If you're planning on swapping out your factory rims for something with a bit more personality, the first thing you need to lock down is the 2017 f-150 lug pattern, which is a 6x135mm setup. This specific measurement has been the standard for Ford's flagship truck for quite a while now, but it's still the one piece of info you absolutely cannot afford to get wrong. If the holes don't line up, those expensive new wheels are just going to end up being very heavy paperweights in your garage.
I've seen plenty of guys get excited about a "great deal" on Facebook Marketplace, only to realize too late that the wheels they bought came off a Chevy or a Dodge. While those trucks also use six lugs, the spacing is different. For the 2017 F-150, that 135mm measurement is non-negotiable.
What Does 6x135mm Actually Mean?
If you aren't a "wheel guy," these numbers might sound like a bunch of math homework you'd rather avoid. But it's actually pretty simple. The "6" tells you exactly how many studs are sticking out of your wheel hub. If you look at your truck right now, you'll see six lug nuts holding each wheel on.
The "135" is where things get a bit more technical. This is the diameter of the imaginary circle formed by the centers of those six lugs, measured in millimeters. In the "old days," people used to use inches, and you might still hear some old-timers refer to it as 6x5.31 inches. It's the same thing, but since the industry has largely gone metric, sticking with 135mm will save you a lot of confusion when you're browsing online shops.
Why Ford Stuck with This Pattern
Ford hasn't always used the 6x135mm pattern. If you go back to the 1990s, the F-150 was rocking a 5-lug setup. However, as trucks got more capable, heavier, and started towing more, Ford realized they needed a more robust way to secure the wheels to the hub. They made the jump to the 6x135mm pattern back in 2004, and they've stuck with it ever since.
For 2017 owners, this is actually great news. Because Ford has kept this pattern consistent for nearly two decades, there is a massive aftermarket for wheels. Whether you want something rugged for the trails or something sleek for the street, you won't have any trouble finding options that fit the 2017 f-150 lug pattern. It also means that if you find a set of take-off wheels from a 2015 or even a 2021 F-150, they'll bolt right up to your 2017.
Don't Forget the Thread Pitch and Stud Size
Knowing the lug pattern is step one, but it isn't the whole story. You also need to know what kind of studs you're working with. For the 2017 model year, Ford used M14 x 1.5 threaded studs.
This is another area where people sometimes trip up. Earlier F-150s (pre-2015) used a different thread pitch (M14 x 2.0). If you try to force an old lug nut onto a 2017 stud, you are going to have a very bad day involving stripped threads and likely a trip to the mechanic to get the studs replaced. Always make sure your lug nuts match that 1.5 thread pitch. It's a finer thread, which actually helps with clamping force—pretty important when you're hauling a trailer down the highway.
The "Swollen" Lug Nut Headache
If you're still running the original factory lug nuts on your 2017 F-150, you might have already run into the infamous "swollen lug nut" issue. Ford uses a two-piece design where a chrome cap is pressed over a steel core. Over time, moisture gets trapped between the two layers, causing the metal to corrode and expand.
Suddenly, your standard 21mm socket doesn't fit anymore. You're stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire, and the lug wrench in your trunk won't budge the nuts because they've deformed. Honestly, if you're already looking into the 2017 f-150 lug pattern to buy new wheels, do yourself a massive favor and buy a set of solid, one-piece aftermarket lug nuts. It's a small investment that prevents a huge amount of frustration later on.
Understanding Hub Bore and Hub Centricity
Here is something that a lot of people overlook when they start shopping for aftermarket wheels: the hub bore. The center hole of your wheel needs to fit over the hub of the truck. On a 2017 F-150, that center bore is 87.1mm.
Ford trucks are "hub-centric," meaning the wheel is centered by the hub itself, not just by the lug nuts. Many aftermarket wheels are made with a larger center bore so they can fit multiple different vehicle brands. If you buy wheels with a bore larger than 87.1mm, you should really pick up a set of hub-centric rings. These little plastic or metal rings fill the gap and ensure the wheel is perfectly centered. Without them, you might experience a weird vibration at highway speeds, no matter how well your tires are balanced.
Torque Specs: Don't Just Guess
Once you've got your beautiful new wheels and the correct lug nuts, you need to tighten them down. Don't just hit them with an impact wrench until they stop moving. The torque specification for a 2017 F-150 is 150 lb-ft (204 Nm).
That is a lot of torque—significantly more than what you'd see on a smaller SUV or a sedan. Using a calibrated torque wrench is the only way to be sure you've got it right. If you undertighten them, the wheels could literally wobble off. If you overtighten them, you risk stretching the studs or warping your brake rotors. Neither of those sounds like a good time. Also, remember to re-torque your lugs after driving about 50 to 100 miles on new wheels just to make sure everything has seated properly.
Offset and Backspacing Considerations
While the 2017 f-150 lug pattern gets the wheel onto the truck, the offset determines where that wheel sits in relation to the fender. Factory Ford wheels usually have a high positive offset (around +44mm), which keeps the wheels tucked neatly inside the wheel wells.
If you're going for that "aggressive" look where the tires poke out a bit, you'll look for a lower or even a negative offset. Just keep in mind that changing the offset affects your scrub radius and can put extra stress on your wheel bearings and ball joints. It can also lead to the tires rubbing against the crash bars or the wheel liners when you're turning. If you're staying with a stock suspension, try not to go too crazy with the offset.
Measuring It Yourself (The "Just in Case" Method)
If you ever find yourself looking at a mystery set of wheels and you don't have a spec sheet, you can measure the pattern yourself. For a 6-lug wheel, it's actually pretty easy. You just measure from the center of one lug hole to the center of the hole directly opposite it.
On a 2017 F-150 wheel, that measurement should be exactly 135mm (or about 5.3 inches). If it's closer to 139.7mm (5.5 inches), you're looking at a Chevy/GMC or older Toyota pattern, and it won't work on your Ford. It's always better to double-check with a ruler than to guess based on how it looks.
Final Thoughts on Upgrading
The 2017 F-150 is a fantastic truck, and a new set of wheels is one of the best ways to make it your own. Just remember that the 2017 f-150 lug pattern is only the starting point. Between the 6x135mm spacing, the M14 x 1.5 thread pitch, the 87.1mm hub bore, and the 150 lb-ft torque requirement, there are a few moving parts to keep track of.
Take your time, do your research, and maybe get rid of those factory two-piece lug nuts while you're at it. Your truck (and your sanity the next time you have a flat) will thank you. Whether you're hitting the dirt or just cruising the interstate, having the right setup ensures your wheels stay exactly where they belong—bolted tight to your truck.