Advantages to 20" wheels?
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Junior User
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Advantages to 20" wheels?
Other than strictly appearance is there any advantage to 18" or 20" wheels over the stock 17". The 17s should be lighter which would mean easier to turn and making them more efficient. They should also be a bit less expensive to replace and better on fuel. Is there any real advantage to the larger wheel than you like the way they look?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Reno, NV
It depends on what vehicle and how you plan to use it... for street use, 18-20" wheels
work well. They allow you to run a larger diameter tire with a shorter sidewall. Generally shorter sidewalls are stiffer offering less flex and roll when cornering.
But the shorter sidewalls can be a disadvantage off-road where more sidewall flex is often a good thing... Another factor would be how large a tire you want to run. I think 35's look great on 18" rims... and work well off-road too.
work well. They allow you to run a larger diameter tire with a shorter sidewall. Generally shorter sidewalls are stiffer offering less flex and roll when cornering.
But the shorter sidewalls can be a disadvantage off-road where more sidewall flex is often a good thing... Another factor would be how large a tire you want to run. I think 35's look great on 18" rims... and work well off-road too.
Elder User
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Bling. Pure Bling. The 20's (known as "Dubs") nicely compliment your gold tooth and the jumbo gold chain around your neck with the 24 carat 4" tall "V10" emblem hangin' on it.
In other words, They know yur "fly" when yur cruisin' by; the bass is thumpin' and the ho's are jumpin....
Seriously, if the rims are the same width and the tires are the same height then the 20" package will be lighter. The larger rim weighs fractionally more but the tire weighs less. For example a LT305/70R16 measures 32.7" tall and weighs 57.5 lbs; a P305/50R20 measures 31.89" tall and weighs 45.6 lbs. For a bit more height and less rolling resistance (higher miles per gallon) use a LT275/60R20 which is 32.9" tall and weighs 42.1 lbs.
The trend (started by Dodge with their Dubs) is to go big for the sake of bling. The 2007 Cadiallac Escalade will have chrome 22" rims as an option, once again to call attention to the ride. That's fine as long as the available choice of tires works for what you're using the vehicle for.
In other words, They know yur "fly" when yur cruisin' by; the bass is thumpin' and the ho's are jumpin....
The 17s should be lighter
The trend (started by Dodge with their Dubs) is to go big for the sake of bling. The 2007 Cadiallac Escalade will have chrome 22" rims as an option, once again to call attention to the ride. That's fine as long as the available choice of tires works for what you're using the vehicle for.
Last edited by dmp437; Jan 5, 2006 at 08:48 PM.
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Larger tires decrease your tow rating - which of course doesn't matter if you aren't towing....
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Junior User
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If the overall diameter is the same, then the towing capacity won't change. I can see a slight handling improvement in cornering with a lower profile tire, but really, who drives a superduty and has it for cornering ability. I was under the impression that the 20's were a larger overall diameter ( I know some are low profile ). The 20's cost more and replacements are more. And I think I'm past my Bling days.
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According to BF Goodrich:
LT 285/70R17....32.8 height....634 revs/mile@45mph
LT 285/55R20....32.5 height....640 revs/mile@45mph
http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/asset...rain_ta_kd.pdf
LT 285/70R17....32.8 height....634 revs/mile@45mph
LT 285/55R20....32.5 height....640 revs/mile@45mph
http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/asset...rain_ta_kd.pdf
Junior User
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Larger rims and tires weight more "can be a lot more" 20-30 lbs more per wheel/tire assy. This weight is both "rotating and unsprung weight", it will slow down your acceleration, increase your braking distance, increase turning effort. It is also harder on your suspension parts and wheel bearing.
Now, to a lot of people this doesn't matter, and the factories have responded to consumer desire and providing 20" options. As with everything money is the factor, high quality forged wheels will be lighter and closer to the stock wheel weight. Cheap cast wheels can be VERY heavy.
One of you should weight your big tire/wheel combo and then weight the stock setup and post the results.
Now, to a lot of people this doesn't matter, and the factories have responded to consumer desire and providing 20" options. As with everything money is the factor, high quality forged wheels will be lighter and closer to the stock wheel weight. Cheap cast wheels can be VERY heavy.
One of you should weight your big tire/wheel combo and then weight the stock setup and post the results.
Elder User
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Originally Posted by dhawk57
If the outer diameter of the tire is larger does that make the actual MPH that you are doing higher or lower than what shows on the speedo.