POLL: OEM 20" or 21" Wheels

[CareerFiremanGuy]

Seems like my OEM 20" wheels are rarer than hen's teeth.

Want to see the ratio of 20" vs. 21" wheels that owners have.

 

[Big Turk]

And I bought a set of xlt 18" painted for winter wheels that I have started painting gloss black.

 

[I Bleed Ford Blue]

Mine came with 20's and now that I have 22's, my 20's became the winter set.

 

[CareerFiremanGuy]

And I bought a set of xlt 18" painted for winter wheels that I have started painting gloss black.

I considered getting my 20's painted black, I would've got a set of OEM 21's but I figured I'd have less of a chance scuffing the wheels with the 20's.

Mine came with 20's and now that I have 22's, my 20's became the winter set.

20's as a Winter set! What has this world come to.

 

[CareerFiremanGuy]

So far the poll is even at 6/6. But it seems nearly every pic I see posted of an ST has the 21's?

 

[Big Turk]

I guess I am a poorer (or just cheap) ST owner, but cannot afford a $2000 set of winters. That is why I picked up the 18s used, much cheaper for for a set of studded snow tires.

 

[Big Turk]

So far the poll is even at 6/6. But it seems nearly every pic I see posted of an ST has the 21's?

Maybe those with 21s like to show off their black wheels.

 

[Big Turk]

Black definitely look better than the silver.

 

[TMac]

I would think most people who are into performance bought the street pack for the brake package- which happened to come with the 21"s. Look at the number of people who are putting more expensive wheels on- they generally have the 21s. The 20" crowd are buying the used 21"s. For me, it was pure economics- buy the 995 street pack and get a great brake upgrade and a wheel tire combo easily worth $1500. No brainer.

 

[I Bleed Ford Blue]

For me I didn't like the look of the 21" wheel and I planned on a brake upgrade eventually so I saw no point in paying 1K extra for something I was going to take off anyway.
I already had the 20's with a decent A/S tire that is good enough for Cleveland winters so why spend more money for dedicated winter wheels and tires

 

[CareerFiremanGuy]

Black definitely look better than the silver.

That they do.

... I already had the 20's with a decent A/S tire that is good enough for Cleveland winters so why spend more money for dedicated winter wheels and tires

Makes sense.

 

[DaveG ST]

I have the 20" wheels mainly because of the great deal I got when I bought it brand new in November 2020. Has all options except the Street Pack. I like the appearance of the 21" wheels when they are clean, but find them looking bad if they are dirty.

 

[CareerFiremanGuy]

... I like the appearance of the 21" wheels when they are clean, but find them looking bad if they are dirty.

My concern is the increased likelihood of curb rash on the 21's.

Regarding the poll, it is now 2 to 1 for owners with the 21" wheels, more along the lines of what I expected. I think that ratio will go even higher.

 

[Big Turk]

My concern is the increased likelihood of curb rash on the 21's.

Regarding the poll, it is now 2 to 1 for owners with the 21" wheels, more along the lines of what I expected. I think that ratio will go even higher.

When looking for my ST in Ontario, I noticed that every dealer ordered ST was pretty much fully loaded with the performance and tech packages. They all seemed to come with the 21s.

 

[hbalek]

I fell in love as soon as I saw mine with the 21 inch black wheels and red calipers. Most of my friends who are not even into cars compliment my wheels and brakes. One even said no other trim of the Explorer looks as good as the ST with the street pack.

 

[CareerFiremanGuy]

When looking for my ST in Ontario, I noticed that every dealer ordered ST was pretty much fully loaded with the performance and tech packages. They all seemed to come with the 21s.

Where I live, I'd say the number of 21" vs. 20" on dealer lots was ~10 to 1.

I fell in love as soon as I saw mine with the 21 inch black wheels and red calipers. Most of my friends who are not even into cars compliment my wheels and brakes. One even said no other trim of the Explorer looks as good as the ST with the street pack.

The 21" with red brakes are definitely more aggressive looking, but here's why I had to avoid them when looking for a new '22 ST:

• Every one that had the $1,595 Street Pack also had about $5,000 in additional options
• Dealers knew most people wanted them loaded, so they were selling them for $3,000 - $4,000 over sticker
• I paid sticker for mine while getting very good equity on my trade

Add all that up means getting the $1,595 Street Pack on a '22 ST in my area would've cost me $9,595 - $10,595 over what I paid.

Nope, couldn't do it.

 

[CareerFiremanGuy]

Okay, the Poll is now 70% 21" and 30% 20", more like I thought.

Still too low though, I suspect 21" will go beyond 80%.

 

[CareerFiremanGuy]

Another thing I was thinking about, anyone drag raced their stock ST with the 20's? Every instrumented test out there is with the 21's.

Seeing how stock ST's have no traction issues, I was thinking the lighter weight and rotational mass of the 20's would make it a bit faster than the 21's.

 

[I Bleed Ford Blue]

when I still had my 20's on I ran a best of a 12.59 with a 5 star 93 tune and the Whipple FMIC. When I switched to the more powerful ZFG tune I had already put on my heavy 22's and my best was a 12.92, also on 93. I later tried an E-30 mix and got a 12.52

That was all done with a dragy on the same Mexican road. the 12.59 run it was only 40° out and the D/A was below zero. on the 12.92 run the D/A was over 2000 ft

 

[CareerFiremanGuy]

when I still had my 20's on I ran a best of a 12.59 with a 5 star 93 tune and the Whipple FMIC. When I switched to the more powerful ZFG tune I had already put on my heavy 22's and my best was a 12.92, also on 93. I later tried an E-30 mix and got a 12.52

That was all done with a dragy on the same Mexican road. the 12.59 run it was only 40° out and the D/A was below zero. on the 12.92 run the D/A was over 2000 ft

Thanks for the info. I'm guessing a same day back-to-back acceleration test of the 20" and 21" wheels is the only way we'd really know for sure.