Rim Size vs Tire Size

[ToolUser1]

So I asked this question in a highway tire thread and didn't get any responses, so I'm actually going to risk opening yet another tire related thread, but with what I think is a new question...

I have an '11 Trail with stock 17x7.5 rims running 265-70/17 Duratracs. Great tire. However, my wife doesn't really like them (noise, etc) and like many others here the reality is it's more tire than I need probably 95% of the time. I've decided to pick up a second set of rims & put on Michelin Defender LTX M/S tires for daily use, keeping the beefier set for winter/offroad use.

My question is what size rim should I get for best on-road performance in the stock tire size? The stock Trail wheel is 17x7.5, but I think the stock SR5 is 17x7. The stock tire size of 265-70/17 looks like it's the same for both - so which one is better for on-road use? The web appears silent on this topic, offering only what tires fit what rims, not explaining the trade-offs of the different combinations.

Oh, and by performance I mean keeping handling and road feel as firm as possible, not going further down the path of extreme mushiness that the Big T seems to have embraced over the last few years.

Any input appreciated!

 

[philsey]

You didn't get any answers because the difference is irrelevant. Get whichever wheel you like for the price. Talk about overthinking.

:crazy:

 

[e60ral]

with the tire sizes being equivalent, a wider wheel will allow slightly less tire roll when cornering and provide more confident cornering and better feedback, but in the context of these tire/wheel combinations there is no way its a noticeable difference

 

[humbertx2]

Narrower tires are generally said to increase fuel efficiency, all other things being equal. The section and tread width of a tire will be affected by the wheel width.


2016 SR5P 4WD Super White
Bilstein 5100 @ .85
Nokian Rotiiva AT 265 70 17
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[salong53]

If you want to improve the performance feel of the tires, just get a set of the Limited 20" wheels.

 

[jspagna1]

As humbertx2 mentioned a narrower tire is better for fuel efficiency and also better for cutting through the snow in the Winter as I see you are from Boston.

I have 2 set of wheels (17x7) and tires for my 11 and my Winter tires (AT) are narrower than my Summer tires (AS) wheels (18x8.5).

 

[jwkilgore]

If you want to overthink, then most 265/70R/17 tires have a recommended rim-width range of 7"-9". So the middle of that range, or 8", would be best. But honestly it doesn't really matter. These will be on the vehicle the majority of the time, so find a nice rim you really like and get the width available.

Two other options... first, you aren't limited to 17" rims. You could go with 18" to get a little more flash with shorter sidewalls (better cornering), but still taller sidewalls than the Limited's stock 20" rims. I do NOT recommend buying Limited take-offs because the available tire sizes for 20"x7" rims is very slim, but you can probably get them quite cheap.

Second option, put the street tires on the OEM rim and put the off-road tires on the new rim. Get the new rim sized to fit the largest off-road tire you may use (285/70R/17's technically aren't approved for the stock rim width, with a 7.5" minimum).

One more thing about the 95% on-road... it's probably way more than that. I used to say that number, then I actually did the math. Assuming 12k miles a year, 5% off road is 600 miles. That's a massively more off-road miles than what most people do. Not gravel forest service roads where a HT tire will work, I'm talking driving through mud, rocks, sand, snow, or steep slopes where an aggressive tread is needed. I personally barely do 0.5% (60-miles). But when I do go off road I need a tire that will get me back, so AT's it is.

 

[Quentin]

If you want to firm up the handling, you will want to have purchased a KDSS truck. (Not sure if you have it or not.) Changing dampers, springs, and swaybars are going to have a much bigger effect that wheel width.


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[ToolUser1]

Thanks for all the responses. I wasn't overthinking: I know lots about a couple things, a little about a whole bunch of things, and nothing at all about wheels vs tires. Toyota saw fit to have different size wheels with the same tire size on two very similar models so I figured there must be some difference.

