Fitting 35s on a Stock Ford F-150: The No-Trim Leveling Guide

The 35-Inch Ambition: Achieving the Stance on a Budget

The Ford F-150 is the unquestioned king of the American road, and for most owners, the ultimate aesthetic goal is fitting a 35-inch tire. While a standard 4-inch or 6-inch suspension lift makes fitting 35s trivial, many owners don't want the added cost, decreased fuel economy, or garage-clearance issues that come with a massive lift. This has lead to the rise of the "Leveled and 35ed" look. Can it be done? Yes. Is it easy? Only if you follow the math. In this guide, we break down how to fit 35s on a stock F-150 using only a leveling kit, while avoiding the dreaded "rub and scrub."

Leveling Kit Height: 2" vs. 2.5"

To clear a 35-inch tire vertically, you need to raise the front of your truck to match the rear. For 2015-2023 Ford F-150s, a 2-inch leveling kit is the bare minimum, but a **2.25-inch or 2.5-inch kit** is highly recommended to provide enough "up-travel" clearance for the tire when entering a driveway or hitting a bump while turning. Be cautious of going above 2.5 inches with spacers, as it can put extreme stress on your Upper Control Arm (UCA) ball joints and CV axles.

The Golden Metric: Wheel Offset

The most common mistake F-150 owners make is buying the "coolest looking" wheels without checking the offset. **Offset is the deciding factor in whether you will rub your crash bars.**

• Factory Wheels (+44mm offset): If you keep your factory 18 or 20-inch wheels, you can run a 35x11.50R20 or a 295/65R20 with zero trimming. The high positive offset keeps the tire "tucked" inside the wheel well, avoiding contact with the crash bars.
• The "Flush" Look (+18mm to +20mm offset): This is the sweet spot. A wheel with an 18mm offset will move the tire out slightly for a wider stance. With a 35x11.50 or a narrow 35, you will likely clear everything. If you go to a full 12.5-wide tire, you may need minor plastic trimming on the front valance.
• The Aggressive Look (0mm to Negative offset): Avoid these if you don't want to cut. A 0mm or -12mm wheel moves the tire so far out that the "swing radius" of the tire during a turn will slam into the front and rear crash bars. Unless you are willing to remove or spread your crash bars (which are vital for safety), 35s on 0mm wheels are not recommended for leveled-only trucks.

Dealing with the Crash Bars

Since 2015, Ford has equipped F-150s with high-strength steel crash bars in front of and behind the front tires. These bars are designed to prevent the engine and wheels from entering the cabin during a small-overlap crash. **Do not cut them.** If you find your tires rubbing slightly at full lock, many owners choose to use a Porta-Power (a small hydraulic ram) to "spread" the bars by 0.5 to 1 inch. This creates the necessary clearance for 12.5-wide 35s without compromising the structural integrity of the bars.

Conclusion: Stance with Safety

Fitting 35s on an F-150 is a science. Use our F-150 Tire Clearance Tool to get it right.

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