Truck Wheel Size

IdaD wrote:


You didn't pick the wheels you wanted? It isn't hard to find manufacturer weight ratings on wheels. It is important, though, because some 18" wheels are rated lower than the 3640 lbs on the tires.

I agree with all the comments saying 18" is ideal on the newer HD models. 17" aren't rated as well and 20" are more expensive and have a more limited selection.

Nope. In fact, I didn't even see them until they pulled the truck around when they were finished. I didn't care too much what they looked like as long they met or exceeded the load rating, somethign that I didn't have to clean all the time, and did not scream "I am a 17 year old with white Oakley's driving a pavement queen". I believe those were my exact words to him. They ended up being black MB 352's and look pretty good on the truck while meeting my requirements so I was happy.

ShinerBock wrote:
When I bought my truck, one of the first things I did was trade out the factory tires for better off road tires. It gets a little sloppy at the farm and deer lease when it rains. My truck came with 20's and the Nitto Trail Grappler tire I wanted was $80 per tire more for a 20" versus an 18".

Not being fond of 20" tires in general, I asked the tire store to put any 18" rim on the truck that the had in inventory that met my stock rim load ratings. The 18" rims cost me about $140 each and I ended up selling my stock 20" rims for $150 each.

You didn't pick the wheels you wanted? It isn't hard to find manufacturer weight ratings on wheels. It is important, though, because some 18" wheels are rated lower than the 3640 lbs on the tires.

I agree with all the comments saying 18" is ideal on the newer HD models. 17" aren't rated as well and 20" are more expensive and have a more limited selection.

tomman58 wrote:
I have 20" now on my 2015 GMC would go back to 18" because truck is to high for my wife and others and ALSO THE TRUCK HAS AN 18" SPARE!!!!!!!
Who would've thought that the spare is not totally interchangeable?

1_ the Spare has very very very close to the same diameter at the 20 inch, and a slightly higher load capacity.
2) if it is a 3/4 or 1 ton, 18" will the ride height will be exactly the same with factory 18" tires.

tomman58 wrote:
I have 20" now on my 2015 GMC would go back to 18" because truck is to high for my wife and others and ALSO THE TRUCK HAS AN 18" SPARE!!!!!!!
Who would've thought that the spare is not totally interchangeable?

Check the tire radius, and you will find them similar.

RAM uses LT275/70R18 with diameter of 33.19
and LT285/60R20 with diameter of 33.46

So .27 /2 = .135 difference in radius, so I do not think about an 1/8 inch would be very noticeable getting in and out of the truck.

These numbers on based on OEM Firestone Transforce AT's. Other brands will be similar.

Chris

When I bought my truck, one of the first things I did was trade out the factory tires for better off road tires. It gets a little sloppy at the farm and deer lease when it rains. My truck came with 20's and the Nitto Trail Grappler tire I wanted was $80 per tire more for a 20" versus an 18".

Not being fond of 20" tires in general, I asked the tire store to put any 18" rim on the truck that the had in inventory that met my stock rim load ratings. The 18" rims cost me about $140 each and I ended up selling my stock 20" rims for $150 each.

I have 20" now on my 2015 GMC would go back to 18" because truck is to high for my wife and others and ALSO THE TRUCK HAS AN 18" SPARE!!!!!!!
Who would've thought that the spare is not totally interchangeable?

rjstractor wrote:

Me Again wrote:
if you are talking 250/2500/350/3500 SRW then 17" are not good, as they all have low weight ratings now. 20" are still very expensive. So 18" are the best.

This got me looking into actual weight capacities available in different sizes and sure enough the 17s are low. The highest capacity I could find was 3200 lbs per tire. What's really strange is the 265/75R16s that the F250 I'm soon inheriting has are rated higher (3415 per tire) than any 17" size listed. The available weight capacities in the 16" sizes are close to those in 18". Of course, most newer trucks can't use 16" wheels because the brakes are too big.

That is what happens when you become the unwanted step child. Chris

I went from 16" to 18" wheels. I am happy with load capacity of the 18's and there are ample tire sizes to choose from. Running a GM I limited by what will fit in the wheel well. I have run 265, 275, and currently 285/70/18". Covers about anything I would want to put on.

Flashman wrote:
20 inch wheels are for show. They are stupid for trucks that really do any real work.

I wondered about that too. 17's always gave me the capacity that I needed and looks don't matter to me. The upgrade cost was considerable if I recall.

Me Again wrote:
if you are talking 250/2500/350/3500 SRW then 17" are not good, as they all have low weight ratings now. 20" are still very expensive. So 18" are the best.

This got me looking into actual weight capacities available in different sizes and sure enough the 17s are low. The highest capacity I could find was 3200 lbs per tire. What's really strange is the 265/75R16s that the F250 I'm soon inheriting has are rated higher (3415 per tire) than any 17" size listed. The available weight capacities in the 16" sizes are close to those in 18". Of course, most newer trucks can't use 16" wheels because the brakes are too big.