Will 2008 Ford Edge Rims fit a 98 Ranger 2WD?

[Jay11]

Does anyone know if a 2008 Ford Edge wheels with 245/65R18 will fit a stock 98 Ranger 2.5?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Not sure about the lug nut pattern matching.

Backspacing/offset will probably be an issue.

Center bore may also be an issue.

I got some 08 Explorer rims for my 00 4x4 Ranger. I know that the Explorers used the same lug nut pattern. The backspacing/offset is wrong, they set so far in that even if the center bore was big enough, they will hit stuff. Needs a 1.5” or 2” wheel spacer to fit and clear, which also resolves my center bore issue. Downside is that I’m relegated to running spacers to use the rims.

 

[Jay11]

Do spacers negatively impact suspension longevity compared to running stock only?

 

[rubydist]

Despite what some tire shops like Discount Tire will tell you, quality adapters properly installed will not be an issue. You will want to get ones that are hub-centric so you know you get the tire installed concentric to the hub. And do not buy the cheapest ones you can find on fleabay - look for a supplier with really high marks. You will want to use blue or red loctite when you install the adapters to ensure that those nuts never come loose.

The Edge wheels will have somewhere around +38mm offset while the Ranger has somewhere around -6mm offset, so you will need adapters of roughly 1.5"-2.0" thickness to get the tires in the proper location. I can tell you from experience, it is better to have the adapter a bit thin rather than too thick - if they are too thick they move the tire out far enough it can rub in turns. FYI, the factory wheels will have the offset either cast or stamped into one of the spokes, so you can determine exactly what you need to make this work.

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

Do spacers negatively impact suspension longevity compared to running stock only?

It depends on a few things. #1 is the spacer quality. #2 is how well they're mounted. #3 is the offset tolerance of the suspension. Adding spacers to put an FWD wheel (high positive offset) on an RWD (low to negative offset) is fine, because you're restoring the stock offset by using the spacer. However, if you were to space the wheel out to where the back of the wheel was outside the fenders, you'd definitely put undue torsional stress on the knuckle, and because a longer shaft past the pivot of the control arm stresses the suspension, and you'd bounce more without upgraded struts. Your camber would also be very high without a means of adjustment unless you use custom parts, wearing solely on the inside tread of the tires.

That's an extreme example, but basically the spacer should be fine as long as the collective assembly stays under the wheel well.