I will be getting some new wheels for my truck soon. Nothing fancy, just a little wider than stock. The truck in question is a 1988 Ford F350 SRW, 4x4. The stock rims are 16x6, and I am looking to put 16x8s on it. The rims are nothing fancy, just powder coated steel wheels.

My question is this, should I order the rims with any offset for a wider stance, or should I stay with the zero offset? Does offsetting the rims make that much difference in load capacity? If I do offset, am I looking at possible stability issues?

The tires I plan on running will be 33 all terrains. I have half dirt (or mud/snow, depending on the season), and half pavement trips I use this truck on. I do occasional towing of my dads Kubota Bx25 on a bumper pull trailer, otherwise, this truck is my daily driver. I realize I will lose some MPG going to a bigger tire and that is fine. My main concern is getting in and out of my ranch during any weather.

Thanks for any advice.

Offsetting the wheels will result in higher load on the wheel bearings. Order the zero offsets wheels and save the others for the hip hop kids.

In some instances the offset wheels are used for clearance in the back of the tire if you are putting a larger than stock tire on the vehicle. Yes the load on bearings increases but probably not as much loading as the unsprung weight increase loading from the heavier tires.

If the rubber will clear, stay with stock offset.

My advice is to stay with the ugly-ass stock wheels.

I've been looking at wheels lately, and I see all this X offset stuff talked about. Kinda scared me to think of doing something else to my truck, so I think I'll just stick to my weenie 2.5" level and roll on....

quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:
My advice is to stay with the ugly-ass stock wheels.

I would, but am limited by the tire size I can put on them. The ugliness doesn't bother me .

Thanks guys, hadn't thought of the increased load on the bearings, good to know.

This truck, without a lift, should fit 35s. I do not want a lift of any kind. Just looking to put some bigger, more aggressive tires on it, to be able to get into and out of my ranch. The poor stock rims just can't go that big. I would keep them, but am kind of forced to get the bigger wheels.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
If the rubber will clear, stay with stock offset.

^^^^ This

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
If the rubber will clear, stay with stock offset.

^^^This. Check all the way around, and lock to lock with steering, with the wheel and tire combo you want to install. If everything clears, you're good to go.

And don't sweat the "additional bearing wear" comments. I went from 16" to 20" wheels on my F-150 over 70k miles ago, and only recently changed the front wheel bearings (at ~150k miles). They really weren't that bad, but since I was doing the brakes and had to remove the entire rotor/hub assembly anyway, I went ahead and changes them too given the cost.

(This topic is on the list of standard / eternal Internet debates and you will not get a definitive answer before it is through)

I'd do some measuring to make sure...but I think you may be ok without the offset. In the 1/2 and 3/4 tons with the TTB you had to worry about rubbing on the radius arms with larger diameter tires. The dana solid axle you're running with that is pretty forgiving of larger tires. Make sure you've got solid ball joints. You'll notice a slight difference in handling with the wider tires. I wouldn't say better or worse, just different.

Any addition in tire size or offset are going to increase wear and tear and decrease performance of the truck as far as acceleration, hauling, and towing. That may not be important to you, and those may be be outweighed by the benefits of a more aggressive tire, but it's something you need to be aware of. I would look for the closest thing to stock width that will allow you to seat the tires you are looking for.

o.e.m.

quote:

Originally posted by AKSuperDually:
I'd do some measuring to make sure...but I think you may be ok without the offset. In the 1/2 and 3/4 tons with the TTB you had to worry about rubbing on the radius arms with larger diameter tires. The dana solid axle you're running with that is pretty forgiving of larger tires. Make sure you've got solid ball joints. You'll notice a slight difference in handling with the wider tires. I wouldn't say better or worse, just different.

Thanks AK. Thinking I may be fine also with zero offset. You are correct, it has the Dana 60 solid front axle. Ball joints are good, just recently replaced.

I am coming from a 90 Bronco that had the TTB, and ran 31s on it, with minor rubbing. I do know what you mean about the steering being "different", and am prepared for that.

This has nothing to do with aesthetics, I mean, really it is a boxy 88 Ford truck . This has more to do with performance, as in, "will I make it home", kind of performance. I would stick with stock if I could, the engine is stock, suspension is stock, etc. The clayey type mud and snow in the winters here can be brutal. I absolutely, positively need this truck to get in and out of the goop, reliably. Hence the need for some bigger off road tires, and rims.

I think I will just stick with the zero offset. I will gain an inch on each side of the rim, and am fine with that.

Thank you all.

quote:

Originally posted by Perception:
Any addition in tire size or offset are going to increase wear and tear and decrease performance of the truck as far as acceleration, hauling, and towing. That may not be important to you, and those may be be outweighed by the benefits of a more aggressive tire, but it's something you need to be aware of. I would look for the closest thing to stock width that will allow you to seat the tires you are looking for.

And braking. Which may be of particular concern in the mountains and towing a trailer.

we have had 4) F250's,
two had offset and two had stock .
both of the offset wheel trucks
had the left front wheels fly off. on the freeway

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
we have had 4) F250's,
two had offset and two had stock .
both of the offset wheel trucks
had the left front wheels fly off. on the freeway

What was the point of failure on those? The hub or the wheel?

Just an update, with some pictures. They didn't have the steel rims I had wanted, so ended up with some alloys instead, which is fine. Decided to go with the zero offset, 16x8s. Put some Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs on the new rims, and this should get me through the winters here.

Thanks again for all the input .

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