Thinner wheels giving 1) slightly softer sidewall and therefore slightly softer handling, and 2) slightly less contact with the ground and therefore slightly better fuel economy - both those points make logical sense to me. Whether those differences are actually noticeable in everyday driving I have no idea, but it sounds like I'd prefer the wider wheel. The price difference is marginal so I'll just go with another set of the stock rims. I like the look so no need to change.

Thanks again, this is a great forum.


Oh, and I included "totally have to get there" ski trips in my 95%, otherwise my true need for more aggressive tires could be measured in tenths of a percent...

 

[Jhalko]

Thanks again, this is a great forum.

Oh, and I included "totally have to get there" ski trips in my 95%, otherwise my true need for more aggressive tires could be measured in tenths of a percent...

Who skis on the east coast? Yuck! :tea:



I'd just get one mild AT tire based on usage if it was me...

 

[ToolUser1]

Who skis on the east coast? Yuck! :tea:

No argument - I grew up in the northwest and definitely miss real mountains. They call them mountains over here, but I think its because they just didn't know any better back in the day, and the names just stuck

But when it snows a lot even the hills are fun, especially if you get there before everyone else...

 

[jwkilgore]

No argument - I grew up in the northwest and definitely miss real mountains. They call them mountains over here, but I think its because they just didn't know any better back in the day, and the names just stuck

The tallest pile of dirt or rock around is automatically a "mountain". I'm from Mississippi. That state is home to Woodall Mountain which is the highest point in the state at a breathtaking 807ft ASL.

But if you really want bad skiing, you've got to try Cloudmont on Lookout Mountain, Alabama. As long as it gets below freezing at night they run snow machines to coat one slope in slush, which then partially melts the next day. It's awesome!

 

[ChowChilla]

I got rid on my 20 and went with 17", couldn't be happier!!!

 

[RainyDayRunner]

Thanks for all the responses. I wasn't overthinking: I know lots about a couple things, a little about a whole bunch of things, and nothing at all about wheels vs tires. Toyota saw fit to have different size wheels with the same tire size on two very similar models so I figured there must be some difference.

Thinner wheels giving 1) slightly softer sidewall and therefore slightly softer handling, and 2) slightly less contact with the ground and therefore slightly better fuel economy - both those points make logical sense to me. Whether those differences are actually noticeable in everyday driving I have no idea, but it sounds like I'd prefer the wider wheel. The price difference is marginal so I'll just go with another set of the stock rims. I like the look so no need to change.

Thanks again, this is a great forum.


Oh, and I included "totally have to get there" ski trips in my 95%, otherwise my true need for more aggressive tires could be measured in tenths of a percent...

Bear in mind that some tires do not come in all loads at every size. For example, I really wanted to go with some BFGs AT KO2s that were a little taller than my current ones. The problem was that they only came in E load, which is a 10-ply and is reviewed as being a very stiff ride. I wanted C load (or class C...whatever it's called) so that I had a softer ride and since they also get great reviews. Every dealer I talked to said that class E was overboard unless it was being used full time off road. In the end, I stayed with the original size and am very happy with it. If I went up to a 33 inch, I'd only get .75 inches of left anyway, so it wasn't worth the risk to me.

 

[WRM1]

I have an '11 Trail with stock 17x7.5 rims running 265-70/17 Duratracs. Great tire. However, my wife doesn't really like them (noise, etc) and like many others here the reality is it's more tire than I need probably 95% of the time. I've decided to pick up a second set of rims & put on Michelin Defender LTX M/S tires for daily use, keeping the beefier set for winter/offroad use.

My question is what size rim should I get for best on-road performance in the stock tire size? The stock Trail wheel is 17x7.5, but I think the stock SR5 is 17x7. The stock tire size of 265-70/17 looks like it's the same for both - so which one is better for on-road use? The web appears silent on this topic, offering only what tires fit what rims, not explaining the trade-offs of the different combinations.

Any input appreciated!

I have those Michelins on my 2010 TE with the stock wheels. Great ride, great handling, no problems at all. In a blind test, you probably couldn't tell the difference in wheel widths, so go with whichever wheel looks best to you.