15" vs 17" wheels

[RoryH19]

Just for what it's worth, the weight difference between my 16" wheels and tires vs my 17" wheels and tires (03 VW Jet TDI) is substantial. I didn't put them on a scale yet, that will happen in the spring but I'm guessing an easy 10 lbs per wheel/tire unit. I'll be adding a min 40 lbs to my car to use the 17s..? Kinda sucks.. These are both factory VW rims btw.

Interesting and that makes sense. I assume they are probably both aluminum.
Reminds me that when people put huge wheels on their cars the braking distance is worse.

 

[Dutch Rutter]

Is it just the size options for 16" wheels are not as vast vs. the other sizes?

Or are 16" truck tires going the way of 16.5" and will eventually be impossible to find in anything half decent and affordable?

I'd love to keep my 16.5s with 33x12.5s but can't justify putting boggers on my daily..

 

[F-64]

Dutch,
My problem exactly. Tires for smaller rims aren't as plentiful. You have to go to a larger rim to get a better selection of tires.

The popularity of a larger wheels on production cars is one reason for the shift from 15" to 18" wheels in NASCAR and 13" to 18" in F1.

 

[Dutch Rutter]

Dutch,
My problem exactly. Tires for smaller rims aren't as plentiful. You have to go to a larger rim to get a better selection of tires.

The popularity of a larger wheels on production cars is one reason for the shift from 15" to 18" wheels in NASCAR and 13" to 18" in F1.

Gotcha... I would have just hit the like post button.... but I can't like this. I'm not wanting 20x15 wheels on my truck

 

[78C10BigTen]

Dutch,
My problem exactly. Tires for smaller rims aren't as plentiful.

Im having this issue currently... had 235/75/15 on the back of my 91' s10, i up-ed to 31x10.5s because i couldnt find any good m/t tread in 235s. Now i cant put 31s on the front due to 2wd and rubbing so im stuck with 215/75s.

 

[bucket]

33s on 17s is still a lot of sidewall. No issues with it being too stiff, however at the same pressure as 15s it will be less mushy and handle better.
Depends what you want out of the truck. More handling or more sidewall/off road. But in reality the difference will be subtle.
move never understood how folks think higher load ratings ride rougher. Yes the tires themselves are thicker sidewall/ stiffer, however air pressure determines the ride. And a couple psi lower on a stiffer tire is the same as couple psi higher on a softer tire. (Approximately)

^Not directed at your comment bucket. What you said I agree with but commonly folks think E tire ride rougher than say C.

Good point about the air pressure, but that brings up another point. Running say 35 psi in a E range tire to retain the same ride quality may result in prematurely wearing the shoulders of the tire, or other uneven wear issues. But it all varies with the specific tire and weight of the vehicle too.

 

[77 K20]

Good point about the air pressure, but that brings up another point. Running say 35 psi in a E range tire to retain the same ride quality may result in prematurely wearing the shoulders of the tire, or other uneven wear issues. But it all varies with the specific tire and weight of the vehicle too.

There are some rough formulas online about if you move up a few tire sizes or switch to a heavier load rating of the tire. I've tried some of them, and it was kinda close. But I've used the chalk method to find the proper street pressure.

You must be registered for see images attach

Set the tire pressure, grab some sidewalk chalk and mark at least a front tire and a rear tire. Drive 20 yards or so on some nice clean flat pavement and see if the chalk is wearing off evenly. When I got a set of 315s at Discount tire they filled them to 75 psi and I was running 8" wheels. Chalk rubbed off of only the very center. Tread was something like 12" wide but was only really riding on 4" in the middle of the tire.

I ran those tires at 28 lbs front, 26 lbs rear. They wore evenly. (* this was running the truck empty, not pulling a trailer or hauling loads)

 

[idahovette]

Im having this issue currently... had 235/75/15 on the back of my 91' s10, i up-ed to 31x10.5s because i couldnt find any good m/t tread in 235s. Now i cant put 31s on the front due to 2wd and rubbing so im stuck with 215/75s.

Got 14s on Kooper's s10, 245-60 rear and 205-70 front, but I've always liked the big rear and smaller front anyway. Besides that's what we had no $$$$ spent!!!!

 

[78C10BigTen]

Got 14s on Kooper's s10, 245-60 rear and 205-70 front, but I've always liked the big rear and smaller front anyway. Besides that's what we had no $$$$ spent!!!!

Mine had stock steel 14" with dog dish caps, tossed them for later model 15" . He can go to 15" with no issue! Up to 31x10.5x15 rear, ive got 215/75/15 up front that rub when turned full lock in a flex. Im SUPER interested to try putting the other 31s up front and see if theyll fit. The bfg m/t kms look SWEET on that s10.

 

[bucket]

There are some rough formulas online about if you move up a few tire sizes or switch to a heavier load rating of the tire. I've tried some of them, and it was kinda close. But I've used the chalk method to find the proper street pressure.

You must be registered for see images attach

Set the tire pressure, grab some sidewalk chalk and mark at least a front tire and a rear tire. Drive 20 yards or so on some nice clean flat pavement and see if the chalk is wearing off evenly. When I got a set of 315s at Discount tire they filled them to 75 psi and I was running 8" wheels. Chalk rubbed off of only the very center. Tread was something like 12" wide but was only really riding on 4" in the middle of the tire.

I ran those tires at 28 lbs front, 26 lbs rear. They wore evenly. (* this was running the truck empty, not pulling a trailer or hauling loads)

That's why I think the specific tire design and vehicle make a big difference in those results. The closest combo of mine to that was 305/70's on a 8" rim. For all around road use and towing, I generally ran 50 up front and around 70 in the rear. That was on a Suburban. They lasted for 80k and they wore perfectly even. Yeah they were completely bald at that point, but worn evenly.

 

[F-64]

I've spent a lot of time on this site trying to get tires sized and matched properly.
It helps tremendously.

https://tiresize.com/calculator/

 

[80BrownK10]

. I'm not wanting 20x15 wheels on my truck

Yea I'll leave those to the Brodozer crowd with almost no backspacing.

 

[Dave Kay]

I see this thread is a bit dated but will chime in FWIW--- My experience trying to get taller tires on 16inch rims has shown me that Goodyear's are a softer ride, BFG's are like riding on rocks and Kumho's are somewhere in between. All load range E @33 inches.

 

[78C10BigTen]

I see this thread is a bit dated but will chime in FWIW--- My experience trying to get taller tires on 16inch rims has shown me that Goodyear's are a softer ride, BFG's are like riding on rocks and Kumho's are somewhere in between. All load range E @33 inches.

I hate goodyears and would hands down take bfg's (currently whats on my 2wd s10 in 31x10.5). Theyve lasted me about 3 years id say and still arent dead yet. Side note: most likely mine arent load E's...

 

[Dave Kay]

I hate goodyears and would hands down take bfg's (currently whats on my 2wd s10 in 31x10.5). Theyve lasted me about 3 years id say and still arent dead yet. Side note: most likely mine arent load E's...

I got pretty good service from 2 different sets of Goodyear AT's both on the same work truck. Tried the BFG's and they rode hard and the sidewalls were really stiff. Guess I liked the older-guy type ride! (lol!)