The F-150 is one of the most commonly modified trucks on the road, so there is no shortage of opinions about what fits. Most of those opinions leave out the variables that actually decide it: model year, wheel offset, tire width, and how much the front end has been raised. This guide covers those numbers for standard F-150 trucks from 2004 on. Raptor models ship with a wider track and much larger factory tires, so treat them as their own conversation.
The specs that never change: 6x135 and 87.1mm
Every F-150 since the 2004 redesign uses a 6x135 bolt pattern with an 87.1mm hub bore. That combination is fairly specific to Ford, which is useful: a wheel drilled 6x135 was almost certainly made with an F-150 or Expedition in mind. It also means 6x139.7 (6x5.5) wheels built for Chevrolet and GMC half-tons, the Toyota Tacoma and the Nissan Titan are not interchangeable, even though the numbers look close. See what a bolt pattern is for why a few millimeters matter.
A wheel's center bore has to be at least 87.1mm to slide over the hub. Wheels with a larger bore still mount, but they rely on the lug nuts alone to center the wheel unless you add a hub-centric ring. The center bore guide covers when a ring is worth adding.
| Model years | Bolt pattern | Hub bore | Lug thread | Factory lug torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Heritage (older body) | 5x135 | Differs from 2004+ | M14x2.0 | Check owner's manual |
| 2004–2014 | 6x135 | 87.1mm | M14x2.0 | 150 lb-ft |
| 2015–present | 6x135 | 87.1mm | M14x1.5 | 150 lb-ft |
What the factory runs
From 2015 to 2020, F-150 trims left the factory on 17 to 22 inch wheels, and the tires got shorter as the wheels got bigger. The result is that nearly every trim sits on a tire between about 30.5 and 32 inches tall. Factory wheels are 7.5 to 8.5 inches wide with a +44mm offset, which tucks them well inside the fenders.
| Factory tire | Wheel diameter | Approx. overall diameter |
|---|---|---|
| 245/70R17 | 17 in | 30.5 in |
| 265/70R17 | 17 in | 31.6 in |
| 265/60R18 | 18 in | 30.5 in |
| 275/65R18 | 18 in | 32.1 in |
| 275/55R20 | 20 in | 31.9 in |
| 275/45R22 | 22 in | 31.7 in |
2021 and newer trucks use a similar range. The exact size varies by trim and package, so the door-jamb placard is the only reliable source for your truck. Knowing your factory diameter matters because every tire upgrade below is measured against it. If metric sizes are unfamiliar, start with how to read a tire size.
Offset on an F-150: what +44 means for your build
Offset is how far the wheel's mounting face sits from its centerline. The factory +44mm puts most of the wheel inboard, which is why stock F-150 wheels look sunk into the fenders. Lower offsets move the wheel out:
- A +18mm wheel sits about 26mm (roughly 1 inch) further out than a +44mm wheel of the same width.
- A 0mm wheel sits about 44mm (roughly 1.75 inches) further out than stock.
- Going from a 9-inch to a 10-inch-wide wheel at the same offset adds about half an inch on each side, inside and out.
Pushing the wheel out gives a wider stance and can create room between a big tire and the inner suspension. It also moves the tire closer to the fender lip and bumper cover when you steer, which is where most F-150 rubbing happens. The wheel offset guide and backspacing vs offset cover the math in more depth.
Stock height
On an unmodified F-150, the safe upgrade is a slightly taller, narrower tire on factory-offset wheels. A 285/70R17 measures about 32.7 by 11.2 inches, and it commonly clears a stock truck with little or no rubbing. A full 33x12.50 is about an inch wider, and that extra width is what tends to touch the front plastic or inner liner at full steering lock.
If you want to stay at stock height, 18-inch or 20-inch wheels with an offset near factory, paired with a tire that stays under about 11.5 inches wide, is the lowest-risk route.
Leveled (2 to 2.5 inches)
F-150s sit lower in front than in back from the factory, so they have room to squat when towing. A leveling kit raises the front to even the stance, and it is the single most common F-150 modification. It also opens up the front wheel well.
33-inch tires on a leveled F-150
A 33x12.50 on a leveled truck is the setup you see most often, and on wheels near factory offset it commonly fits without trimming. Popular pairings are 33x12.50R20 for a street look and 33x12.50R17 or 33x12.50R18 when you want more sidewall. A 33-inch tire against a 31.9-inch factory tire makes the speedometer read about 3 percent low.
35-inch tires on a leveled F-150
35s on a leveled truck are possible, but plan for some work. Trimming the front plastic, the inner fender liner or the crash-bar area is commonly reported, and the more negative the offset and the wider the wheel, the more trimming you should expect. A 35x12.50R20 is about 3 inches taller than a factory tire, so the speedometer reads roughly 9 to 10 percent low until you recalibrate it.
Lifted (4 inches and up)
A true suspension lift raises both axles and repositions the suspension geometry, and that is where 35s stop being a compromise. On a 4 to 6 inch lift, 35-inch tires are the usual target, commonly on 20x9 or 20x10 wheels with offsets from around 0 to +18mm. 37s generally call for a 6-inch-plus lift, and they often still need trimming at full lock. The 33s vs 35s vs 37s vs 40s guide covers the ride, weight and fuel-economy trade-offs of each step up.
| Ride height | Typical tire | Wheel offset range | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | 285/70R17 (~32.7 in) | Near factory (+25 to +44) | Usually clean; 33x12.50 may rub at lock |
| 2–2.5 in level | 33x12.50 | +18 to +44 | Commonly fits without trimming |
| 2–2.5 in level | 35x12.50 | +18 to +25 | Trimming commonly needed |
| 4–6 in lift | 35x12.50 | 0 to +18 | The usual target size |
| 6 in+ lift | 37x12.50 / 37x13.50 | Varies by kit | Trimming at full lock is common |
Match the wheel width to the tire
Every tire has an approved rim-width range published by its maker. A 33x12.50 or 35x12.50 is typically approved for rims around 8.5 to 11 inches wide, which is why 20x9 and 20x10 are the most common F-150 upgrade widths. A wheel near the narrow end of the range rounds the tread and sidewall out; a wheel near the wide end stretches the sidewall flatter and leaves the rim lip less protected. Check the specific tire's spec sheet before pairing it with a 12-inch-wide wheel, where many 12.50-width tires fall outside the approved range.
Common F-150 fitment mistakes
- Buying 6x139.7 wheels because the listing says "6-lug truck." F-150s need 6x135.
- Reusing pre-2015 lug nuts on a 2015-or-newer truck, or the reverse. The threads differ.
- Choosing a very negative offset with 35s on a leveled truck, then discovering the trimming it takes.
- Comparing tires by the number on the sidewall alone. Two brands' 35x12.50 can measure differently.
- Skipping the re-torque after the first 50 to 100 miles on new wheels.
Heavier tires and TPMS
Every F-150 in this range uses tire pressure monitoring, so aftermarket wheels need sensors either moved over or replaced. The TPMS guide explains the options. Larger light-truck tires also call for different pressures than the factory placard lists, because the placard is written for the factory tire. Use the tire maker's load-inflation guidance for the new size.
Putting it together
Start from how the truck is used and how high it sits, then pick the tire, then the wheel. For a daily driver that occasionally tows, a leveled truck on 33s with a near-factory offset is the least-compromise upgrade. For a truck that is going to be lifted anyway, buy wheels in the offset range that suits the lift so you don't pay for wheels twice. You can browse 17-inch, 20-inch and 22-inch wheels listed for the F-150, or build a mounted wheel and tire package and choose each part in one place.