20 inch vs 22 inch rims - any difference to towing?

Larger rims will usually have lower weight ratings. Most HD trucks come with 18" rims for a reason.

If you stick with the same overall tire diameter, meaning you'd have to go with a lower profile sidewall, you won't see any degradation in performace but the ride will be harsher. If you upsize tire diameter you will see a loss in performance as you are effectively changing the gear ratio.

With 22s you will also be much more limited in tire selection and they will cost more.

I'd prefer to tow with 20's over 22's myself but you could do a 305/45r22 Nitto Terra Grappler G2 and not lose any load rating. We put simple leveling kits (2" Ready lift) which enables you to do a 20x9, offset around a +18 with a 33x12.50/20 ( Nitto, Toyo, Mickey Thonpson....). In 22's the same but most 22's will be 22x9.5, look at Fuel wheels, XD, Moto Metal....in these sizes the 22's will ride just as good as the 20's and the wheel and tire selection very similar. With the mild 2" leveling kit you can run a 285/50r22E Terra G2. Your good either way, good luck!

A 22, with same overall diameter as the 20, would have less sidewall which translates to less ride comfort but better handling due to the reduced tire squirm side-to-side. Verify the load carrying capacity, of course.

camp-n-family wrote:
Larger rims will usually have lower weight ratings. Most HD trucks come with 18" rims for a reason.

Nope. My F250 came stock with 20s. In fact most HD trucks above the most basic trim levels will have 20s.

Thanks for everyone's input. I'm probably going to keep the 20" rubber, as it is still in good shape, and find some 20" rims to match.

CC

Rangerman40 wrote:
camp-n-family wrote:

Larger rims will usually have lower weight ratings. Most HD trucks come with 18" rims for a reason.


Nope. My F250 came stock with 20s. In fact most HD trucks above the most basic trim levels will have 20s.

You might want to check again. You might have 20s but they aren't stock. All HD Fords have 17s as "stock", 18s and 20s are optional. Ram and Chevy/GMC don't even offer 20s on their HD trucks.

As far as Ford goes only the XL comes with 17s. XLT, and Lariat come with 18s, and King Ranch and Platinum come with 20s..... Those aren't options, it's what comes on the truck with each respective trim package.

So, camp-n, are you saying that if it's an available OEM option it's still not "stock" if you drive that vehicle off the lot? My little ol' F150 XLT has the optional 20" wheels from Ford, so isn't that still a 'stock' truck in sense of the term?

By what you are saying, anything over a white, vinyl floor covered truck with roll up windows and manual door locks is "stock"... Which is what I call a "base" truck.. All of my trucks ratings is based on how it left the assembly line, and that was with the optional 20" wheels.

Mitch

camp-n-family wrote:
...Ram and Chevy/GMC don't even offer 20s on their HD trucks.

That's not true. The GMC Sierra Denali HD is offered with Factory 20" wheels.

http://www.gmc.com/sierra-2500hd-denali-pickup-truck.html#Exterior

So does the Chevy Silverado 2500 HD - High Country package:

http://www.chevrolet.com/silverado-2500hd-heavy-duty-trucks/specs/trims.html


There was a time when the 20" & 22" wheels & tires were limited in their weight ratings, but as they've gone mainstream now there are plenty of available tires and wheels in these sizes with the same load ratings.

MitchF150 wrote:
So, camp-n, are you saying that if it's an available OEM option it's still not "stock" if you drive that vehicle off the lot? My little ol' F150 XLT has the optional 20" wheels from Ford, so isn't that still a 'stock' truck in sense of the term?

By what you are saying, anything over a white, vinyl floor covered truck with roll up windows and manual door locks is "stock"... Which is what I call a "base" truck.. All of my trucks ratings is based on how it left the assembly line, and that was with the optional 20" wheels.

Mitch

I think there is some confusion between stock and standard/optional and base model. You are correct. Your 20's are indeed stock and an option.

Acutually I believe 20's are standard on the Ford Limited model. But this is not the base Ford Truck model either.