What Size Tires Will Fit F-150 With A Leveling Kit?

As an owner of a Ford F-150 pickup truck, you probably thought about how you can improve its appearance or increase its capabilities.

Some F-150 pickup owners install lift kits to increase ground clearance, while other opt for more affordable and relatively easy-to-install leveling kits.

Leveling kits are put on F-150 pickup trucks to fit larger tires, either for aesthetic or practical reasons.

Then the question arises: what size tires can fit F-150 with a leveling kit?

Depending on the year of production of your F-150 and leveling kit installed, you can mount tires from 33 to 35 inches respectively.

In this article, we will take a closer look at such questions as what tire size can be installed on a 2004-2020 leveled Ford F-150, and what you may encounter when installing one or another tire size on your pickup truck.

How Big of Tires Fit on a Leveled F-150?

You may be able to install a bigger tire by purchasing a leveling kit. But, you must consider the year of manufacturing of your Ford F-150 truck first.

For instance, F-150s from 2004 to 2008 have much less clearance than F-150s from 2015 to 2018. The rim diameter, the specifications of the wheels, and the extent of rim trimming you’re ready to do all affect how many different tire sizes you can fit.

The best option for a leveled Ford F-150 is a 33 inch tire. A 33 inch tire is the biggest tire you can mount on a leveled F-150. Such tire size won`t rub and require any trimming.

What Size Tires Can You Fit On A Leveled 2004-2008 Ford F-150?

If you are going to level your 2004-2008 Ford truck it is recommended doing either a 2 or 2.5 inch leveling kit. Going even higher will require you to change out the upper control arms and at that point you might as well just go ahead and buy a full on lift kit.

In this case 2 and 2.5 inch levelings are the best suitable setups which will allow you to run a 33 inch tire without or very minor rubbing.

If you decide to go further at leveling your F-150, in advance plan your tire size upgrade, because if you leave stock wheels and tires on your truck, it’s visual appearance will be odd. 

So, the 33 inch tire will fit like a glove with a 2 or 2.5 inch leveling kit with no rubbing and scrubbing (except minor at full turn, however its individual).

For example: a 18 inch by 12.5 wide with a 33 inch tire setup is great if you have a 2 inch leveling kit, if you go further like a 2.5 leveling kit you can mount even a 35 inch tire on your F150 truck! 

However, in the last case you may have to do minor trimming to your fenders (about 1.5 inches) of plastic. With this done, you`ll be able to perform lock to lock steering, going forward and backwards without any feel of tire rubbing.

The chart below shows popular tire and wheel sizes that F-150 enthusiasts have managed to put on the truck produced between 2004 to 2008 and the suspension modifications each tire size required.

What Size Tires Can You Fit On A Leveled 2009-2014 Ford F-150?

A set of 20X9 rims with 33X12.5R20 tires is one of the most popular rim and tire combinations.

Here are two options for rim and tire sizes for your 2009-2014 Ford F-150 with a leveling kit installed.

The first one incorporates a small wheel and big tire and looks like: 18X9, +18 rims in combination with 33X12.5R18 tires. If you want to use your Ford truck for a daily basis you can mount 33X12.5R20 tires on 20X9 rims.

You can mount even a 35 inch tire on your leveled F-150. The tires may poke out a bit, but not so much. To mount a 35 inch tire you`ll need a 2.5 inch leveling kit, which will also prevent the control arm from rubbing, and a 1.5 wheel spacer. If you`re running Ford`s stock 18 wheels your parameters will be a 35X12.5R18.

Also, some trimming should be done to the front bumper plastic and in the back you don’t have to trim, but use a mallet and push the plastic with its help. Finally you have to make some cuts to the carpet liner.

The chart below shows popular tire and wheel sizes that F-150 enthusiasts have managed to put on the truck produced between 2009 to 2014 and the suspension modifications each tire size required.

What Size Tires Can You Fit On A Leveled 2015-2020 Ford F-150?

A 2.5 inch leveling kit on a 2015 F-150 with stock rims can fit a 295/70R18 or 34.3 inch tire with no rubbing either way up or sideways. Such tire configuration makes your truck look nice and balanced. 

Another tire size which will fit a 2 inch leveled F-150 with stock 20 wheels can accommodate a 295/60R20 (34X11.5) tire. Additionally, you have to install a 2 inch puck style spacer, however there is no need to install a wheel spacer.

Such a setup will provide you with a decent ride with no rubbing, trimming and need to remove your truck`s crash bars.

You can also fit a 295/75R18 which will also be a good option and won’t make any rubbing (35 inch tire but more narrow than a 35X12.50) If you are looking for a wider tread you can fit a 305/55R18 (33 inches) tire which will also won`t scrub your F-150`s suspension components.

The chart below shows popular tire and wheel sizes that F-150 enthusiasts have managed to put on the truck produced between 2015 to 2020 and the suspension modifications each tire size required.

Do I Have To Make A Wheel Alignment After An Installation Of A Leveling Kit?

Absolutely, after installing a Ford F-150 leveling kit, your truck will require this procedure. All IFS 4x4s require a complete alignment, although solid-axle 4x4s can usually get by with only altering the draglink to center the steering wheel.

For optimal handling on the road , some variations of solid-axles of some 4x4s also need caster adjustment.

To Sum Up

In the majority of cases you can mount a 33 to 35 inch tire on your 2 or 2.5 inch leveled Ford F-150.

Tire sizes may vary due to the year of production of F-150 truck and your readiness to make additional trimming of plastic pieces and modifications like placing of wheel spacers to fit new tires in some scenarios.