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My understanding, is that the following tires are available (with invoice prices from Kelley Blue Book):
P255/70R16SL All Terrain OWL $340
LT245/75R16D BSW $328
LT245/75R16D All Terrain OWL $437
My intuition tells me to order the most expensive (heavy duty) tires I can afford (which would be the LT245/75R16D). Are they going to be real noisy, or adversly effect handling? Would the P255/70R16SL be adequate for my applications?
I've had pickups before, but never a 4x4...so I'm a little out of my element here. Anyone have any advice?
BTW, what make are each of these tires?
"Here is an update on the 5.4 with 3.55 limited slip rear end. Ford has put a hold on production of F150's
that meet a certain crideria. XLT, 507A, X07 body code with 5.4 V8 auto with 3.55 limited slip rear end,
4X2. For some reason this does not effect Styleside pickups (X17 code). Ford is doing some testing on
some prototypes with this criteria and they think they have found the problem. If so, then production will
resume sometime around the second week of November. I don't know what the problem is or was but
according to Ford they have some 1255 truck orders on hold at the Kansas City Plant until this problem is
resolved. "
and a later post from the same guy:
"The dealership says it has to do with some vibration issue with this configuration. Ford thinks they have a
fix but they wont say what is causing the vibration or if it will create a recall. I live in the Houston, TX area
and the Ford plant that is making this truck I am told is in Kansas City. This problem seems to effect only
the Flareside with the combo that I mentioned in earlier postings. I am told that the problem only effects
1999 models. "
here is the complete url for the discussion:
http://www.f150online.com/f150board/Forum10/HTML/000066.html
Hopefully they will get it worked out soon!
HP
I ordered and got the same truck you are getting .
The only mistake I made was getting the stock tires that come w/ the 4x4 XLT. They are 235 x 16 mud and snow tires, or the same street tires that come w/the 4X2.
They looked small and out of place on the 4X4 as there is too much wheel well clearance. Also, they are no good off road, and not nearly as good as AT tires in the snow.
My dealer was kind enough to swap them out for me at 500 miles for only $159. That is cheaper than
I could have got them from the factory. I got the
Firestone 255 x 70r16's and they look real good.
They are taller and wider than the standard.
The standard wheels on the XLT for 99 are sharp - polished aluminum.
Tire noise is no problem. both were quiet, but the M and S street tires did ride a little smoother.
My speedometer is about 2MPH slow at 65MPH according to my GPS now. Likely due to the taller AT tires.
Defineately go the AT tires, either the 255 x 70 or the 245 X 75 are fine (I think the 245 is a real truck tire w/ more plys).
Hi. Good evening. I know that dealer uses 1 to 99 "priority delivery system" for an order that is submitted to Ford. Since I hear you memtioned it in you recent post, I wonder if you know how it work. As for those that had waited for a long time before getting their truck delivered, just wonder if this priority delivery system is a factor. Just curious!!!
Thanks for the respond. : )
Not sure about how the priority system works, but the dealer said he could bump me up to the beginning of the line and have the truck in 2 weeks. I have the added bonus of being close to the plant where they build the F150. Obviously that hasn't help me yet.
On the other hand, a gap of .044 when the engine specs call for .052, is not that big of a deal, you are only off .008, and the engine should run ok. you just won't get as hot a spark with as quick a rise time, at least until the plug wears a bit.
HP
If your stock tires were Mud and Snow, wouldn't they be better than all-terrain? AT tires usually have a more agressive off-road design, but off-roading/mud tires have different tread patterns than snow tires. I'm by no means a tire expert, just kinda relaying what I've heard. From what I've heard, snow tires are supposed to pack the snow within the tread (to a certain extent), whereas off-road (mud) tires are designed to release all mud/dirt. Anyone else here anything along these lines?
Another dealer has a 98 identical to this w/17,000 and wants $21,400.
Both are white w/two-tone paint.
Any comments on these prices? Judging by some of your posts, you guys are getting much better deals than I've been able to come with!
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
By the way, our 90 Aerostar was losing a quart of oil every 800 miles. It wasn't burning it, nor leaking, but Ford insisted that it was within their acceptable tolerances. They did a valve stem job under warranty, but 30,000 miles later, it was doing it again. This time, they rebuilt the engine! And the van had 64,000 miles on it!
