[BrainBucket]

I am looking at wheel options for larger wheels (diameter and width). Can anyone get a backspace or offset measurement for the stock wheels. I know they are 6.5" width. Are they 0 offset?

Opinions about a wider wheel with the same backspace? This would move the wheel outboard. How much room is there before the tires won't tuck in the fenders? If anyone knows she wheel specs for the Explorer vans that would answer a lot of those questions. We are ordering out van in a week or so.

 

[hammerdown]

Also interested in these specs. I have found that the bolt pattern is 5x160, but I don't know the specific offset/backspacing. I'm interested in maybe looking into a custom made steel wheel, in 17 or 18" diameter and perhaps 8" wide, specifically for the rear, so I could get a wider tire with less sidewall under the van. I think combined with a rear sway bar, it would help with the slight wandering at highway speeds.

I guess I could pull a wheel off and do some measurements.

 

[orton]

it would help with the slight wandering at highway speeds.

My 148" high roof also wanders at highway speeds. Thought it might be front end alignment. Will return to dealer to have that checked. Any others with this problem?

 

[hammerdown]

I don't think it's an alignment issue. I think it's a weight distribution issue. Mine is an extended body 250. It kind of feels like the front is a little light under certain conditions. Since I've loaded it with tools, and materials, it seems better. Most stiffly sprung trucks ride and handle less frantically with some weight in them. But having a wider tire under the rear with less sidewall to wallow around can't hurt.

 

[divinezx9]

I agree a rear swaybar, wider wheels with a bit less sidewall would help a lot. These transits do handle very well, but could use a bit more stability in the back.

 

[hammerdown]

It's strange that the stock tires have such and incredibly high load rating... the tires themselves say E load rated, but the index is 121 or 3267lbs per tire. Way more than an E load rated tire on a Sprinter. Makes no sense to me, since the van is only rated to 9000lbs GVWR. Unless, this tire was specified for it's sidewall stiffness, to combat some of the wandering.

Anyone running larger tires notice any kooky handling at higher speeds?

 

[LostInTransit]

Just to clearly.. we have the Transit Connect and this is an externally difficult area for me to explore.. Yet I did have some help from several website tire shops.. Tirerack, Discount Tire, CariD etc.. but the best site came out of Europe. Because over there, they have the Vauxhall vans which share the same design and components as the Ford.

I was mainly interested in searching for a different off roady looking wheel.. But wasn't pleased with my findings.. I did find one wheel which I'm leaning towards. The tires on the other hand, there is nothing out there remotely "Knobby" looking.. yet I doubt we want to go extreme off road tires.. I believe we'll focus on the long distance all season times that Goodyear offers.

One site that has helped is something offered by a Toyota community:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/tirecalc.php?tires=205-50r17-215-55r17

 

[Chance]

It's strange that the stock tires have such and incredibly high load rating... the tires themselves say E load rated, but the index is 121 or 3267lbs per tire. Way more than an E load rated tire on a Sprinter. Makes no sense to me, since the van is only rated to 9000lbs GVWR. Unless, this tire was specified for it's sidewall stiffness, to combat some of the wandering.

Anyone running larger tires notice any kooky handling at higher speeds?

Transit specs indicate they should be "C" tires, as in Commercial rather than Load Range. Where does the E appear in designation? This is confusing and makes no sense to me either.

I agree that E rated tires the Transit's size should have a much lower capacity.

 

[dirt addict]

I have a 2015 transit 150 med roof, swb, passenger van. I've been googling for the past 2 weeks looking for larger, wider or taller wheels. Nothing but oem.
I found a company back east that says they manufacture custom wheels. I sent a fairly in depth email to them regarding the lack of aftermarket for these vans and how the transit is replacing the E series vans. Hopefully i get a response telling me they will look in to it. I have no idea what it would cost to get custom wheels made, but maybe if there was a volume buy, it might be more reasonable.
I'll let you know what I hear back....

 

[LostInTransit]

For 2 days I've been at this site:

http://wayneswheels.net/custom-wheels.html

My search included 16, 16.5 & 17 inches wheels. I didn't want to go anymore than 17 and found only 2 wheels I'm interested in. both are 16 x 8 wheels, one have 10 spokes while the other is an official rally wheel.

The trouble I was having, is once I found a wheel, I then would research what tires would fit these wheels.. More often than not.. Nothing would match up. Until the last two wheels I found.

Currently and our best hope is the Rally inspired wheels with either Kumho or BFGoodrich tires.. This doesn't include the time I spent emailing about 25 wheel manufactures and asking them to design a one off wheel for our Transit. I'm beat.. See if you can make heads or tails with the link above.

 

[dirt addict]

Have you been in contact with these guys?
http://atlanticanywheel.com/

so does anyone have a definitive answer to what the offset is? Or the wheel bolt pattern?

