20” wheels and K03 tires for off-road?

[loopless]

I’m looking at a 2026 1500 big horn 4x4 new quite heavily discounted. I do some rough roads in Baja. Not technical 4x4, just typical dirt ,small rocks, corrugated with an occasional surprise. It’s mainly hard on tires, I have been very happy with K02s on my old 2013 1500. I would do the usual to the truck, add some skid plates, level it up with bilsteins, but I have concerns about the 20” 275/55 profile being not off road capable vs , say 18” wheels and higher profile tires. Like rough ride, and damaged tires.

Anyone have thoughts? I could of course just buy the 18” wheels , but that’s a bit annoying to have to do that.

I could go with the “real” off road trims of the 1500 but I must have quad cab/6 4” bed and they force you into short beds or crew cabs in the other trims and of course a lot more $$.

 

[rzr6-4]

32" tires, so 6" sidewall. Do you NEED more sidewall to go where you're going? No, but if you are going to all of the other mods including getting a new set of KO3s anyway, wheels are pretty easy to do all things considered. Rocks and mud they actually matter less, if you are going to be on a lot of sand though being able to drop your tire psi down to 10 or so and having the smaller wheel diameter will allow more flex for a better contact patch, as well as giving you more space between the rocks and your wheel considering how squishy the tires will be.

 

[loopless]

32" tires, so 6" sidewall. Do you NEED more sidewall to go where you're going? No, but if you are going to all of the other mods including getting a new set of KO3s anyway, wheels are pretty easy to do all things considered. Rocks and mud they actually matter less, if you are going to be on a lot of sand though being able to drop your tire psi down to 10 or so and having the smaller wheel diameter will allow more flex for a better contact patch, as well as giving you more space between the rocks and your wheel considering how squishy the tires will be.

All good points, thanks! Yeah the extra side wall give you more options in the sand for sure.

 

[crash68]

Anyone have thoughts? I could of course just buy the 18” wheels , but that’s a bit annoying to have to do that.

Either up size the tires on the truck now which will require the speedometer to be calibrated or switch to the factory size of 275/65R18. This will give you an inch more sidewall than the factory 20s and the speedometer doesn't need to be recalibrate.

 

[loopless]

I am heading towards switching to 275/65R18 with new wheels and selling the old factory set up. I would have to buy 5 wheels as I gather the factory spare although 18" is not a "full size" spare (7.5").

 

[olyelr]

I am heading towards switching to 275/65R18 with new wheels and selling the old factory set up. I would have to buy 5 wheels as I gather the factory spare although 18" is not a "full size" spare (7.5").

The oem spare tire is indeed full size, 275/65/18.

While the spare wheel width is only 7.5” wide, you should have no problem putting that size back on the wheel lol.

 

[1stindoor]

If you are going to buy an "exact match" for your spare, check out Ebay. I bought a matching 20" Night Edition wheel and tire for a steal off of a wrecking yard. I keep it in my bed for road trips along with a heavy floor jack and an impact wrench. Not as fast as a NASCAR crew, but way faster than lowering a spare and using a scissor jack and a lug wrench.

 

[express2014]

I bent a 20" rim off road. I am too cheap to buy 18" rims. It still holds air. can alloy wheels be hammered back to round? when i replace the tires i will hammer it straight or break the rim.

 

[Govtman]

I have a 19 classic and run 275/65/20 34" 10 ply tires.

 

[BWL]

I bent a 20" rim off road. I am too cheap to buy 18" rims. It still holds air. can alloy wheels be hammered back to round? when i replace the tires i will hammer it straight or break the rim.

There are companies that straighten and retrue wheels if they're not cracked. Might be worth a look. Sometimes sets come up used on various Craigslist/Kijiji/Facebook marketplace for cheap as incomplete sets. I have 2 pairs of 4th gen rims 1 pair limited forged and 1 pair off a longhorn. Can't seem to give them away. My limited wheels are corroded and going to scrap them rather than try to strip and refinish even though they're scratch free and seat fine. I replaced them with a set of OEM sport wheels for my winter tires. Factory take off 18's are pretty easy to find as are the 20's with how popular rams are and how many people choose to change the wheels.

 

[express2014]

Thanks BWL After I break my wheel trying to straighten it plan B is to buy a used wheel off craigslist.

 

[noren388]

The Big Horn with 20s should be fine for that kind of Baja driving. They’ll be a bit harsher and less forgiving than 18s, but with good AT tires you should be fine. If tire or wheel damage becomes an issue, swap to 18s later.

 

[Dean2]

Nothing inherently wrong with a 20" rim. If you want more sidewall just buy a taller 20" tire. Saves the cost of a whole new set of rims. Same width so should have no clearance problems.

I ordered my 2500 with 18" wheels to get max sidewall and access to a broader range of tires as well as cheaper for same model of tire, but selection in off road 20" tires has really improved in the past 6 years.