Ford F-150 wheel swaps: bolt pattern, offsets and TPMS sensor compatibility (315 vs 433 MHz)

A common scenario: the owner of a 2017 F-150 likes the gloss-black 20-inch wheels from a 2023 to 2026 truck, perhaps from a newer F-150 or an Expedition, and wonders whether they will bolt on and whether the tyre pressure monitoring will work. The mechanical side is straightforward. The TPMS side is not, and the frequency figures that circulate (315 MHz and 433 MHz) are inconsistent between sources, so this article shows how to verify them rather than asserting one answer.

In this guide

What the F-150 wheels share

Tyre-fitment references list all 2017 F-150 trims as 6x135 bolt pattern, M14 x 1.5 thread and 87.1 mm centre bore.¹ The same source lists the 2023 truck as 6x135 on every trim, with a standard petrol, hybrid or diesel truck on 17x7.5 ET44 wheels and the high-output EcoBoost and Raptor-type trucks on 17x8.5 ET34 wheels, with an M14 x 2.0 thread listed for those higher-performance trucks.² A bolt-pattern database shows 6x135 with an 87.1 mm centre bore across Ford and Lincoln models, including the Expedition, with M14 x 1.5 or M14 x 2.0 studs.³

Takeaways:

• The 6x135 pattern and 87.1 mm bore are shared, so wheels from a newer F-150 or Expedition are not blocked by bolt pattern or hub bore. That is why owners consider them.
• Stud thread is not always the same: M14 x 1.5 versus M14 x 2.0 appears in the data. Use lug nuts that match the studs on the truck the wheels are going onto, not the donor.
• Widths and offsets vary by wheel, so the shared pattern says nothing about clearance.

Sizes and offsets by generation

What is verified is limited. For the 13th-generation truck (2015 to 2020, the first with a largely aluminium body, with Limited trims on 22-inch wheels),⁴ a fitment database lists 17x7.5 ET44, 18x7.5, and 20x8.5 wheels carrying 275/55R20 tyres among 2017 options.⁵ A later-year listing shows 17x7.5 ET44 and 17x8.5 ET34 for 2023.² Generation-by-generation offsets for the 20-inch wheels are not established by reputable published sources, so:

• Do not assume that a 20-inch wheel from a different year has the same width or offset as yours.
• Read the width, offset (ET) and Ford part number cast on the back of the donor wheel and compare against your current wheels. A truck needs the new wheel's outer edge and inner clearance to be close to the old.
• If widths are the same and the offsets within a few millimetres, the wheel will usually fit. A lower offset moves the wheel outward and changes the clearance to fender and suspension.
• Tyres also change: moving from 32-inch to 33 or 34-inch overall diameter can raise rubbing risk. In the thread behind this topic, the 2017 owner considered stepping up tyre height; replies said it would affect fuel economy and speedometer, with one estimating an error of "probably 1-2 mph" at highway speed that could be corrected with software or a tuner.⁶ He ultimately kept his existing setup.

Is the sensor frequency the same?

The question the 2017 owner asked was whether his truck's TPMS would have the same frequency as a 2023 to 2026 wheel. The sources conflict, which is itself the useful finding:

• One member of that thread said Ford started primarily using 433 MHz some time after the 12th generation, so a 2023-or-later wheel more likely carries 433 MHz and a donor wheel could be either, and advised checking the door sticker or having a tyre shop scan.⁶
• A thread about a 2017 XLT recorded that the original poster's replacement 315 MHz sensors failed to work after a tyre change, and that his truck's sensors turned out to be 433 MHz; another poster speculated the difference might relate to load range. The thread's takeaway was to verify the original sensor frequency rather than assume one value for all 2015 to 2017 trucks.⁷
• On another thread, a poster reported that parts.ford.com lists both a 315 MHz and a 433 MHz sensor for a 2022 F-150, and another said the 2018 sensor part was F2GZ-1A189-A at 315 MHz; one user said 2021 Platinum rims on a 2018 truck worked with the TPMS.⁸
• Posts about the 2023 and 2024 F-150 Lightning cite a supplier document that placed a change from 315 to 433 MHz between mid-2023 and early 2024 builds, and advise checking the key fob frequency; that is about the Lightning specifically.⁹
• A shop article states that Ford vehicles predominantly use 315 MHz and that the two frequencies are not interchangeable.¹⁰

These are forum and shop statements, not Ford documentation, and they do not agree with each other. The combined picture is that the frequency cannot be determined from the model year alone. The 315 and 433 MHz figures should be treated as leads that apply only to specific trucks and build dates.