 

[LostInTransit]

My Objective

was to find a wheel that will fit our 2015 Ford transit.. Like many of you, there are questions as to what can fit and how much room is left within the wheels well..

The first thing I did was research Ford accessories site.. They listed three different sets of wheels.. The stock 16'' steel wheels with hubcaps.. Stock 16'' alloy wheels silver & the stock 17'' alloy wheels.. But they only listed the 16'' alloy wheel on the site.
My objective was to retain the ford appearance and not distort the factory ride with after market wheels.. But how was I to research all the ford cars and trucks over the last 30 years or so. I searched UK sites which directed me to US sites. Back and forth trying to find that perfect one off wheel. I don't remember what I did to find this site and it should answer allot of your questions on what can or could fit on your transit.

http://www.roadkillcustoms.com/

I'm no mathematician.. but I did some numbers and bam.. A whole list of wheels that have the 5-108 (5x4.25) bolt pattern. Systematically I searched the web for these old cars and trucks and a few were not Ford, but Jaguar and Volvo. Again with the same bolt pattern.

About the 5th or 6th car (Ford Focus) I found the site and again.. Bam.. the 2012-2013 Ford Focus has these wheels:

Source: http://www.allfactorywheels.com

Success! I found my Rubiconish, Subaruish Off road wheels. Trouble is.. I intended on finding 16'' wheels.. but after three days of searching.. I'll take what I can get and like it.

Hope these two link help all those searching for something different. Now onward to those tires.. I have 7 choices in the waiting.. with two extra candidates I've not yet explored.

"Lost"

 

[6386]

I'm no mathematician.. but I did some numbers and bam.. A whole list of wheels that have the 5-108 (5x4.25) bolt pattern. Systematically I searched the web for these old cars and trucks and a few were not Ford, but Jaguar and Volvo. Again with the same bolt pattern.

About the 5th or 6th car (Ford Focus) I found the site and again.. Bam.. the 2012-2013 Ford Focus has these wheels:

Source: http://www.allfactorywheels.com

Success! I found my Rubiconish, Subaruish Off road wheels. Trouble is.. I intended on finding 16'' wheels.. but after three days of searching.. I'll take what I can get and like it.

Hope these two link help all those searching for something different. Now onward to those tires.. I have 7 choices in the waiting.. with two extra candidates I've not yet explored.

"Lost"

Mmm, those wheels are 5 x 108 and the 2015 Transit has a 5 x 160 pattern.

Oops! As Zyzzyx pointed out, you are looking for Transit Connect wheels.

 

[Zyzzyx]

I believe that Lost is working with a Transit Connect, thus the smaller bolt pattern. And thus adding some confusion to this thread.

 

[6386]

I believe that Lost is working with a Transit Connect, thus the smaller bolt pattern. And thus adding some confusion to this thread.

Thanks, I just realized this when I went back to his earlier post.

 

[6386]

For those looking for the 2015 Transit (150 & up) wheels, the UK forum has been researching this for awhile now.

I think the relevant posts start on this page:

http://fordtransit.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14913&start=90

 

[USMC Vet]

Posting heads up

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zyzzyx
I believe that Lost is working with a Transit Connect, thus the smaller bolt pattern. And thus adding some confusion to this thread.

Thanks, I just realized this when I went back to his earlier post.
Like
-- Rick
2015 150 Wagon LR XLT 3.5EB/3.31, 10 passenger

Zyzzyx & rmcnelly, & others

For some reason LostInTransit wants to post his build for his Transit Connect Van here on the Transit Forum :s , evidently doesn't understand they are 2 different vehicles. Not all info he posts will be relevant to Transit owners and just confuses the info forum members are trying to help other Transit owners with, such as this thread. He has been given the link to Transit Connect forum, but evidently would rather post here. Just a head's up when you see his post's, they may/may not be helpful for Transit owners.

Semper Fi

 

[PeterR]

was to find a wheel that will fit our 2015 Ford transit.. Like many of you, there are questions as to what can fit and how much room is left within the wheels well..
. . .

Just to clearly.. we have the Transit Connect
. . .

LostInTransit, do you realize you ended up in a thread for the full size Transit?

You have also posted in the correct Transit Connect forum, and FYI you might have better luck staying in that forum IMO:

http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/...st-transit-blank-canvas-build.html#post134673

http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/ford-transit-connect-general-discussion/

Good luck in your search.

 

[USMC Vet]

LostInTransit, do you realize you ended up in a thread for the full size Transit?

You have also posted in the correct Transit Connect forum, and FYI you might have better luck staying in that forum IMO:

Good luck in your search.

PeterR,
From his previous posts, he is aware and doen't care. That is why I made post #17 on this thread, to let others know his information may/may not be reliable, as he is dealing with a different vehicle than the ones on this forum.

Semper Fi

 

[PeterR]

Noted -- I figured the echo might help . . .