17" or 18" wheels

[Lilnuts2]

Getting ready to convert to 4x4 with MG brackets using 2015 F350 axles.

What size wheels does everyone prefer?

[carringb]

Depends how heavy your rig is. 17" tend to be a little cheaper. But if you have a fully-built EB, I'd go 18" solely for the additional load carrying. Going with a LT295/70R18 tire gives you 4,000 pounds/tire in load range E. Of course, if you have a semi-float axle, upgrade that before trying to use all the capacity in these new 18" tires.

[Lilnuts2]

Carringb, shes an 02 7.3 eb about to get a full camper interior.
The new sterling rear axle is a FF.
Sounds like 18's is the way, thanks for your input.

[DesertSMB]

The size of rim you use is also determined by the diameter of the tire you plan to use. If you intend do serious off roading you should have rims with a diameter about 50% of the diameter of the tires. If you too much bigger than this you will not have enough sidewall to allow for airing down the tires for soft sand.

[86Scotty]

I can't believe you'd ask such an elementary question. There is really only one answer:

https://youtu.be/E1u9u7mq9Ck

[JoeH]

I agonized long and hard over 17 or 18" when going up in size to fit bigger brakes (still on the to-do list). In the end, I couldn't find a 35" tire with a load rating I liked in the 17" offerings so I went 18".


Some folks like the look of a bigger sidewall. And more is better for airing down but the reality is how many actually do air down when off road? And 35" tires on a 16 or 17" wheel can be mushy when cornering. Tires are a compromise and the truth of it is, most of us do far more pavement miles than we care to admit. And as usual, Carringb is spot-n with the load capacities observation. The 17" offerings are more limited, albeit a bit cheaper. Personally, I'd rather run an 80psi 4080lb tire at 60 psi than be maxed out on the load capacity of a 35" tire on 17" wheels (typically 65psi for a load rating of 3195lb).

[Lilnuts2]

JoeH, very good points and I totally agree on the mushy sidewall feel (hate that). I prefer a more firm ride, as apposed to a 8,000# waterbed ride.

[Jeffrey]

Off road performance benefits from more sidewall height = more comfort = less handling on road. But these are not Porsches.

Of course we all drive more in pavement. That's how we get to the trails!

I'm glad my rig can use 16" wheels, the standard for decades before oversize brakes and useless bling came along. I run Goodyear 35's and it gets the job done.

[marret]

Yep. Most of us are running E rated 10 ply tires, very stiff sidewalls, as well.

[Lilnuts2]

In my opinion they are not oversized brakes, finally they are the right sized brakes.... lol