Painted black steelies on BFGoodrich KO2 245/65/17

[Atisko]

Well, the MPG is just half of it, though I do find it strange hybrid owners would make this tradeoff. Perhaps more curious is the notion of off-roading in any fashion with a hybrid Mav, given the application of A/T tires. Nothing about that model is equipped for that hobby, and hybrid owners aren't fooling anybody.

I respect Point & logic, perhaps the owner lives down a casual dirt road,w/a few muddy days here and there,this might make sense.

Sponsored

 

[Jlaw86]

Directions on painting the XL steel wheels:

You want to pressure wash the rims first to get any debris off then sand it with 600-800 grit sandpaper and the factory silver color comes off very easy.

Then pressure wash again and wipe clean.

Let it dry then place index cards in-between the rim and tire to protect the tires from over spray.

Then just use a rim specific spray paint and put 3-4 coats of paint on.

I might have to do this to my FX4, looks amazing.

 

[Platinum2]

Good thing this one is an AWD Ecoboost

Thought you had the hybrid. That said, I'm sure there will be some hybrid owners that go this route.

 

[ldkuffel]

Thought you had the hybrid. That said, I'm sure there will be some hybrid owners that go this route.

I didn't think anyone has a hybrid yet

 

[Platinum2]

I didn't think anyone has a hybrid yet

Dunno. Haven't followed the hybrid too closely.

 

[notfast]

Well, the MPG is just half of it, though I do find it strange hybrid owners would make this tradeoff. Perhaps more curious is the notion of off-roading in any fashion with a hybrid Mav, given the application of A/T tires. Nothing about that model is equipped for that hobby, and hybrid owners aren't fooling anybody.

I don't think there are any hybrid owners outside of Ford's test mules and media demos.

But regardless, I'd totally slap on a set of A/Ts even if I got a FWD hybrid. I'd even be tempted to put 'em on a set of gloss-black powder coated OEM steelies. But I'd have to draw the line somewhere. I'm sure the steelies are heavier than the alloy wheels, and rotational mass and unsprung weight are not a great idea to increase unnecessarily.

In my opinion, tires are the best bang-for-the-buck improvement that you can do to any vehicle to improve what you want. Heck, people go off roading in Priuses and minivans. I'd be excited to see how far a decent set of A/Ts could get a FWD hybrid Maverick.

I ran A/T tires on 2WD trucks when I lived out in the country. The road to my house was a mile of gravel and crushed rock, and highway tires would experience death by a thousand cuts. A/Ts were much more cut- and chip-resistant.

There's also just the looks. People lower 4x4 trucks and lift 2WD trucks because they want a certain look but don't need the performance or capabilities. Heck even some OEMs offered 2WD off road trucks (Ranger FX2 and Tacoma 2WD TRD Off Road come to mind). Who cares; it's their money, post the builds so more people can get ideas!

 

[Rodeoman74]

Directions on painting the XL steel wheels:

You want to pressure wash the rims first to get any debris off then sand it with 600-800 grit sandpaper and the factory silver color comes off very easy.

Then pressure wash again and wipe clean.

Let it dry then place index cards in-between the rim and tire to protect the tires from over spray.

Then just use a rim specific spray paint and put 3-4 coats of paint on.

What a great looking ride….the KO’s look great too. How is the road noise and mileage reduction?

 

[lonemustangman]

I wonder if the old f150 hubcaps from the 70s would fit

 

[jac0607]

I was considering bronco sport steelies like these for my XL. This is def a less expensive option.

 

[JASmith]

I'm sure the steelies are heavier than the alloy wheels, and rotational mass and unsprung weight are not a great idea to increase unnecessarily.

All else equal, the aluminum wheels are usually lighter than steel, but who knows if all is equal. The aluminum ones might be overbuilt like a tank, and the steelies to keep costs down using thinner steel so are light.

For example look here, the OEM 16" steel wheels are lighter than the OEM 16" aluminum ones on an F150: https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/ford,2003,f-150,4.2l+v6,1414673,wheel,wheel,7644

Steel 16x7 OEM: 25.5lbs
Aluminum 16x7 OEM: 29.3lbs

Eventually someone will just have to throw them on a scale for us.

There's also two ways to look at the hybrid, a tool to be more ecofriendly to use less fuel, or the most economical way to Maverick. The XL with its steelies is a massive value, and IMO a little bit of wheel weight difference isn't likely to show up in fuel economy.

 

[brdl04]

Directions on painting the XL steel wheels:

You want to pressure wash the rims first to get any debris off then sand it with 600-800 grit sandpaper and the factory silver color comes off very easy.

Then pressure wash again and wipe clean.

Let it dry then place index cards in-between the rim and tire to protect the tires from over spray.

Then just use a rim specific spray paint and put 3-4 coats of paint on.

How in the world did someone do the exact thing I wanted to do, with the same tire on the same cactus grey maverick? Spirit animal.

 

[notfast]

IMO a little bit of wheel weight difference isn't likely to show up in fuel economy.

I'm sure just swapping the alloys for steelies won't affect anything drastically. But it's like the usual tips for getting good fuel economy. Any one tip (tire pressure, less junk in the trunk, slow down, remove roof rack bars, etc.) might not make a difference, but doing everything together aught to yield a noticeable gain.

That's why I mentioned drawing the line somewhere. Steelies and A/T tires and whatever else combined might result in a significant loss. I lost 10% of the fuel economy on my Nissan Frontier by just swapping the low-rolling resistance highway tires for aggressive A/T tires.

 

[Kcht]

Wao!!!! Amazing!!!! Congrats!!!!

 

[Clive]

Black should have been the standard color for the steelies. These look great.

 

[Atisko]

All else equal, the aluminum wheels are usually lighter than steel, but who knows if all is equal. The aluminum ones might be overbuilt like a tank, and the steelies to keep costs down using thinner steel so are light.

For example look here, the OEM 16" steel wheels are lighter than the OEM 16" aluminum ones on an F150: https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/ford,2003,f-150,4.2l+v6,1414673,wheel,wheel,7644
Steel stronger so you can use less material same thing happened with scuba tanks
Steel 16x7 OEM: 25.5lbs
Aluminum 16x7 OEM: 29.3lbs

Eventually someone will just have to throw them on a scale for us.

There's also two ways to look at the hybrid, a tool to be more ecofriendly to use less fuel, or the most economical way to Maverick. The XL with its steelies is a massive value, and IMO a little bit of wheel weight difference isn't likely to show up in fuel economy.

Sponsored