TRUCK TRENDS: Big Wheels & Small Tires on a 4×4?!?

By Jerry Perez - March 29, 2017

‘Back in the day, there were only two kinds of trucks. Nowadays, there’s this…,’ says FTE‘s Jerry Perez, who considers curious new customization.

I’m going to try my best to not show my age, here, but just so you get an idea where this story comes from, I’m right around three decades old. That being said, I’m completely dumbfounded at this latest trend in pickup trucks, where large wheels (typically chromed) are fitted on lifted trucks with extremely low-profile rubber. Can someone explain the madness, please?

I grew up in the heart of truck country — Texas. People there take their trucks very seriously, and it’s also the largest market for pickup trucks of all sizes and prices in the country. Having lived in the Lone Star State and other countries has allowed me to learn about different trucks, their cultures, and their owners, so trust me when I say that I value customization. I, myself, am a big fan of doing whatever I want with my money and my vehicle, so I won’t judge someone for doing the same. But that doesn’t mean I don’t wonder — why?

Back in the day there were “bro trucks,” “mini trucks,” and plain ‘ole stock trucks. Now, there’s a plethora of trends that I’m not even sure I could name them all. So, that leads me to my main question: Can someone tell me where this wheel/tire combination originated, and why?

Common sense would dictate that having large wheels and small tires on a lifted 4×4 truck would render the whole thing useless, but that’s not what I’m after. Like I said, what people do with their stuff is their business.

I am a big fan of doing whatever I want with my vehicle, so I won’t judge someone for doing the same. But that doesn’t mean I don’t wonder — why?

I’ve tried to reach out to fellow truck-owning Texans that have given into this new trend, and they can’t even give me a sound reason why, besides that “it looks cool.”

In case you’re not sure what I’m talking about, check out these videos by one of my favorite Youtube channels, Salinas Photography.