The 2021 Ford Raptor F150 truck has an entry MSRP of $64,145 in the United States. It’s a beast of a vehicle, offering a five-link rear suspension with Panhard rod, a 3.5L EcoBoost® high-output V6 engine, and sport-tuned shock absorbers that make driving it lots of fun.
It comes with seating for five.
The 24-inch coil springs on the F150 Raptor are the longest in the class. When the suspension improvements combine with improved engine software and other advantages, you’ll get quick starts off the line.
The Raptor also delivers better acceleration and improved throttle responsiveness while providing improved stability, handling, control, and comfort.
If you have a stock F150, you might be tempted to put the Raptor wheels on your truck. Depending on your situation, that may or may not be a great idea.
Raptor Wheels on a Stock F150
When you want to improve the ride of a stock Ford F150 truck, one option is to use Raptor wheels. Although you won’t be able to use the tires since they are 32×12.50s, you’d need to level and trim to make them fit. Most owners use the Raptors with stock tires to create the outcome they want.
If you run a two-inch leveling kit with many Ford F150 models, you can run the Raptor takeoffs. In that situation, you can use run the 285/70/17 tires without going for the level to keep things simple.
Some F150 owners like seeing the bead lock wheels on their trucks. You can go up to the 315s with this option, especially with Bilstein 5100s placed at the highest setting, to create the suitable space, height, and level for a comfortable ride. You shouldn’t have any rubbing at all once the components get installed.
The advantage of using Raptor wheels on a stock F150 is that they don’t extend much beyond the wheel openings. Even if you have OEM flares going with the weather is good, you’ll discover that the control and flexibility with this upgrade are impressive.
Some drivers say that the ride doesn’t improve when you have stiffer tires working with the Raptors. It’s not just the wheels and tires that get enhanced. If you don’t switch to something like the Bilstein 5100s to create more smoothness, the F150 will start feeling a little loose.
What Do I Need to Have Raptor Wheels on My F150?
Most F150 owners who decide to go with the Raptor wheels on their stock setup invest in the bead-lock wheel kit.
This product includes everything you need to upgrade your base wheels to have the performance you want with off-road bead-locking capabilities.
Although you can find some different finishes, the matte black option tends to be the most popular. It gets a clearcoat to meet OEM standards, and then the trim ring gets finished with a magnetic gray paint. That also receives a clearcoat to meet the expectations.
When you purchase the standard kit to put Raptor wheels on a stock F150, the product should contain the following items.
- A 17-inch forged aluminum bead-lock capable wheel.
- An aluminum trim ring forged to factory specs.
- A Ford center cap with a Performance bead-lock ring kit.
- Six lugs with a bolt circle appropriate for your model.
- Offset and backspacing based on what the upgrade requires.
If you shop for the Raptor wheels online, the model year plays an integral role in the kit you purchase. Please remember to review the product’s compatibility before buying anything to ensure that the product can work with your truck.
You also have the option to try other wheels than the Raptors if you want to get a slightly different look for your stock F150.
Why Choose the Raptor Wheels for a Stock F150?
The cost difference is the primary consideration for putting Ford’s Raptor wheels on a stock F150. Although you won’t get as much interior space or vehicular width, you can achieve a somewhat similar look while saving tens of thousands of dollars.
There’s a $35,000 difference in the United States when comparing the base F150 model with a stock Raptor. The only other truck in this lineup that costs more is the 2021 F-150 Limited that offers an MSRP starting at $73,105.
When you get the 2021 F-150 XL, you have the option to grab some optional packages for the truck. The best option is the XL Chrome Appearance Package, offering 17-inch silver-painted aluminum wheels, chrome bumpers, and fog lamps.
Another great option is the heavy-duty payload package. It’s optional on the XL, but it requires you to get the 3.5L V6 EcoBoost. You’ll receive 19-inch aluminum wheels with that investment.
What Makes the Ford Raptor Attractive in 2021?
The Ford F-150 Raptor is new for the 2021 model year, delivering a third-generation design that includes an optional tire kit. You can get one of the largest options ever offered at the factory, going up to a 37-inch kit.
Even if you prefer the standard 35-inch option, it’s one of the best designs that you’ll get for stability, comfort, and tracking when managing almost any driving condition.
When you have the 37-inch tires, you have a bit more ground clearance. That lifts the truck higher, ensuring that you have the option for rock crawling. When you stick with the 35s, you’ll still have some extra travel that makes driving a lot of fun.
With the Raptor wheels, you can go flat-out while off-roading. Each tire weighs about 68 pounds.
