Rims/Tires
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,443
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From: South Alabama
Rims/Tires
Just bought a 1994 Full Size Bronco in “Fair” shape. No rust, the engine misses etc. Question is... looking at a lot of broncos people keep the 15” rims and go for tall tires.
I was wondering why not a 18” or 20” rim with a not so tall tire. Am i missing something about gear ratio, spedo? Just wondering.
Will look forward to being here a lot as I don’t know gas as well as I know Diesel.
I was wondering why not a 18” or 20” rim with a not so tall tire. Am i missing something about gear ratio, spedo? Just wondering.
Will look forward to being here a lot as I don’t know gas as well as I know Diesel.
Super Moderator
Joined: Apr 2004
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15" wheel with a tall tire gives you lots of sidewall to soak up bumps and protect, to some degree, the wheel from the harsher, sharper bumps that could get to the wheel in higher speed circumstances.
Ratio and speedo depend on the "loaded radius" of the tire, not whatever wheel diameter you have.
"Loaded radius" gives you the running diameter of the tire. That is what effects the speedo etc.
My '17 F150 has 17" or 18" or 20" wheel options. Because of the tire size, all are about the same diameter.
You can do roughly the same with the Bronco with 16" or 17" wheels and still have a good sidewall. 18s and up, your sidewall will move that wheel lip closer and closer to the dirt and rocks.
What engine and transmission?
Ratio and speedo depend on the "loaded radius" of the tire, not whatever wheel diameter you have.
"Loaded radius" gives you the running diameter of the tire. That is what effects the speedo etc.
My '17 F150 has 17" or 18" or 20" wheel options. Because of the tire size, all are about the same diameter.
You can do roughly the same with the Bronco with 16" or 17" wheels and still have a good sidewall. 18s and up, your sidewall will move that wheel lip closer and closer to the dirt and rocks.
What engine and transmission?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 9
From: South Alabama
Thanks for the reply and great answer. Engine is 5.8 (351) transmission is auto. other than that i don't really know what the transmission is.
Just getting started and in no rush. Rides like a tank. Body mounts look good but over torqued. Front end is drooping about 2”. Going to be asking about coils, suspension.
Just getting started and in no rush. Rides like a tank. Body mounts look good but over torqued. Front end is drooping about 2”. Going to be asking about coils, suspension.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,333
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Many think that large wheels on 80s and 90s rigs don't really look right.
Many keep the 15s for no other reason than to keep it original looking like the classic that it is and not have huge pizza cutter bro dozer wheels
Many keep the 15s for no other reason than to keep it original looking like the classic that it is and not have huge pizza cutter bro dozer wheels
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,627
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From: Near Yosemite CA
Personally, I'm not a fan of the big rim/small sidewall look, especially on the older trucks, 17's look good, but that's about the limit for me, unless you're going with 38's/40's.
Also what you do with your truck weighs in here also... I take mine up wheeling/hunting etc. and dropping down to the teens on air pressure makes for way better traction and a much smoother ride, with 35's on 16" rims I've dropped down to 15 F and 12 R.
As 85e150 stated, the rim diameter is independent of tire size, one could have 35" tires with 15" rims or 35" tires with 20" rims and you still have the same effective Revs per mile...
Just depends on the look you like and what you plan to do with your Bronco... if you want to go play, I would stick with 15" or 16", if you're sticking strictly to pavement, then the choice is yours as to how big of a rim you'd like.
Also what you do with your truck weighs in here also... I take mine up wheeling/hunting etc. and dropping down to the teens on air pressure makes for way better traction and a much smoother ride, with 35's on 16" rims I've dropped down to 15 F and 12 R.
As 85e150 stated, the rim diameter is independent of tire size, one could have 35" tires with 15" rims or 35" tires with 20" rims and you still have the same effective Revs per mile...
Just depends on the look you like and what you plan to do with your Bronco... if you want to go play, I would stick with 15" or 16", if you're sticking strictly to pavement, then the choice is yours as to how big of a rim you'd like.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,333
Likes: 296
The general rule of thumb I have picked up on over the years that appeals to my particular tastes is that the wheel size looks best when limited to 1/2 of the tires overall diameter.
33s use max 16" wheels
35s use max 17" wheels
etc.
but it is your truck so do as you wish.
33s use max 16" wheels
35s use max 17" wheels
etc.
but it is your truck so do as you wish.
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 530
Likes: 89
I like having more tire for off road use. I'm sure less tire and more wheel wouldn't matter too much for something purely driven on the street. One caveat for staying with a 15" wheel is that tire choices are limited. I have 15" wheels and 35s. If I get new wheels and tires, I'll be going with 17" wheels due to more tire choices in the 35+ tire sizes. I'd want 37s or larger and most of them are made for 17" wheels or larger.
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