Ford F250: What’s The Biggest Tire For A Stock Ford F250?
The Ford F250 is an SFA truck (Solid Front Axle). This makes it easier to customize, and you have more options when you need to make the truck better. When you need to customize a truck and place the largest tires possible, there comes the question of clearance and modifications necessary.
Many factors come to play in determining the kind of clearance you need for your F250. For starters, tire sizes, widths, and the kind of terrain your F250 will drive on matter. For instance, if your truck only drives on-road, you can fit a large tire and never experience rubbing issues.
So, What is the Biggest Tire for a Stock F250?
The biggest tire a stock F250 can accommodate without any suspension modifications is 34.6 inches. You can fit this on a 12.4 x 16 inches wheel. Your F250 will efficiently run on this tire without any rubbing issues, and you never have to do any major modifications.
If you need to fit a larger tire, up to 35 inches, you need a 2-inch lift. The lift allows the F250 to accommodate a 35×12.5 R20 tire. However, this means that you do not go for the widest tire in store.
With the Solid Front Axle on the F250, making an upgrade will be easier, thanks to the simple design of the truck. You will only need to bring down the wheel and fit the new wheel.
What is the Biggest Tire for a Stock F250 with No Lift?
You can fit 34-inch tires on your F250 without any trimming and cutting of wheel arch or any other part. The tire fits great on 16-inch rims, but most popular 34-inch tire combinations will work perfectly.
When fitting larger tires, you need to consider the reason you are fitting new tires. If you plan to take the truck off-road, the rough terrain might cause the tire to rub on parts. If you plan to enhance the aesthetics of the truck while still driving on-road, the tire will less likely rub.
Truck uses for hauling and towing will be more suited to drive on rugged terrain, but they might rub, thanks to the weight. Trucks for commuting are less likely to rub, especially if you do not go off-road.
When planning to install bigger tires, consider your application. Bigger tires are not always a good idea for some applications. If you use your truck to commute in city or highway, bigger tires might only reduce the mpg of the truck and not serve the application.
You can remove the mud flaps if you need a wider tire. If you choose to have them on, your width options will be limited.
What is the Biggest Tire for a Stock F250 with a 2-Inch Lift?
You can install 35-inch tires on your stock F250 with a 2-inch lift. The tires can be as wide as 10 inches. You will need to do a little trimming, but that is all that is needed.
Installing a leveling kit with adjustable coil-overs increases your tire options. If you still decide to go with 34-inch tires with a 2-inch lift, you can take your truck even on the most rugged terrain without cases of rubbing or noise.
Most F250 leveling kits on the market are easy to install with a host of affordable options available. Upgrades kits feature radius and pitman arms. These are easy to bolt on and off.
Fitting 35-inch tires on your truck will be easy. Again, it is a decent size, considering you only lift 2 inches.
The SFA suspension and the fact that the truck already sits high with the stock factory rims makes it possible for you to install the tires. Even better, the leveling kit is also easier to install.
What is the Biggest Tire for a Stock F250 with a 4-Inch Lift?
The biggest tire on a stock F250 truck with a 4-inch lift is 35 inches. With a 4-inch lift, you can fit a tire as wide as 12 inches. If you go for the 12-inch wide tire, it will stick out, but the truck will still look great.
The tires will be heavier and bulkier and will lower the mpg of the truck. However, the decrease in mpg is insignificant, and you may not even realize that there is a change. If you go higher than 35 inches, however, the weight might be significant enough for you to note the difference in mpg.
With a 4-inch lift, you do not need to trim or cut anything or remove the mud flaps. You also do not need any modifications on the wheel well areas.
One advantage with the F250 is that it doesn’t have crash bars in its wheel well areas, and this means more clearance for larger tires. The wheel arches will accommodate big tires with ease and enhance the look of the F250.
What is the Biggest Tire for a Stock F250 with a 6-Inch Lift?
You can fit 37-inch tires on a stock F250 with a 6-inch lift. These tires will be large and might appear bulky. If you opt for smaller tires, but still want to retain the 6-inch lift, you can go for 35-inch tires, but make them 14 inches wide.
Most truck owners prefer the 6-inch lift to the 4-inch lift. The two lift kits are almost the same price, but the 6-inch lift kit gives you more tire options. Most of the lift kit brands offer the 6-inch lift kit, so you will have a variety of options to choose from.
You will see small decrease in your truck’s mpg, but if the new tires fit the application, the decrease will not be significant.
With 37-inch tires and a 6-inch lift, you might still need minor trimming to ensure the tires fit perfectly and turn without scrubbing. Trim the front valance and your tires will perform efficiently.
Is It Possible to Install a Lift Kit at Home Without the Help of a Professional?
It is possible to install a lift kit without the help of a professional. Having a professional install a lift kit on your truck can be expensive. Doing it yourself is a great option and allows you to learn more about your truck.
You need a floor jack, heavy duty jack stands, 6×6 timber wood blocks, breaker bar, 3/4-inch air compressor and air tools, lift kit, and WD-40.
To install the lift kit, raise the truck and lower it into high-lift jack stands. Remove lug nuts and the wheels. From there, remove the sway bar, shocks, and track bar.
If your truck has radius arm suspension, you need to remove the sensor clip for the front wheel speed. Unbolt the brake hose bracket from the truck’s axle. You do not need to keep the mounting bracket as the lift kit comes with a new bracket.
After disconnecting all these parts, lower the front axle and the axle arms. Then disconnect the track bar bracket and fit the relocation bracket. Install the spring and shock lifts and the lower shock extensions.
Fit the lift kit sway bar extension and the bump stop extensions. The new bump stop extensions work with the current bump stop extension brackets. Re-attach the brake lines, the pitman arm, sway bar, and get a new drive shaft spacer.
Lift up the rear end of the truck and remove the axle plate and the lower axle. Install new rear axle blocks and your new wheels and the truck will be ready to roll.
The F250 is a heavy truck, and you might need someone to help you do it. If you are a novice, you need to follow the steps keenly and follow the lift kit instructions to the tee. If you find the process challenging to follow, call a professional.
Conclusion
Bigger tires work efficiently on the F250, thanks to the power of the truck. The 385 hp or 475 hp engine will roll the larger tires comfortably, and you will not feel any performance issues. However, fitting larger tires means more unsprang weight.
Your truck needs to be in good condition when you fit these larger tires to lug the added weight around. Again, if you add tires too big and too wide, you might have to start worrying about mpg.
Ford designed the F250 to drive on 33-inch tires. The higher you go above this size, the more the mpg of your truck will reduce. From online forums, we have seen what works and what tire size works and what doesn’t for your F250.
If you need the truck for light applications, you do not need to go for the biggest or widest tires available. Doing so only adds unnecessary unsprang weight to your tires.