How to verify before you buy the wheels

1. Read your own truck's sensors. A TPMS scan tool (most tyre shops have one) can activate a sensor and report its frequency, ID and protocol. Autel, for example, says its tools read 315 MHz, 433 MHz and 434 MHz sensors.¹¹
2. Read the donor wheels' sensors. If they are still fitted, have the shop scan each one. If they are 433 MHz and your truck's receiver is 315 MHz, they will not communicate.
3. Look at the part number. The sensor body carries a Ford or Motorcraft part number. Compare it against a dealer parts lookup done with your truck's VIN.
4. Check the door-jamb sticker and owner's manual for the factory tyre size and pressure.
5. Ask the seller for the build date of the donor truck and whether the sensors are included.

What to do if the frequencies do not match

• Swap the sensors in the donor wheels for sensors that match your truck's frequency, and register them. Programmable universal sensors exist: Autel states its programmable 1-Sensor can replace 433, 434 or 315 MHz sensors, while its earlier MX-Sensor was sold in a single frequency.¹¹ Forum members also recommend programmable dual-frequency sensors as a cost-effective choice.⁹
• Make all four sensors the same frequency; a shop-based registration (relearn) of sensor IDs may be required after installation, and a proper scan tool avoids dealer guesswork, as owners in one thread suggested.⁸
• Alternatively, run without the donor sensors by buying the wheels bare and fitting your own, which is cleaner but needs mounting and balancing.

Black 20-inch wheels from other vehicles

The thread behind this topic also mentioned Expedition wheels. They share the 6x135 pattern and 87.1 mm bore, but check width, offset, load rating and finish (painted versus machined) before assuming they are an exact match, and check that any lug nuts and centre caps are correct. Used OEM sets can have curb damage, cracks, bent flanges and failed sensors, so inspect before you buy and ask for photos of the back. Prices and availability change, so check live listings.

Safety

Wheel and tyre changes affect load capacity, braking clearance and ABS operation. Use the lug nuts the manufacturer specifies for the truck, torque them to the owner's manual value and recheck after the first drive. Tyres should keep the load rating the placard requires, particularly for towing. A TPMS warning light is a legal and safety item in many places, so do not leave it unresolved. If in doubt, have a qualified tyre shop or dealer confirm fitment, sensor compatibility and torque.

A useful inspection sheet for black 20-inch take-offs

Treat a take-off set as four individual wheels and four individual tyres. Before travelling to collect it, ask the seller to label the photographs wheel 1 through wheel 4 and provide the rear Ford part number and size marking for each. That helps reveal a replacement wheel with a different specification, even if all four faces have been painted the same colour.

Record the tyre make, model, size, load marking, tread condition and date code separately. Also note whether centre caps, lug nuts and TPMS sensors are part of the price. A package advertised as "complete" may only mean wheels and tyres.

Will matching frequency guarantee the TPMS works?

Do not use frequency as the only purchasing check. Have the shop confirm the sensor's application and perform the required vehicle-specific programming or relearn. The part number and tool application coverage are more useful than a seller saying "315/433 compatible".

Is an Expedition wheel automatically an F-150 replacement?

The shared pattern is only a starting point. The wheel's actual width, offset, load rating and required hardware still need checking against the receiving truck.

Sources and further reading

1. 2017 Ford F-150 tyre and wheel specifications, TireWheelGuide: bolt pattern, thread and centre bore.
2. 2023 Ford F-150 tyre and wheel specifications, TireWheelGuide: sizes, offsets and thread sizes by engine.
3. 6x135 bolt pattern, Wheel-Size.com: centre bore and stud thread data.
4. Ford F-Series (thirteenth generation), Wikipedia: production years and trims.
5. 2017 Ford F-150 wheel and tyre sizes, Wheel-Size.com: fitment database.
6. A lot of wheel thoughts, Ford F150 Forum: owner opinion.
7. 2017 F-150 TPMS sensor frequency, Ford F150 Forum: owner report.
8. TPMS sensor compatibility, Ford F150 Forum: owner opinion.
9. TPMS frequency for Dec 2023 Lightning, F150 Lightning Forum: owner opinion about the Lightning.
10. What frequency are Ford TPMS sensors?, AHG Auto Service: shop article.
11. Are Autel's TPMS tools compatible with all direct TPMS sensor frequencies?, Autel: vendor statement.