Is there an advantage o having a bigger rim vs having the same size tire on a smaller rim? Like 35x12.50r15 vs 35x12.5r16 or 35x12.5r17?
Rim Size VS Tire Sidewall Size Pros vs Cons?
- Thread starter Relix
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All other things being equal, smaller wheel means more sidewall to soak up the rough stuff, and the edge of your wheel is 1" further away from the rocks, etc than with the larger diameter wheel. On the road, the larger wheel means less sidewall, so you may have better handling as a result.
Most off-road guys would rather have the smallest wheel they can fit over the brakes with the most sidewall they can get, unless there are better tire size selection and pricing from going up a size, for example finding tires for 15" wheels is getting harder and harder it seems.
Most off-road guys would rather have the smallest wheel they can fit over the brakes with the most sidewall they can get, unless there are better tire size selection and pricing from going up a size, for example finding tires for 15" wheels is getting harder and harder it seems.
- Thread starter
- #3
I love my white spoked wheels, cheap, easy and no worries when they get scuffed... 15"
The other plus for a small rim/big tire is that it gains more traction from airing down. Conversely, it's going to corner worse on pavement (but that really shouldn't be a concern on an FJ40 or FJ55).
Another thing to consider is rim width vs. tire width. Narrower rims will hold onto the tire better when you air down, and there'll be more rubber sticking out, keeping rocks off of your wheels/hubs.
Yet another factor (for anything older than an 80-series/the first IFS trucks/4runners) is backspacing and wheel availability in that backspacing.
Long story short, you need ~3.5" or less for the older 6-lug Toyotas to keep from rubbing steering components and brake calipers, with a little wiggle room for bigger wheels. I think some 16 and 17 inch wheels can work with as much as 4.00" of backspacing, but it really depends on the design.
The problem is actually finding a wheel with less than say 4.5" of BS in 16/17/18 inch sizes. There are custom-backspaced steel wheels, but a lot of guys don't like how they look. Procomp also makes some small-backspaced wheels in various sizes, but they jump from 4" to 2.5", which is going to give a noticeably wider stance than stock wheels.
There are wheel spacers, but a lot of us don't like the idea of adding that extra potential point of failure, and if you can find wheels that actually fit, that's $100-150 you don't have to spend (for a set of good spacers that you wouldn't constantly be questioning the quality of).
Another thing to consider is rim width vs. tire width. Narrower rims will hold onto the tire better when you air down, and there'll be more rubber sticking out, keeping rocks off of your wheels/hubs.
Yet another factor (for anything older than an 80-series/the first IFS trucks/4runners) is backspacing and wheel availability in that backspacing.
Long story short, you need ~3.5" or less for the older 6-lug Toyotas to keep from rubbing steering components and brake calipers, with a little wiggle room for bigger wheels. I think some 16 and 17 inch wheels can work with as much as 4.00" of backspacing, but it really depends on the design.
The problem is actually finding a wheel with less than say 4.5" of BS in 16/17/18 inch sizes. There are custom-backspaced steel wheels, but a lot of guys don't like how they look. Procomp also makes some small-backspaced wheels in various sizes, but they jump from 4" to 2.5", which is going to give a noticeably wider stance than stock wheels.
There are wheel spacers, but a lot of us don't like the idea of adding that extra potential point of failure, and if you can find wheels that actually fit, that's $100-150 you don't have to spend (for a set of good spacers that you wouldn't constantly be questioning the quality of).
You are looking at a stack of compromises....
Brake clearance is one...sidewall shift at low air pressures is another...footprint length....sidewall height...backspacing...and more...
I personally won't buy anything but 17's anymore...most common for resale it seems, and the most universal...they work well with anything 35" and up...
given the choice...
35's on 16's, given a choice...
37+ on 17's
and for rim width, .66-.75 works well.... 12.5" section width x .66 = ~ 8"...x .75 = ~9"
Brake clearance is one...sidewall shift at low air pressures is another...footprint length....sidewall height...backspacing...and more...
I personally won't buy anything but 17's anymore...most common for resale it seems, and the most universal...they work well with anything 35" and up...
given the choice...
35's on 16's, given a choice...
37+ on 17's
and for rim width, .66-.75 works well.... 12.5" section width x .66 = ~ 8"...x .75 = ~9"