When you upgrade the wheels from the stock F150 to the Raptor, you’ll end up with about a wheel that’s 2.76mm more in diameter. It’s also about 1.97mm wider, has 1.38mm more sidewall height, and has 51 fewer revolutions per mile.
That means you’ll need to consider your speedometer reading if you decide to get the Raptor wheels on your truck. Although the differences are minor at slow speeds, the vehicle will say you’re going 60 mph when the bigger tires give you an actual rate of 65 mph.
Since you don’t need to make major modifications to the ride (sometimes not even a lift kit), the Raptor wheels are a great way to change your look while sticking to a reasonable budget. With the right package, the only primary difference you’ll end up managing with the F150 stock is its cabin size.
The new 2021 Raptor wheels are so large that Ford had to modify its production line to make them fit. That doesn’t mean you’re getting something chunky for your truck if you decide to go big with this modification.
It’s specifically designed for the Raptor, but you’re doing more than throwing big tires on a truck. This design is a comprehensive package that can help your Ford truck become a dominant force on the road.
Why Choose a Ford F-150 for Your Next Truck?
When you want to buy a truck, the F-150 makes a lot of sense. It’s been one of the best-selling vehicles of all designs in the history of the automotive market. Although you’ll find people making jokes about the brand here and there, this truck design is one of the most reliable options you’ll find anywhere.
If you’re on the fence about getting a stock F150, here are some of the potential benefits you can experience.
1. You have plenty of reliability.
Ford builds their trucks to last. That means you can even consider buying a used stock F150 to put Raptor wheels on instead of grabbing something new. Since the microchip shortage is causing production delays in multiple categories, this option lets you achieve your goals if you don’t have the vehicle in your driveway yet.
2. You can save money.
A new Ford truck is still highly competitive when comparing the prices to that of other automakers. Here is an overview of the pricing you’ll find for the ten cheapest trucks sold in the United States for the 2020-2022 model years.
| 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 | MSRP: $31,695 |
| 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | MSRP: $30,595 |
| 2020 Ram 1500 Classic | MSRP: $29,895 |
| 2020 Nissan Frontier | MSRP: $27,885 |
| 2021 GMC Canyon | MSRP: $26,595 |
| 2021 Chevrolet Colorado | MSRP: $26,395 |
| 2021 Toyota Tacoma | MSRP: $25,630 |
| 2022 Ford Maverick | MSRP: $21,490 |
Although some makes and models are a little cheaper than what you’ll get with the F-150, you also don’t get the benefit of changing out the stock wheels with Raptors.
3. You can have a lower insurance rate.
The popularity of the Ford F-150 works to your advantage because OEM parts are readily available in most areas. That means lower maintenance and repair costs are possible when shopping with this automaker. Since those charges are less, some insurers offer a cheaper policy when you drive this vehicle.
You can save even more if you decide to buy a used Ford F150 to put some Raptor wheels on today.
4. You have multiple model years to select.
You can choose an F150 from almost any model year to modify it for the new Raptor wheels. Although some trucks in this line would require more work than others, you’ll still find a lot of value coming back in return for this investment.
The Ford F-150 appeared for the first time in 1975. It would surpass the F-100 in popularity almost immediately, and the company started using rectangular headlights in 1978. If you avoid any of them, the 2004 model is the one to avoid because the engine in it has one of the worst reputations over the past 20 years.
5. You experience less depreciation.
Although all vehicles experience value depreciation, the Ford F150 line has better resiliency than most other makes and models. This truck is a highly sought truck that delivers consistent value over multiple years.
The average depreciation rate for all F150 trucks is approximately 36% over five years, which is one of the best rates in the industry. Only the Silverado does better once you get to the 10-year mark.
An Alternative to Using Raptor Wheels
Raptor wheels on a stock F-150 make sense when you want to get a higher, beefier look without extending your profile width. Although a leveling or raising kit could be necessary for the truck, the result is a fantastic ride with extra smoothness.
Instead of using Raptor wheels for my F-150, I went with the RockTrix RT111 17-inch rims. It works with all trims dating back to the 2009 models out there. It uses a 6×135 bolt pattern, a 17×9 offset, with an 87.1mm bore.
Although you can see the brand isn’t Raptor when looking at the wheels, everything else looks the same when using RockTrix products. It’s an affordable way to update your look while avoiding the expense of a leveling or raised kit.
I’ve found that the F150 drives better, delivers improved handling, and eats up miles in any conditions with the RockTrix wheels equipped. It’s definitely an investment worth considering.