Which (and after nightmares w/GM & Chrsyler) is why I'm buying Ford again. I also love the trucks, although at first I didn't care for them. They do grow on you.
Virtually all passenger car tires are now rated
M/S for mud and snow. That means you can pass at some "chains or mud and snow tires only" restrictions in the mountains (here in CA I believe it is referred to as R1 restrictions).
"AT", or all terrain tires used today or only modestly agressive. Generally they don't howl, and they are really a comprimse tire for on/off road.
You are very right that in driving in snow you actually want your tire to "load up". This is because snow sticks to snow better than snow sticks to rubber - thus the better traction in snow.
There are actually tire designed specifially for snow, and it was surprizing to me how conservative the tread pattern was. They also had holes pre drilled to accept studs. I had a set of them , w/ studs on a Dodge Radier 4x4 when I lived in Tahoe (avg snowfall 20' per yr), and they worked good.
In mud, you want a very agressive, pavement howling tire, with a course tread. This better allows the mud to come off the tire, or for the tire to "clean itself" (thats why tractor tires have a "V" pattern of tread , w/ the "V" pointing up when looking at the tire from behind). If the tire doesnt clean, it loads up becomes like a "slick" with very poor traction.
And, purely on looks, I think a street tire looks out of place on a 4X4.
Certianly you can make nearly any tire work offroad to an extent, but the right tread pattern
(just as on a trailbike or ATV) will get you farther. Driving skills are even more important.
www.f150online.com
regarding problems with the Ford 5.4 liter V8. Dunbarton
HP
As for your fuel filter, the fuel system on injected vehicles is higher pressure than on carburetted ones, so the clamps must be tighter, making the hose stick to the metal fittings better if they have been in place a while. Have you tried grabbing the hose with pliers and trying to twist the hose to loosen it? This has worked for me.
this post is out of place, but i've seen some discussion here.
I will be taking a 4x4 double cab SRW with Bridgestone M/Ts to Colorado from Texas in January. Will I need a different tire, or do i need to get chains. Common sense tells me the mudder tires will not be good in snow. I know nothing of driving in Colorado in the winter, so any info is appreciated.
Any help or advise would be appreciated.
it by hand. There is a tool for this. Advance has
it--they are plastic sleeves that fit around the
line next to the filter. I use them on my '96
F150 dual tank. The sleeves (tool) come in
a blister pack for several diameter lines.
I'm sure other auto supply outlets have these,
also.
jmm
to "non-F150" vehicles why are you advising
someone with an F-150 about something as
critical as a high-pressure GASOLINE line?
Ford publishes an excellent shop manual
that takes the "shade tree" out of it.
FWIW, jaju had posted that question several times and days had gone by, with no comment from anyone who was familiar with the specific system. I was just trying to help, based on my experience.
I'm glad someone finally gave him the straight scoop, and that he got the correct tool, avoiding costly problems. I am also glad the question got correctly answered for the sake of others who will need to know.
Anyway, my f150 ignorance is soon to be moderated* (I hope). My order for the 99 XLT SC 4WD went through yesterday! I was waiting on the Sport grp (94T) to become available, and after one false start on Nov. 2, Ford made it available on the 16th. So in around 6 weeks, (whoohoo!) I should have my truck and the factory manual for it.
*I agree with popepad re: service manuals; that is the first thing I always buy for a new vehicle. You can learn a lot about the inner workings by studying it before something needs repair.
HP
To hawkpilot, You're gonna LOVE that new
truck! Congratulations!
HP
Your "mudders" should be fine in the snow, assuming they have good tread life left and you slow down the speeds.
I would rather have "mudders" than passneger car "mud and snow M/S" rated tires in snow. Unless, of course, I was using cable chains.
Normal car tires have 11/32" tread when new. I trash them a 3/32".
Your chances of hydroplaning is way higher on a minimal tread tire, and snow won't "load up" like it should on a "slick".
Good and safe driving to you.
You will LOVE your new truck. The reason I know, is because I have the same one you ordered (dont have or know what the sport grp is though).
