Aftermarket wheels size question on 1st gen Explorer ? | Ford Explorer Forums - Serious Explorations

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Aftermarket wheels size question on 1st gen Explorer ?

SqEx

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Year, Model & Trim Level
1991 Explorer
Good day everyone,
I'm wondering if anyone can help me ? I have a 91 explorer and want to go with either 18x8 wheels or 20x8.5 wheels, my question is the wheels I'm looking at come with either +25mm or +35mm backspacing which offset would be best ?

If I go with 18s the tire size I'm looking at will be 255/55R18 and if I go with 20s the tire size will be 275/45R20
 



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I would say anything from 3.75" - 4.5" is fine, I'll let you do the metric conversion. ;) 4.5" is stock rim, 3.75" is pretty standard with aftermarket 15" rims, which is what I have used.

Welcome to the forum.
 






I would say anything from 3.75" - 4.5" is fine, I'll let you do the metric conversion. ;) 4.5" is stock rim, 3.75" is pretty standard with aftermarket 15" rims, which is what I have used.

Welcome to the forum.

Thank you for the reply, these are the wheels I'm looking at, come in a offset of +22mm, +32mm and +42mm
These are the specs for the 18s and 20s I'm looking at.

The 18x8 is Backspace : 5.48 inches Offset : 25mm
18x8 is Backspace : 5.87 inches Offset : 35mm
18x8 is Backspace : 6.15 inches Offset : 42mm

The 20x8.5 is Backspace : 5.73 inches Offset : 25mm
20x8.5 is Backspace : 6.00 inches Offset : 35mm
20x8.5 is Backspace : 6.32 inches Offset : 40mm

http://www.performanceplustire.com/buy-wheels-online/advanti-wheels/a2-traktion-gloss-black-rim-with-machined-lip

AdvantiTraktionBlack.jpg
 






The 35mm or more will definitely not work. I have 18x8.5's with 35mm offset, and they barely work with 1/4" spacers(6.35mm). So an 8.5" wheel needs to be under a 29mm offset.

I just bought 17x9's with 16mm offset, and test fitted they look like a fairly good fit. I might need a tiny fender flare for the 275/55's I'm planning for.

Check clearance in the back at the parking brake cable, it needs a good 2-3" there.
 






The 35mm or more will definitely not work. I have 18x8.5's with 35mm offset, and they barely work with 1/4" spacers(6.35mm). So an 8.5" wheel needs to be under a 29mm offset.

I just bought 17x9's with 16mm offset, and test fitted they look like a fairly good fit. I might need a tiny fender flare for the 275/55's I'm planning for.

Check clearance in the back at the parking brake cable, it needs a good 2-3" there.

Thank you for the reply.
Yes I see the issue with offset is more with the back wheel wells with less space, so I think the 25mm offset would be the best choice.

Do you have any pics of your Ex with the 18s on it ?? I would love to see how it looks. :)
 






I'm on my 3rd set of 18" tires, and need to use these up before I change to the 17's. Be sure to check on the actual weights of the wheels. The 18's I have are a typical cheap wheel, and thus very heavy. I began with 72lbs each with the first set(265/60/18), Those were heavier than the 255/55's I have now. I'd guess my 18's weigh 31lbs each or close to that. The forged 17x9's I bought recently are 22lbs each. That 9lbs is a bunch, and fuel mileage and braking do suffer.

Below is the first set of 18's I had, which were 30.5" tall.
 

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The wheels I posted above are 25.5 Lbs each and for tires I'm looking at the Cooper Discoverer H/T Plus 275/45-20s which are 29.64 inches in diameter, I can't seem to find how much the weight of each tire is though.
 






That should be fine. Those lower profile tires don't weigh as much as taller ones. Mine have been coming down into the low 30's lbs range as I got to the 55 series. Not many sites list tire weights, and the Tire Rack does for sure.

My first tire/wheel upgrade was to a Cobra 17x8, and with 255/60's they weighed 58 lbs. That was just a little over the stock 235/75/15's, and had no noticeable affect on mileage of braking. I think the 275/55/17's I get next should be in the 35lbs and under range, which puts me back in the 57lbs or less range, very good. I don't know how OEM does it with the huge stock wheels/tires they have now. They look like they ought to weigh 70lbs or more. They must be really strong and light weight wheels.
 






That should be fine. Those lower profile tires don't weigh as much as taller ones. Mine have been coming down into the low 30's lbs range as I got to the 55 series. Not many sites list tire weights, and the Tire Rack does for sure.

My first tire/wheel upgrade was to a Cobra 17x8, and with 255/60's they weighed 58 lbs. That was just a little over the stock 235/75/15's, and had no noticeable affect on mileage of braking. I think the 275/55/17's I get next should be in the 35lbs and under range, which puts me back in the 57lbs or less range, very good. I don't know how OEM does it with the huge stock wheels/tires they have now. They look like they ought to weigh 70lbs or more. They must be really strong and light weight wheels.

Honestly I can't chose between the 18x8s with 255/55-18 or the 20x8.5s with 275/45-20s, both look great though. :D
 






If the weights are close, go with how it looks to you.

I was hunting for a wheel that I liked a lot, which is hard since I don't like much of aftermarket choices. I picked a wheel that happened to be obsolete, and was after a 17x9 or 18x9. I would prefer the taller 30" size, but I never saw any of the model I wanted with a good offset, until this set last Fall.

Do what you can, with what you have.
 






If the weights are close, go with how it looks to you.

I was hunting for a wheel that I liked a lot, which is hard since I don't like much of aftermarket choices. I picked a wheel that happened to be obsolete, and was after a 17x9 or 18x9. I would prefer the taller 30" size, but I never saw any of the model I wanted with a good offset, until this set last Fall.

Do what you can, with what you have.

Thank you for your input I greatly appreciate it.
By the way, this is what I am fixing my first gen up for :D

13045489_10154940712113747_1552465796_n.jpg


13220083_10154971541263747_678973101_n.jpg
 






This is what I hope the final results turn out to be

13089993_10154938721083747_2146707060_n.jpg
 






Very good, I like it.
 






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