BigOleFordFan
Well-Known Member
A) I was merely commenting on the fact that Expy's come with 20-22" rims for a reason, which you are (correctly) implying was a design/engineering decision, which apparently was adopted, based on the number of vehicles that come out of the factory with them.....BigOleFordFam mentioned durability problems by going smaller - wrong. Bigger tire sidewall transfers less impact to suspension components. I was a mfg engineer on F150 for years. Around 2006 we were adding 20", or maybe 22" wheels to the lineup, and I took part in dozens of meetings reviewing potential changes that would need to be made to the suspension and steering systems to deal with the higher impact forces. You'd be amazed how much that smaller sidewall beats up the suspension.
I never suggested that they are/would or would not be ideal, which is something each person has to decide for themselves based on their own observations, preferences, expectations, and driving conditions......
B) I agree that bigger SIDEWALLS can offer better ride quality & less wear & tear on the suspension (to a certain point), but again this is a decision to be made by the owner.
C) However, I personally think that any vehicle the size of an Expy looks silly with 18" rims, or 17's for that matter, regardless of sidewall height (unless you're wanting the "pimp wagon/boi toy" look) but then again, my 011 EL is a good bit heavier & larger overall than more recent models, so that's why I feel this way...
Also, this is the exact reason why my next set of new tires this fall will be 275/65-20's instead of the stock 275/55-20's, but I have the clearance to do so without introducing any turn/rub issues
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