Got about 3500 mi on mine now. Handles great. real smooth (for a truck) and suprising how well it corners on twisty mtn. roads. This is a very quiet veh. too.
If your not used to the supercab or a LWB, you will have to change your style a little on parking though.
One thing I have noticed on the 99's is that they didn't continue the side mld on the bed like the 98's. It is only on the front fenders and doors.
Not sure why as I would have preferred some more "door ding" protection.
Also, whatever you may have heard about the stereo system (pun intended) and the veriable volume w/ windows down vs. up, must just be a sales gimmick as I cant tell any difference.
Enjoy you new truck when you get it!
Sorry to hear you are disappointed with the stereo. I know one thing that is relatively cheap, and helps a lot with most factory sound systems is a full speaker transplant with some decent coaxials or other units with better frequency range. I am figuring I'll want to do just that, with maybe some aftermarket amps and subwoofer, depending on how it sounds with some decent speakers.
My buddy has a '96 XLT and I have been after him to try that, since the sound is a bit "muddy" in his truck. The factory unit in my old Nissan sounded like that with the factory speakers, but sounded pretty good with pioneer coax's.
I think the speakers are almost an afterthought in factory setups, except maybe those cars that have special Bose, JBL, or other "name brand" premium stereo systems.
The factory head units are generally OK, as they are built by major audio makers for the car companies, and I'd think it is just as cheap for them to use the same guts as they do in branded units. I think Clarion made the one that came in my Nissan, and Fujitsu made the unit in my GF's old Toyota. They are often quite wimpy, power-wise, though.
FWIW, As I understand the variable volume is that it is tied to vehicle speed? So it wouldn't know if the windows were open or closed, but just increases in volume to help compensate for increased noise at higher speeds.
I hope it does work, since otherwise I would have just let it come in with the cassette deck (or tried to delete the stereo altogether) and swapped in an aftermarket, rather than pay $160 for the upgrade. If that is the only gripe I have with the truck, I will gladly take care of it in some way.
Regarding handling, have you noticed much body roll, & would a rear sway bar be a good upgrade? I have seen others posting that it helped a lot. I guess it would hurt off-road some, if you were playing in the rocks, but I use my 4wd in mud, sand, and snow, so it may be a good idea, to make the on-road handling improve.
Any other mods you'd consider, e.g. exhaust, air filter, performance chip?
How's your fuel mileage?
HP
Congratulations on your great new truck, and keep us posted with your experience (just no laundry stories, huh?)
Glad to hear you are getting what you want. We have a '99 F-150 Lariat and L O V E IT!!! I put a A.R.E. bed lid on and it looks great, molded to the style of the truck.
The stereo system noticeably changes volume with speed. You can adjust the level of change as well.
I no longer hear, "turn the volume down!" when I slow down or pull into the garage! Set it and forget it.
It is worth the wait! Merry Christmas!
It is somewhat easier to wait with all you guys re-assuring me that I'm gonna love my truck.
I hope Santa's little helpers across the bridge-tunnel in Norfolk get it built soon. I know I haven't been as good a boy as I could, but since I sold the Nissan, I've been going through "truck withdrawl." I had to borrow the neighbor's ragged out mazda to get some fenceposts and concrete today, and thought the entire time of how great it would be to be driving my new ford instead.
HP
The salesman just left me a message that delivery is anticipated December 7, +/- 7 days. WooHoo!
Maybe I have been a better boy than I thought.
This means a lead time of between 2-4 weeks, since the order went in on Nov 16. I hope he's not joshing me, but I have never heard of less than 6 weeks for a factory order on a new vehicle.
I'm psyched...
HP
Five weeks for my '99 F150 (Aug 18 - Sept 23), Norfolk to New Jersey. One Lariat came in with mine in THREE weeks.
Your gonna love it whether you have been a good boy or not! Dunbarton
HP
Thanks, Joe.
Not only will I keep her, but I think I might just let her drive my new truck some when it gets here.
HP
I wonder if FMC is working on the engine to try and solve the "Cold Start Knock" problem.
It also says both the V8's are limited availability. I guess that explains why my date got pushed back.
HP