37-inch Tires On Ford Super Duty With No Lift: Alberta Outdoor Expo Build Kickoff
- Dan
- Feb 6
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 14
Starting the Alberta Outdoor Expo Build: 37 Inch Tires With No Lift On A Ford Super Duty
Every big build has a first real commitment, and for our Alberta Outdoor Expo 2026 build, this was it.
📺 Watch the full build video here:
Big tires. No lift. A lot of measuring, a little cold garage work, and a whole lot of curiosity.
In this post, I’m walking through why we decided to run 37x12.50R20 BFGoodrich KO2s on Jolene without a lift, how we approached the fitment, what worked, what rubbed, and why this setup makes sense for how we actually use this truck.
Why No Lift?
I know this is where the internet usually lights up.
I don’t dislike suspension upgrades — far from it. I’m a fan of tuned suspension, quality shocks, and properly matched springs. What I don’t love is unnecessary lift.
For us, keeping the truck as low as possible keeps the centre of gravity down, which matters when you’re hauling gear, driving long highway miles, or heading off pavement fully loaded. Instead of lifting the truck to clear tires, I’d rather trim and modify sheet metal if needed.
There’s also a bigger-picture reason: this truck will eventually run a camper. Added rear weight naturally changes ride height, and I don’t want to spend years “chasing the bubble” with levelling kits, airbags, and constant adjustments. My preference is to add weight first, then tune suspension properly once everything is on the truck.
Why 37-Inch BFGoodrich KO2s?
We’re coming off a set of Bridgestones with about 41,000 km on them. With winter conditions creeping in here in Canada, it was time for something new — and winter-rated.
The BFGoodrich KO2 made sense for a few reasons:
Proven winter performance (we’ve run them before)
Strong reputation as a true all-terrain
$50 cheaper per tire than the KO3, which adds up fast
That savings almost covers a spare — which is good, because fitting a 37-inch spare under the truck is still an open question.
The Math Behind the Fitment
Stock tires measured in at roughly 33.2 inches on the truck, while the KO2s measure about 36.2 inches unmounted. On paper, that’s roughly a 3-inch difference overall, which only translates to about 1.5 inches of additional height at the top of the tire once mounted and aired correctly. That’s the key point a lot of people miss: tire diameter increases don’t stack entirely upward — it’s a circle. That gave me confidence this might work.
Mounting the Tires
Each mounted tire and factory rim combo comes in at about 116 lbs, with the tire itself weighing roughly 75 lbs. Compared to the old setup, that’s an increase of about 32 lbs per corner of rolling mass — not nothing, and definitely something to keep in mind for braking and suspension tuning later.
Once mounted, the tires measured just at 36 inches, which is right in line with expectations.
Rear Fitment: Easy Win
Starting with the rear (because let’s be honest, it’s the easy part on a one-ton), clearance was excellent:
No rubbing
No trimming
Plenty of room at ride height
Even with the truck on the ground, nothing changed. Flex will tell a different story later, but for now, the rear is a non-issue.
Front Fitment: The Real Test
The front is where things always get interesting.
Initial checks on jack stands showed decent clearance at full lock, but once on the ground and steering through the range, the truth came out:
No contact with fender flares
No rear-of-wheel-well rubbing where everyone expects it
Minor contact with the sway bar at full lock
And to be clear — this wasn’t constant. In real-world driving over several days (including mall parking lots and parallel parking), the sway bar contact happened once, and only when forcing the steering harder than normal.
Garage Clearance Matters
One major constraint with this build is garage height. This truck has to fit in a heated garage, especially with another baby on the way and Alberta winters doing what they do best.
A levelling kit or lift would solve the sway bar issue — but it would also mean parking outside. That’s a non-starter.
So for now, the truck stays at this height.
Possible Solutions Going Forward
I’m not ignoring the sway bar contact — just prioritizing it realistically.
A few options I’m researching:
Aftermarket sway bars (specifically systems that may work with factory end links)
Minor sway bar repositioning with a custom bracket
Addressing it later when suspension tuning happens as part of the full build
If you’ve run an aftermarket sway bar on a non-lifted Super Duty, I’d love to hear about it.
Final Verdict: Do 37s Fit With No Lift?
In my book? Yes.
No lift. No trimming. Minor sway bar contact that hasn’t proven to be a real-world issue.
I’ve had trucks rub worse on factory tires.
This is just the beginning of the Alberta Outdoor Expo 2026 build, and there’s a lot more coming — budget willing. Either way, we’ll be there, and Jolene will be part of it.
If you want to follow along as this build evolves, stick around. There’s plenty more to come.
Supporting the Build: Jolene Merch Fundraiser
Big builds don’t happen for free, and to help cover the costs of Jolene’s Alberta Outdoor Expo 2026 truck build, we’re funding this project the same way we approach everything else — openly and honestly.
We’ve released Jolene-specific truck merch, and 100% of the profit from all Jolene merch sales goes directly toward the Jolene 2024 F-350 build. That includes tires, suspension upgrades, overland gear, and everything needed to get this truck ready for the Alberta Outdoor Adventure Expo.
We’ve created a small lineup of Jolene 2024 F-350 build fundraiser merch, all designed around this truck and this build:
Purchasing any Jolene build merch helps fund:
The Alberta Outdoor Expo 2026 truck build
Overland and camping upgrades to her
Future gear testing and real-world reviews featured on The Baker Adventures with Jolene
If you’ve started following the Jolene build or are planning your own no-lift 37-inch tire setup, supporting the merch is a direct way to help keep this project moving forward.
Every purchase directly supports the build, and we truly appreciate it.
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