Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Ford Explorer Community - Maintenance - Modifications - Performance Upgrades - Problem Solving - Off-Road - Street
Explorer Forum Covers the Explorer ST, Explorer Sport, Explorer Sport Trac, Lincoln Aviator, Mercury Mountaineer, Mazda Navajo, Ford Ranger, Mazda Pickups, and the Ford Aerostar
The best offset for a 9" wide wheel is around that 24mm figure. My 18x8.5" wheels have a 35mm offset, but I had to use 1/4"(6.35mm) spacers, and they just fit well that way. So 29mm offset is near the limit of rubbing the ball joints etc.
I bought 17x9" wheels with 16mm offsets a while back(closest I could find in that Volk GT-C wheel I liked), those will stick out a little and I plan to use the OEM low level fender flares for them. Those flares are the smallest OEM, add about half as much width as the common big flares.
I would have liked to find this wheel in an 18x9" size with 22mm offset, which they did make, they are all obsolete and were very rare when they did make them.
Oops, I misspoke -- the 18x9s I was looking at are a +30mm offset, not +24mm (so that's why I remembered I would need small spacers!).
It's the 18x10 version that comes in +24mm offset.
I was thinking 18x9s in front and 18x10s in the rear, but now I'm feeling like 18x9 all around may just make more sense for normal tire rotations, lower cost, etc.
@XploderPhil What size tires are you running? They look really good, not too low profile on the sidewall like I sometimes see with bigger rims on a truck.
Thank you, I really like the look, hopefully they will perform as good when I take my trip and the end of October.
I'm running Lexani's LXUHP-207 255/55R18XL 109V BSW
I had to stick with the same size on all 4 as mine is AWD.
I liked the 255/55/18 tire size I had on my Mountaineer twice. This time for the 9" wheels, I bought 275/55's, which has a tighter offset range, to clear.
I liked the 255/55/18 tire size I had on my Mountaineer twice. This time for the 9" wheels, I bought 275/55's, which has a tighter offset range, to clear.
Are you already running the 275 width tires? I was actually considering 285 wide, but they get really pricey compared to 275s. 275/55 sounds like a great balance of traction and comfort.
Are you already running the 275 width tires? I was actually considering 285 wide, but they get really pricey compared to 275s. 275/55 sounds like a great balance of traction and comfort.
No, not yet. I bought them last year when I had found someone to machine the wheels to make the lugnut holes correct. Then I lost touch with them, likely the pandemic, and haven't tried to get back to it.
I test fit the wheels when I first got them, they did let me bolt them on with an ET lugnut that I chose. So the 16mm offset will work with a small fender flare. I had 265/60/18's years ago and those only rubbed the tread on the inner fenders, 30.5" is a little tall. Stiffer torsion bars and the sway bar tightened it up, so the 255/55's never rubbed. There are only a couple of tire choices in the 275/55 range, I'd like to have ended up with the 18" size.
I'd like to try the Toyo Proxes ST III 275/55R17, it's still available and has nice reviews;
I've not lowered my truck, it's the stock ride height and equipped with the OEM rear sway bar, but I recently replaced all of the rear sway bar bushings with either Prothane or ES units and it made a huge difference. The truck corners like a car - really worthwhile upgrade.
