Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
BK
TDR MEMBER
If your looking for a mall cruzer, and like more wheel and less tire, go for ya 22's.
But if your looking for practical off road use, and don't want to worry about bending a rim on pot holes on the street, and floatation counts: Less wheel is better, no more than 50% is a decent rule if your looking for a compromise. More sidewall offers better ride, better rim protection, more sidewall for bulge for flotation.
The . 5 sizes (from what I know about 16. 5") don't have the bead catch (or what ever it's call, loss for words right now) that 16 or 17 does. So the 16 and 17 hold a tire on better at low pressures. I've never lost a bead even down at 9psi.
Also inch by inch, from what I read, as the wheel gets bigger it usually adds to the unsprung weight compared to the tire.
The 50% rule really helps when your looking at 44" tires and looking for better street handling. more sidewall = more flex = worse handling (but softer ride and becomes part of the suspension almost). . so for practical off road 22 rims work nice on 44 tires and help the street-ability of 44s.
Less Side wall is better for towing, where the additional load can make a tire/wheel combo with more sidewall squirm more then a tire/wheel combo with less sidewall.
So sticking with that rule, with 33" tires, for some 16" and 17" rims are just right about there.
Some go with 17" or 18" just to fit bigger brakes on their application.
And then you have the 19. 5" tire/wheel combo's out there for towing, with real big weight load limits.
So is it off road and or street comfort and or towing? what's your pleasure...
For me it's a mix of street comfort, light towing, but also towing off road on the beach. I need floation and protection. So I stayed with 16" rims and went with 33x12. 5 that are E rated. I would like to go with 35x15, but need a lift and slight fend mods. With a lift not the best thing for towing, and already having a dropped hitch, I've stayed stock and 33x12's.
But if your looking for practical off road use, and don't want to worry about bending a rim on pot holes on the street, and floatation counts: Less wheel is better, no more than 50% is a decent rule if your looking for a compromise. More sidewall offers better ride, better rim protection, more sidewall for bulge for flotation.
The . 5 sizes (from what I know about 16. 5") don't have the bead catch (or what ever it's call, loss for words right now) that 16 or 17 does. So the 16 and 17 hold a tire on better at low pressures. I've never lost a bead even down at 9psi.
Also inch by inch, from what I read, as the wheel gets bigger it usually adds to the unsprung weight compared to the tire.
The 50% rule really helps when your looking at 44" tires and looking for better street handling. more sidewall = more flex = worse handling (but softer ride and becomes part of the suspension almost). . so for practical off road 22 rims work nice on 44 tires and help the street-ability of 44s.
Less Side wall is better for towing, where the additional load can make a tire/wheel combo with more sidewall squirm more then a tire/wheel combo with less sidewall.
So sticking with that rule, with 33" tires, for some 16" and 17" rims are just right about there.
Some go with 17" or 18" just to fit bigger brakes on their application.
And then you have the 19. 5" tire/wheel combo's out there for towing, with real big weight load limits.
So is it off road and or street comfort and or towing? what's your pleasure...
For me it's a mix of street comfort, light towing, but also towing off road on the beach. I need floation and protection. So I stayed with 16" rims and went with 33x12. 5 that are E rated. I would like to go with 35x15, but need a lift and slight fend mods. With a lift not the best thing for towing, and already having a dropped hitch, I've stayed stock and 33x12's.
Last edited:
