Upsize tires for Excursion
 

It's time for new rubber and I've always thought the 265's on the Ex looked tiny in those big wheel wells.

Anyone out there with experience on fitting larger wheel/tire combos on the Excursion? I'd prefer not to lift it but if I have to, I'd only want to go up slightly.

Re: Upsize tires for Excursion
 

check out www.donahoeracing.com there is a link to a place that does superdutys I think www.superdutyhq.com they have a bunch of pics of the ex with and without lifts with different tire sizes as well.

Re: Upsize tires for Excursion
 

I have 295's on stock rims and no lift. I haven't had any problems.

Re: Upsize tires for Excursion
 

I have 35x12.5x18's with f450 front springs and f 350 4"rear blocks. The 450 x springs as they are called actually improve the ride and raise the front end off of the bump stops. The Excursion will start riding on the stops after very few miles(poor spring rate for diesels) Here is a pic. Oh and no scrubbing.

Re: Upsize tires for Excursion
 

Another add on well worth the money are the Helwig front and rear sway bars. Next purchase is new shocks and put f350 rear springs on to eliminate rear sag when towing.

Re: Upsize tires for Excursion
 

That's my exact truck and exactly what I'm looking to do.

You just used the same model-year 450 spring? if I read correctly, there's an "x" spring? Different from a standard 450 spring? Did you have to do anthing different with the steering or the track bar?

How did it affect your towing? I have a big truck to pull the boat with but I use the Ex for the small boat/jetskis/whatever. Don't want to be all over the road. The stock Ex wanders like a drunken sailor. I have the OEM tires on it. I put Bridgestone REVO's on it and it was worse.

Re: Upsize tires for Excursion
 

Did the swaybars help with wander? Any suggestions on shocks?

Re: Upsize tires for Excursion
 

By the way, how much lift did you get? Also, did your mod level the truck? My Ex is about 1.5" lower in the front- I understand there are differences in ride stance, even within model years.

Re: Upsize tires for Excursion
 

Do you get any rubbing in turns with that set up?

Looks bada$$ by the way :cool:

My 05 is awaiting some mods and just cant decide on what look I want....

Re: Upsize tires for Excursion
 

How many miles??? What year??? Diesel??? Mine went up 3" front and 1.5" rear it now sits 1/2" lower in front than rear. I will prob use rancho 9000's or bilsteins. Sway bars and springs killed the wander and bounce from the front end. I can get the part #'s for the springs for you they cost like 125ea front and rear block and u bolt kit is about 100$

Re: Upsize tires for Excursion
 

To eliminate slight scrub of tire on leaf I tack welded 2 washers to the turn stop.

Re: Upsize tires for Excursion
 

Mine is an '03 diesel with 50K on it.

What you're describing is exactly what I'm looking for. Those numbers would be a GREAT HELP.

I was also thinking about a steeing damper- any experience with one? We have them on our shop trucks and they make them more driveable on bumps but that's not a problem I'm having with the Ex.

I also thought about urethane bushings but don't want to add harshness to the ride.

With that small of a lift, would you need to use longer shocks? I'm amazed that with the stock setup, there's only 1.5" to 1.75" of daylight below the bump stop. I'm surprised I haven't worn them out

Re: Upsize tires for Excursion
 

What make and model are the wheels?
Do you remember the size and back spacing?

Re: Upsize tires for Excursion
 

There's a lot of discussion on this topic at www.thedieselstop.com. Most put a V code spring under the front, and/or replace the front bump stops with smaller stops from a later model Excursion. The steering wonder is common, and may be from the spring wrap on the REAR axle. I installed Radius Rods, which are discreet ladder bars, and they did all kinds of good things for handling, ride, and steering wonder. Also use a Helweig anti-sway bar, ride rite airbags, and Rancho 9000 shocks. If the trailer did not weigh so much, I might go with Bilsteins instead.

I still have steering wonder, but not if I let go of the steering wheel. Repeat: not if I let go of the steering wheel. Spent big dollars with a big truck alignment shop, and they got the alignment and steering geometry right. But the movement of the truck must cause my arms to shift while holding on to the steering wheel, and thus induce the current wonder. Would not have tried that before the radius rods.

Re: Upsize tires for Excursion
 

Get a hold of Troy @ http://www.tremellens.com/

Re: Upsize tires for Excursion
 

40's on 20's with no lift, mine just must have been made bigger.. :drink:
(11" of lift with American Spring packs. 12 leaf packs in the front 10 in the rear, not too much sway in it anymore, actually feels safer turning now than it did with the stock mushy springs and shocks it came with. Bilstien gas shocks with reservoirs.

Re: Upsize tires for Excursion
 

great looking truck :D

Re: Upsize tires for Excursion
 

Mine is the exact opposite- I can move the wheel back and forth and the truck doesn't move. It just goes where it wants independent of steering input. When it does start to move off of straingt, it takes over-correction to get it back. On perfectly smooth and level roads, it's not an issue. Any crown or cupping and I'm wandering everywhere.

The problem you describe sounds like one I had with my Tahoe. It ended up being a bad pump- pressure relief stuck and over-pressuring the system making it overly sensitive. It was strange as it crept up slowly and I didn't notice it too much until my buddy drove it and pointed it out.

Re: Upsize tires for Excursion
 

they are weld velociti 8's..... the size he will have to tell ya :cool:

Re: Upsize tires for Excursion
 

I have 305/50/20's on my Excursion. They only rub on the front factory mudflaps I have on but I trimmed the insde of those and they barely rub now. Only rub if your at full lock on the steering.

Re: Upsize tires for Excursion
 

I had as big as the 305's on the Ex when it was stock...ride sucked.
Went with a 1" wider rim (16X8) and 295 BFG's when I lifted it 3-4" and the adjustable Rancho's..much better.
These rims are the ebay specials and were $425 shipped with lugs and valves.
Click on the pic for larger image. :cool:

Re: Upsize tires for Excursion
 

Here are some 20's
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...975456648&rd=1

Re: Upsize tires for Excursion
 

Even mine with the lift and tires doesn't wander. I have dual steering stabilizer shocks and think that made a big difference. I noticed alot more bump steer before I installed them. I do notice that if the road has alot of crown or ruts on the highway it'll move around some but I can deffinantly take my hand off the wheel and not be scared it wont go straight. The stock steering stabilizer is a piece of junk. Ditch it and get yourself a dual set-up from Procomp or Rancho. I also still have my front sway bar on (lenghtened of course), I would assume that makes somewhat of a difference. I know the stock springs on that truck were super mushy, maybe it's giving you the feel of wandering more than it actually is. Just a thought, but either way, the dual stabilizer set up is pretty inexpensive and I guarantee you'll notice a difference lifted or stock.

Re: Upsize tires for Excursion
 

I've had a lot of different truck with lifts and the only wheel I would recommend are Weld Wheels. I've cracked a Centerline with 38's. I just wouldn't trust a cheap wheel. Weld's are rated for higher wieght capacity and extreme tire sizes and well worth the $. Just my .02.

Re: Upsize tires for Excursion
 

#1014-7887, Rated at 3420lbs...I know what you mean, I checked the load since we tow the 42 with it.
http://www.aewheel.com/wheels_detail.cfm?id=100