2013 Explorer rims on my 2003 Explorer

ANSWER : Hello – this swap should not cause any problems. Tire diameter is virtually identical, so speedometer accuracy should remain consistent. The one thing to check is that the diameter of the center hole on the new wheels matches the diameter of the hub, so that there is a snug fit between the new wheels and the hubs – same as the old wheels. This means that the wheel hub is carrying the weight of the vehicle, rather than the bolts holding the wheel to the hub. The wheel hubs are not the same across these models, so checking the hub and wheel center diameter is important.

ANSWER : A road force balancer is meant to check tires for pull in one direction or another and balance a tire up to about 60 mph. Some tire balancers will check tires for higher speeds. You may have an imbalance that most machines cannot measure if it comes in after 65 mph. You can see if there is a shop near you that can do high speed balancing? You may have a front axle that is causing the vibration also. I suggest installing the original rims and tires on the front only to see if problem is still there and if so have the front axles checked for damage and replaced if any damage or looseness is noted.

ANSWER : Hi there. It sounds like you have a very serious issue here. If the wheels are the wrong size and they have been tightened onto the caliper and will not come off then you will be very limited at to how they can be removed. Most of the time this will take a lot of work to pry them off with a large pry bar. In some rare cases the caliper will either need to be cut or the wheel will need to be heated to remove this, but this can be dangerous. Either way the wheels or the calipers will be damaged and will need to be replaced unfortunately.

ANSWER : The minimum recommended rim width for 33 x 12.5R16 is 8 inches. The rim diameter, of course, must be 16 inches. In terms of width, you can use rims that measure in the range of 8 to 9.5 inches with 9 inches being typical. Offset is set by the OEM manufacturer of the vehicle and is designed in based on suspension design, clearances and so forth. If you specify the year, make and model of the vehicle, we will be glad to look up the offset for your application. Offsets are also generally published in vehicle tire catalogs on the Internet and so will be searchable there, too, by year, make and model.

ANSWER : The lug nut bolt pattern on your vehicle is 4 x 114.3. In practical terms, that means that an imaginary circle drawn through the four "bolt holes" will have a diameter of 114.3 millimeters. Of course, a bolt pattern designated "4 x 100" (100 millimeter diameter) will not work on your car because none of the bolt holes will line up.

Please note that certain wheels, even with the "same" bolt hole pattern as your original wheels, will not work properly or safely on your car due to differences in another critical wheel dimension, which is offset. Your OEM factory wheels have high positive offset and ideally any substitute wheel you are thinking of should have the identical amount of offset.

There are quite a few (dimensional) variables to consider when replacing wheels. Consequently, it is optimal to replace the wheels on your car with exact factory duplicates to avoid problems with handling and steering, interference (and consequent damage to the wheel wells) and premature wear-out of your car’s suspension. YourMechanic can help you with wise wheel and tire wheel selection, installation, and regular maintenance such as a tire rotation which is really critical because regular rotation, every 6,000 miles, will greatly extend the service life of your tires.

ANSWER : Hi there. If the engine size is similar and the transmission is identical (meaning an automatic w/automatic), then the motor mounts for the two vehicles should align. I would highly recommend consulting with a local engine replacement shop to confirm this, since it’s not a service we offer. There could be electrical / computer and sensor compatibility issues that should be verified before completing this service.

ANSWER : Hi there. Chances are the noise heard from the right front wheel is the result of the replacement rim and tire. This may not be safe to drive and should be corrected, before continued driving. If the rim is correct by application, double checking the lug nuts for proper tightness would be a good place to start. Something may have bent with the impact to the curb. Proper diagnoses should be performed to avoid unnecessary repairs. I recommend having your vehicle’s knocking as the wheel turns be diagnosed and repaired by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic.

ANSWER : There are many possible sizes of sockets depending on the rim design and types of lug nuts used. Most aftermarket rims will use the same size lug nuts as original but require a thin wall type socket. Take the vehicle to a custom wheel tire shop and have them check and supply the correct socket for your cars lugs. As far as the tires rubbing the inner fender you would need to have the vehicle checked to see if it needs special spacers or the tires are too wide for the vehicle. Anytime aftermarket wheels and tires are used that do not match the original sizes, you may need vehicle modifications.