Help!! 17s, 18s, or 20s??!!

TXPudge1868 · Dec 27, 2016

As the title says, I cannot for the life of me decide which wheel size to get. I am making sure that I get the full use out of every penny spent on this truck build, and I want to make sure I don't making a decision that I may end up regretting in the future.

That being said, I am stuck between which wheel size to get for the BFG KO2 35x12.5xwhatever I plan on getting. A big reason why I'm stuck is 1) the price differences between the 3 wheel sizes when I plan on buying the wheels, and 2) the more expensive the tires are going to be buying 35s with 20" wheels compared to 17"s wrapped in 35s.

My biggest question is for those of you who have been in my situation, which route did you go and did you regret anything at all? I'm still trying to decide on which wheels to get -- the Method Standards at -12mm in both 17" and 18", or the Fuel Lethals at -12mm in 17" and 18" and then -24mm in the 20x10 -- both being about the same price at each wheel size.

Any and all advice is welcome especially if there are certain times throughout the year when tires and wheels are discounted.

Thanks!

HemiPower36 · Dec 27, 2016

I was in the same boat last year about wheel size also. I found that no matter what size you buy for wheels, you are still making an expensive purchase buying new wheels and tires regardless. I spent around $2700 for my wheels and tires installed. At this price, I figured a could spare an extra $100 or so dollars buying 20" wheels. I feel 17" look to small and I would consider that size more for an "off road beater." My opinion.

Check out the 20" with 35x12.5 leveled with bils 5100.

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Birddog · Dec 27, 2016

I went through that with my 2500 when I did my 6" lift. I figured with all I was spending that after it was spent a few hundred more would be worth the years of hate I would have not spending it. Keep in mind that the Ford comes with factory 20's and so does the Laramie Ram 1500. My 20" fuels on 35" trail grapplers brought a lot of stares and compliments wherever I stopped. You won't regret it.

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Power247 · Dec 27, 2016

One other thing to consider is the ride. 35s on 17s will ride a bit smoother than on 20s due to having more sidewall.

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DannyMK2 · Dec 27, 2016

Power247 said:
One other thing to consider is the ride. 35s on 17s will ride a bit smoother than on 20s due to having more sidewall.

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yep. the 20" wheels also add a bit more weight to the overall rim/tire combo as well.

if you offroad, the smaller wheel gives you more sidewall as well which can be a benefit. if your only after looks, i suppose the 20's will probably look the best. 18's are a good compromise though.

blackbeautyhemi · Dec 27, 2016

18's are nice but there's more tire size options for 20's than 18's. I wish I would've stayed with 20's.

bcbouy · Dec 28, 2016

personally,i've got 33 m/t's on a stock 17 rim.not so great when my camper is on.great off road.i just picked up a set of 35's on 20's for my camper carrying duties.they go on in the spring and then off again in the fall.both serve a different purpose and neither one is looks.when the 35's wear out i'll go with a little less sidewall.

Gump · Dec 28, 2016

Planned all along to do 18s, and wound up getting my 20" tires and wheels on Black Friday for $1600 which was a couple hundred less than the 18s would've been. 18s are a good size for trucks, but with bigger tires the 20s look better.

Birddog · Dec 28, 2016

Smaller wheels do reduce rotational weight but I used to go off roading with my 20's on 35's. I'm sure how smooth your truck ride will also be effected by the tires you pick and if you do a lift your shock absorbers will definitely matter. I got the Pro Comp Es9000's and my ride was smother after my lift and wheels than it was stock.

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PDXRam · Dec 29, 2016

I went with 18" wheels for my 35" tires. At first I was thinking 20" for sure but the shop kind of convinced my on 18". It does look beefier and together with a future lift for me I think it will look better than 35" tires with 20" wheels!

As you can see on the attached picture, in my opinion the wheels definitely look big enough but there is still plenty of tire to go with it.

07MegaCabRam · Dec 29, 2016

17" are better for offroad
18" are more expensive than any of these
20" fit these trucks better (cheaper than 18")

Juvenator93 · Dec 29, 2016

No regrets on my 17s. Went from stock 18"wheels and tires to 17s and 35s and the ride difference alone made me happy. Still look great imo.

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Warren5 · Dec 29, 2016

35x18

This is my setup with 35x18x12.5

69GWC · Dec 29, 2016

Do you have anymore pics with the 18s as thats how I am leaning as well.
Thanks

TXPudge1868 · Jan 15, 2017

Juvenator93 said:
No regrets on my 17s. Went from stock 18"wheels and tires to 17s and 35s and the ride difference alone made me happy. Still look great imo.

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Do you have any other pictures of your truck? I still have no clue which wheel size I'm going with, but this definitely swayed me more towards 17s. Is the -12 offset still a nice stance? A big reason why I like the 20s is because I haven't been able to find any offset in both 17s and 18s that's bigger than -12.

Juvenator93 · Jan 15, 2017

TXPudge1868 said:
Do you have any other pictures of your truck? I still have no clue which wheel size I'm going with, but this definitely swayed me more towards 17s. Is the -12 offset still a nice stance? A big reason why I like the 20s is because I haven't been able to find any offset in both 17s and 18s that's bigger than -12.

Here's a few more

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TXPudge1868 · Jan 15, 2017

And that's just on a 2.5" level? Your 2500 looks like it has a 6" lift compared to my 1500 sitting on the top Bilsteins setting.

Alaskanpeeps · Jan 15, 2017

I do Mostly highway driving. I changed to 20s from 17s for better handling. (Less side wall) if u like to off-road then I'd go with a smalller rim. For more sidewall and better airing down the tires for off road traction. IMO

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TXPudge1868 · Jan 15, 2017

So if I were to go with 17x9s with a -12 offset, the largest tire I would be able to run with my Bilsteins would be 315/70/17, right? Everything I've read on other forums says they're 35s and are also the OEM tire size on the Raptors, even though the size comparison on tiresize.com says the 315/70s are only a 34.4" tire which is kind of confusing.

69GWC · Jan 15, 2017

There's guys running that same wheel and offset with 35,12.50s and say no rubbing.
I would not think 35s or 315s would be a noticeable difference

Help!! 17s, 18s, or 20s??!!

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