offs) Personally the 18's look better. i would say if you were in a snow area winter and summer tire/rims. But i would say do what you feel is best for you.

 

[911jason]

The 17's look okay, the 18's look much better though. Those 22's are horrendous! Glad you got rid of those ASAP.

 

[ZombieSoldier]

I like the 18's personally...

 

[GAINMOB]

Which ones the 18's?

 

[Discobee]

18s are the uninstalled ones in the last picture.

I think I'll just use the 17s for now until it's time to get new tires...then get 18" tires to slap on the 18" Lariat wheels. But then again, I could change my mind tomorrow too haha...darn it!

@911Jason: yes the 22's were indeed horrendous!

Which brings me to my next question:

Which TPMS sensors is better: banded type or valve stem type?

 

[toms89]

18s are the uninstalled ones in the last picture.

I think I'll just use the 17s for now until it's time to get new tires...then get 18" tires to slap on the 18" Lariat wheels. But then again, I could change my mind tomorrow too haha...darn it!

@911Jason: yes the 22's were indeed horrendous!

Which brings me to my next question:

Which TPMS sensors is better: banded type or valve stem type?

I would go with this but then I am ok with stock wheels too.
Wheels in the 1st photo definately not my style..

 

[rayt]

those 18s look quite decent, i believe you need the banded sensors.

 

[mrford60]

i have those same 18" wheels on my 07 Expy and i think they look really good.

 

[Lane24]

The 18's will look great, but your 17's also look pretty good on there. Like you said, ride the 17's till it's time for new tires, then swap up to the 18's. Or try to sell the 17's as a set and use the $$ for new 18' rubber.

 

[Discobee]

i have those same 18" wheels on my 07 Expy and i thing they look really good.

MrFord60 those 18s looks cherry on your Expy, liking the dark color too! Are your tires P255/70/18, P275/65/18 or some other size please?

 

[mrford60]

thanks, 275/65/r18. I think that is the factory f150 size tire. and the best part is I only paid 475 wheels and tires and the tires were 3/4 tread.

 

[GAINMOB]

18's...

FLAWLEZZ RYDERZ VP VA 757 Chapter

 

[Discobee]

Awwwwwww dammmmn look what happened! So I ended up finding a set of Michelin P275/65/18 LTX for $600 on the local Craigslist. Seller took'em off his Tundra after 4,000 miles (lots of tread left, looked brand new). Most retail places sell this tire at about $250ea. Took the wheels/tires to a local auto shop near my house where they balanced/mounted/swap TPMS for a mere $78. The I took the 17" set to a local used tire shop and sold it to them for $300. (I probably could have gotten more if I sold it on Craigslist, but it's ok)

So here is the new look; which I do like. It even sits noticeably higher and the wider width handles better. I'd like to thank the members who responded for their input.

 

[911jason]

Nice!

 

[mrford60]

very nice.

 

[ZombieSoldier]

i like it a lot better!

we are swapping out our 22's tomorrow, as well. Our neighbor has been eyeing up my wheels since we moved in and he came over oin sunday and asked if i would be willing to part with them. so we discussed it and he is trading mine for his.

these are very similar to his, except his has a darker looking finish on them.