✅ The Quick Answer
If you just want the correct replacement size, the fastest answer is on your truck itself. Open the driver door and read the yellow tire and loading information sticker on the door jamb. It lists the exact factory size, the recommended cold tire pressure, and the original load rating for your specific VIN. That sticker overrides any general chart, including this one, because Ford ran several wheel packages in the same model year.
This guide covers the 13th and 14th generation F150 (roughly 2015 through 2026), which share the same 6x135 bolt pattern and similar wheel wells. Older trucks differ, so confirm against your door jamb before buying.
📋 Factory F150 Tire Sizes by Trim
Here are the common original-equipment tire sizes Ford ships across the lineup. Your exact size depends on the wheel package you ordered, not just the trim name, so use this as a starting point.
| Wheel | Tire Size | Approx Diameter | Typical Trims |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 in | 245/70R17 | ~30.5 in | XL, XLT base |
| 18 in | 265/70R18 | ~32.6 in | XLT, Lariat |
| 18 in | 275/65R18 | ~32.1 in | FX4, Lariat off-road |
| 20 in | 275/55R20 | ~31.9 in | Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum |
| 20 in | 275/60R20 | ~33.0 in | Limited, Tremor |
| 18 in | 315/70R17 (33 in) | ~34.4 in | Raptor, Tremor max |
Notice how 245/70R17, 265/70R18, and 275/55R20 all land near 32 inches tall. That is the whole point. Ford keeps the rolling diameter consistent so the speedometer, ABS, and traction control behave the same no matter which wheel you picked. When you upsize wheels, you must keep that diameter close or you will throw off all three systems.
📏 How to Read the F150 Tire Code
A size like 275/65R18 looks cryptic but breaks down cleanly:
- 275 = tread width in millimeters.
- 65 = aspect ratio. The sidewall height is 65 percent of the width. A lower number means a shorter, sportier sidewall.
- R = radial construction, standard on every modern truck.
- 18 = wheel diameter in inches.
Truck owners also talk in inches. A 275/65R18 is roughly a 32-inch tire, a 285/70R17 is about 33 inches, and a 35x12.50R17 is a true 35-inch tire. When somebody asks for "33s" they mean overall height, not any single metric size. Several metric sizes can all be "33-inch" tires.
🔧 The Biggest Tire You Can Fit
This is the question most F150 owners actually care about. Here is the honest breakdown for a 2015-and-newer truck, from least to most involved.
| Tire | What It Takes | Rough Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 33 in (275/65R18, 285/70R17) | Stock or a small leveling kit. Minor rub at full lock for some. | $0 to $250 kit |
| 34 in (285/75R17, 295/70R18) | 2 in leveling kit, possible plastic trimming. | $200 to $400 |
| 35 in (35x12.50R17) | 2 to 2.5 in level + crash bar and liner trimming. | $400 to $900 |
| 37 in (37x12.50R17) | Full 4 to 6 in lift, re-gear, often new wheels with more offset. | $3,000 to $7,000+ |
Most owners stop at 33s. They bolt on with no rubbing on the majority of trucks, keep the speedometer error tiny, and barely touch fuel economy. Once you move past a 35-inch tire, the effective gear ratio drops enough that the truck feels sluggish and the transmission hunts for gears, which is why serious builds re-gear the axles. If you are chasing a wheel bearing groan, brake squeal, or a vibration that showed up after a tire change, our noise-when-turning symptom guide walks through what is tire-related and what is not.
⚠️ Common F150 Tire-Sizing Mistakes
- Ignoring the load rating. A half-ton F150 needs at least an SL (standard load) or often XL/LT-rated tire if you tow or haul. Dropping to a lighter passenger tire to save money can overload the tire and void coverage.
- Forgetting the speedometer. Go more than about 3 percent over stock diameter and your speedometer reads slow and your odometer undercounts. A tuner or dealer recalibration fixes it.
- Mismatched wheel offset. A wider tire on a wheel with the wrong offset rubs the fender, control arm, or sway bar even if the diameter is fine. Confirm both size and offset.
- Mixing tire sizes. On a 4WD F150, different diameters front to rear stress the transfer case and differentials. Replace in pairs or full sets.
- Trusting a tire shop chart over your door jamb. Catalog data is generic. Your sticker is specific to your VIN.
🧮 Picking the Right Size: A Quick Framework
Use this decision path to land on the correct tire without guesswork:
- Replacing worn tires, staying stock? Read the door-jamb sticker and buy that exact size and load rating. Done.
- Want a slightly tougher look without modifications? Step up to a 33-inch all-terrain in your stock wheel diameter (275/65R18 or 285/70R17). This is the sweet spot for most F150s.
- Want a real off-road stance? Plan for a leveling kit and a 34 to 35-inch tire, and budget for trimming and a speedometer recalibration.
- Building a rock crawler or overland rig? Commit to a full lift, 37s, re-gearing, and new wheels. This is a project, not a swap.
Before any big tire purchase, sanity-check whether an existing fault would interfere. If you have a stored code like C0040 (a wheel speed sensor fault) or a worn front end, new tires will not fix it and may mask a real problem. Towing-related slips or shudders should be ruled out first too. If you are pricing a related repair like an alignment, ball joints, or a wheel bearing, run the number through our quote checker so you know whether the shop estimate is fair before you commit.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
⚡ TL;DR
The correct tire size for a Ford F150 is whatever is printed on your driver-door jamb, and it ranges from 245/70R17 on base trucks to 275/55R20 on loaded ones, all near 32 inches tall. For an upgrade, a 33-inch tire fits most trucks stock or with a cheap leveling kit, 35s need trimming and a level, and 37s need a full lift and re-gear. Keep the diameter within 3 percent of stock or recalibrate your speedometer.