20’s just look right

[Jetboy]

I generally agree with you but even on some non-extreme FS roads I've encountered large enough sharp rocks that would **** up a 20" wheel with a smaller sidewall. Maybe not performance-related but still kind of helpful for those of us that aren't trying to rock crawl but still end up in rockslide debris fields. Some of the rocks I encountered were big enough to smack a 17" even though it was just puttering around the National Forest like a neeeeewb.

But yeah, on the larger full size trucks, the 20s don't even look that big these days.

I can't speak for your specific trails. In my experience in most cases it doesn't make much difference. The common southern Colorado trails you see pictures of are safely driven on 20's. I've personally gone over black bear pass and Imogene pass on 20's with P rated tires without issue. It depends a lot on your perspective, FJ Summit rates BB as "difficult" but you can drive them in a Subaru. While not challenging they have a lot of sharp rocks. The big advantage to 17's there would simply be comfort. They'll take a lot of the roughness out of the trail.

Don't get me wrong. I generally prefer 17's. I'd prefer 15's for offroad use if they fit. I mostly think some of the comments about how 20's are a terrible choice are a bit over dramatic. 20's are fine - especially with 33+ tires you get a decent sidewall and ride quality.

I'm headed back to Durango in a few weeks. This time I'm not taking the camper so I'll probably run 17's this time for comfort. And I've never been on Poughkeepsie so I figured I'd try to run up there. Might hit Moab for a day on the way to/from.

 

[LandCruiser]

I can't speak for your specific trails. In my experience in most cases it doesn't make much difference. The common southern Colorado trails you see pictures of are safely driven on 20's. I've personally gone over black bear pass and Imogene pass on 20's with P rated tires without issue. It depends a lot on your perspective, FJ Summit rates BB as "difficult" but you can drive them in a Subaru. While not challenging they have a lot of sharp rocks. The big advantage to 17's there would simply be comfort. They'll take a lot of the roughness out of the trail.

I'm headed back to Durango in a few weeks. This time I'm not taking the camper so I'll probably run 17's this time for comfort. And I've never been on Poughkeepsie so I figured I'd try to run up there. Might hit Moab for a day on the way to/from.

Honestly, most of our vehicles are so heavily over-modded for trails around here.

Mt. Herman in my old backyard has some trails bro jeeps go on, but they're just dirt roads with huge ruts in them. Sometimes idiots wander off the trail to "flex" their bro jeep to post on SM and then get the trails closed for everyone.

Saw a guy with Tejas plates and a stock 4x2 Tundra piddling around on it last weekend, didn't give no shits and made it to the end and back.

 

[brtnstrns]

I can't speak for your specific trails. In my experience in most cases it doesn't make much difference. The common southern Colorado trails you see pictures of are safely driven on 20's. I've personally gone over black bear pass and Imogene pass on 20's with P rated tires without issue. It depends a lot on your perspective, FJ Summit rates BB as "difficult" but you can drive them in a Subaru. While not challenging they have a lot of sharp rocks. The big advantage to 17's there would simply be comfort. They'll take a lot of the roughness out of the trail.

Don't get me wrong. I generally prefer 17's. I'd prefer 15's for offroad use if they fit. I mostly think some of the comments about how 20's are a terrible choice are a bit over dramatic. 20's are fine - especially with 33+ tires you get a decent sidewall and ride quality.

I'm headed back to Durango in a few weeks. This time I'm not taking the camper so I'll probably run 17's this time for comfort. And I've never been on Poughkeepsie so I figured I'd try to run up there. Might hit Moab for a day on the way to/from.

For sure. I can just see the 20s that come on the Limiteds with the stock tires getting totally thrashed on some of the easier stuff. Of course slightly larger tires would mitigate that and some people don't care about their wheels getting blasted so I suppose I'm just being a pedantic ass...but yeah, 20s aren't detrimental to performance until you reach the fringe parts of the hobby. But they just look really large on a vehicle the size of our 4Runners.