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JZ
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18 inch vs 20 inch rims
Lifting the truck up a bit - 3-4 inches. Putting 35 inch tires on it.
How much of an offroad performance / comfort difference is there between 18 and 20 inch rims?
[Edited on 9-19-2019 by JZ]
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BajaParrothead
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I just switched from 17 to 20 with 12.5 X 35 and I definitely feel more vibrations and hits than I did with the smaller wheel. The other thing you
might consider, is a 33" on a 20" wheel doesn't leave you with much sidewall. Not much room to air down without compromising the rim for hits. Just
my experience, but I wish I had not swapped to the 20's.
Not sure how much it matters, but my truck is a Dodge 2500 Cummins, so it's pretty heavy.
[Edited on 9-19-2019 by BajaParrothead]
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4x4abc
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general rule for off-road - the smaller the wheel, the better (more volume of air)
general rule for on-road and off-road - the smaller the wheel, the more comfort (air acts as a spring)
general rule for on-road - bigger wheels are better for high speed performance
and they are eye catchers
18" on 33's are not good for off-road
more flats, less comfort, less flexibility for airing down, shorter side wall leds to more compression cuts
Harald Pietschmann
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Bajazly
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If I did what you do JZ, and I do, I would stick with 17’s. Very common tire size and as others have said about comfort and airing down, all spot
on. Also with 35’s you will probably want/need to regear as well, she’ll be a bit of a dog with the stock gears.
I got a set of TRD wheels for not much but next time I need tires I may go to 17’s just because how common they are and are a bit more economical
too.
But if you are gonna go with 20’s, make sure they are spinners 
Believing is religion - Knowing is science
Harald Pietschmann
"Get off the beaten path and memories, friends and new techniques are developed"
Bajazly, August 2019
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JZ
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Ok, thoughts on this tire dimension wise? How wide is too wide?
https://www.amazon.com/Nitto-Terra-Grappler-Traction-Radial/...
[Edited on 9-19-2019 by JZ]
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MrBillM
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Aesthetics v. Performance
The only performance purpose for the move to larger relative diameter wheels was to accommodate larger brakes. Which outweighed the increase in
unsprung weight and ride harshness.
Otherwise, it's simply an expression of (questionable) style.
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Nikno
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I am running 20" rims with 35" tires on my Wrangler and that's the one thing I regret about my build. They look great but off road performance isn't
as good. I can still get through just about anything, but there have been a few situations when I have aired down significantly and it just didn't
leave a lot of room between the rim and the tire. Also it's not as smooth off road. Someday when I have an extra 3 grand laying around I will get a
set of 17" rims with 35s.
I have an older Jeep that's running 37" tires on 17" rims and I can easily air that thing down to 12 psi if I'm really in the chit. With the 20" rims
anything under 25 psi starts to get hairy going over rocks. The 35s on 20" definitely handle better on the pavement though.
18" rims aren't as common and you might have trouble finding tires for it, especially in Baja.
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JZ
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Quote: Originally posted by Nikno  | I am running 20" rims with 35" tires on my Wrangler and that's the one thing I regret about my build. They look great but off road performance isn't
as good. I can still get through just about anything, but there have been a few situations when I have aired down significantly and it just didn't
leave a lot of room between the rim and the tire. Also it's not as smooth off road. Someday when I have an extra 3 grand laying around I will get a
set of 17" rims with 35s.
I have an older Jeep that's running 37" tires on 17" rims and I can easily air that thing down to 12 psi if I'm really in the chit. With the 20" rims
anything under 25 psi starts to get hairy going over rocks. The 35s on 20" definitely handle better on the pavement though.
18" rims aren't as common and you might have trouble finding tires for it, especially in Baja. |
Thanks bud, appreciate your input.
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Mulege Canuck
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| Quote: Originally posted by Bajazly | If I did what you do JZ, and I do, I would stick with 17’s. Very common tire size and as others have said about comfort and airing down, all spot
on. Also with 35’s you will probably want/need to regear as well, she’ll be a bit of a dog with the stock gears.
I got a set of TRD wheels for not much but next time I need tires I may go to 17’s just because how common they are and are a bit more economical
too.
But if you are gonna go with 20’s, make sure they are spinners
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I thought about moving up from 17” rims, but like you say 17” are cheaper and more available. Easier for me when I have to chain up for snow.
Other than sand, pizza cutters are better for traction.
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Pacifico
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People have already nailed it, stick with 17" wheels. I have friends in the tire business and they all told me the same thing; run 17" wheels because
tires are more readily available and cheaper than 18" and 20" tires. I run 35-12.50-17 tires which is very common and easy to find.
I run 37" tires on my pre-runner which I love, but not all trucks can accommodate that big of a tire. Even then, I still run a 17" wheel.
"Plan your life as if you are going to live forever. Live your life as if you are going to die tomorrow." - Carlos Fiesta
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JZ
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Another question. I might be able to get 35's on my truck with just a leveling kit. I already have very good King shocks on it, so this would avoid
replacing those.
The question is, do you need to lift the truck to get the the benefits of an upgraded UCA?
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bajatrailrider
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No uca you don't need lift kit. Any large rim worst thing you can do if you drive off road. My toy prerunner 35/12.50/15 rides like a caddy. Dodge
diesel 315/75/16. Nissan diesel 285/75/16. Would never run over 17in rims.
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advrider
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Agree with what others have said. I just went from 16-18's with a leveling kit on my 04 chevy 2500. It won't see a lot of offroad so the 18's are OK
and look good, no way I would go bigger. My scrambler run's 37's on 15 inch wheels and I will be going to 40's on 17's next because 15's are obsolete.
If I remember correctly you have a GMC or Chevy? If so checkout cognito out of Bakersfield' I just did a leveling kit from them' not cheap but very
nice.
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JZ
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There are more wheel choices for 18 vs. 17 for 3/4 ton Silverado's.
Tires as well I believe.
[Edited on 9-20-2019 by JZ]
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advrider
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Correct, my buddy that owns a tire shop recommended the 18's for that reason. They are a few dollars more for tires but not enough to matter. Note,
when truck is empty drop the pressure to about 40-45 PSI vs's 60 for a loaded truck, ride's much better..
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JZ
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| Quote: Originally posted by advrider | | Correct, my buddy that owns a tire shop recommended the 18's for that reason. They are a few dollars more for tires but not enough to matter. Note,
when truck is empty drop the pressure to about 40-45 PSI vs's 60 for a loaded truck, ride's much better.. |
Loaded is 70-75ish. Typically run 60-65 on the highway. In the dirt 35-40.
Bolt pattern and offset on the Silverado is making finding rims a b-tch.
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PaulW
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Tire rim size choice
What size rim do you have now? it is a strong possibility that all you need is new tires and not tires and rims.
I have not checked all models, but the 17" would always be my choice for GM. Ram or Ford. They definitely work on Fords. More rubber between the rim
and the ground is the goal for off road prowess and comfort ride. Big rims are highly regarded as BLING if that is your goal.
Driving off road with tall mims like 20"+ is a guarantee for bent rims.
Don't worry about availability for any size because there are to many tire companies that cater to all sizes.
I guess you know taller tires mean new gears to allow the truck to operate within its design.
My new Ford came with 18s and I and too cheap to switch to 17s. If I would switch to 17s I would try to keep the tire the same diameter to avoid new
gearing.
=== === =
| Quote: Originally posted by JZ | Lifting the truck up a bit - 3-4 inches. Putting 35 inch tires on it.
How much of an offroad performance / comfort difference is there between 18 and 20 inch rims?
[Edited on 9-19-2019 by JZ] |
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John Harper
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Typical GM engineering. There's a brand new Colorado just down the street,
black paint is already peeling off the grill, still has paper plates!
And, keep an eye out for all the GM trucks with only one "daytime running light" because the other is burned out. Probably 60-70% of them.
John
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AKgringo
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The clearance between the rim and the rocks only matters on the bottom of the tire, so there is only 1/2 inch difference between a 17, and an 18 inch
rim!
About GM, I bought an older Isuzu recently, and found that the Isuzu V-6 is mated to a GM transmission. The same drivetrain is also used in the Honda
Pilot.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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BajaTed
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The tire contact patch is biggest on a 20" wheel, smallest on a 16"
Sidewall height is compromised on a twenty, greatest on a 16"
The unsprung weight of a 20" wheel is the highest, the lightest is a 16"
Right in the middle of 16 and 20 is 18.
Same size as this years F1 cars
Es Todo Bueno
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