So we have a "Why are car wheels so big?" thread on here every so often, but today I want to know why Pickup trucks are offered with wheels bigger than 18".
The obvious answer is because the pickup posers want them. Well when I see 20" wheels on a car or truck, I cringe at the thought of a pothole. On a truck these big wheels make less sense, because of the low profile tires that are on them. All you have to do is look at a curb or pot hole and your wheel is damaged.
The other thing is too, is a pickup's ride is already compromised by the suspension and big wheels with low pros aren't going to make things much better.
I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I'd rather replace a $130 tire with torn belts than to pay $400+ dollars for a new wheel.
The Ford Raptor is by far the best looking truck made today. And I suspect it is the best stock off road truck made also. It comes with 17" wheels, I think. So, that means something I think.
I hate big wheels on trucks, particularly chrome ones.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:
Streetwiseguy wrote:
Short dick.
+1
Same reason guys are out there in 1 ton diesel trucks with huge lifts.
As long as they're paying for the crap and not just buying it on an unending string of credit cards, I really don't care though.
In reply to MG Bryan:
Same reason guys are out there in 1 ton diesel trucks with huge lifts.
In my neighborhood, that is the dentist's vehicle of choice.
MG Bryan wrote:
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:
Streetwiseguy wrote:
Short dick.
+1
Same reason guys are out there in 1 ton diesel trucks with huge lifts.
As long as they're paying for the crap and not just buying it on an unending string of credit cards, I really don't care though.
You have the truck and a Porsche. Your dick must look like a belly button. (Just kidding. Don't run me over with your monster truck.)
Otto Maddox wrote:
MG Bryan wrote:
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:
Streetwiseguy wrote:
Short dick.
+1
Same reason guys are out there in 1 ton diesel trucks with huge lifts.
As long as they're paying for the crap and not just buying it on an unending string of credit cards, I really don't care though.
You have the truck and a Porsche. Your dick must look like a belly button. (Just kidding. Don't run me over with your monster truck.)
Say what? I don't own a truck or a Porsche.
From a design perspective..EVERYTHING on trucks has gotten bigger. The wheelwell and wheel arch are drawn in such a way that even 20's on a fullsize truck don't look big anymore, just adequate to fill the arches.
Model bloat. Most truck 20's though still have plenty of tire on them to prevent pothole damage.
Large wheels aren't in and of themselves bad. Big rigs run 22.5's and 24.5's quite reliably.
big tow rating pissing contest = big truck = big weight = big brakes = needs big wheels to fit the brakes
at least thats why the generation of the f-150 that started in 97 came standard with 16" wheels, as 15" wheels wouldn't fit over the brakes. as for why 22" factory option wheels are offered on tahoes and suburbans, i'd say the answer is because people will pay for them.
edit: iirc, people were all pissy back then because 16" tires were "soooo expensive" and had to use them thar wierd metric sizes. "i just want a set of 31s on it!" whats this 235 75 mean anyways?
MG Bryan wrote:
Otto Maddox wrote:
MG Bryan wrote:
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:
Streetwiseguy wrote:
Short dick.
+1
Same reason guys are out there in 1 ton diesel trucks with huge lifts.
As long as they're paying for the crap and not just buying it on an unending string of credit cards, I really don't care though.
You have the truck and a Porsche. Your dick must look like a belly button. (Just kidding. Don't run me over with your monster truck.)
Say what? I don't own a truck or a Porsche.
I think he meant me - but both of mine have 17" wheels.
As far as dicks go - it is all about circumference anyway. Just ask any other Irishman.
Because they look fly, yo!
I just want them to fill big rims with big brakes. I hate tine rotors and massive rims.
RossD
UltraDork
4/3/12 1:31 p.m.
I bought a used '06 F150 with 20" wheels and I like how it looks. Although, it makes tires expensive and hard to find. When I had my steel 18" spare on, I thought that it looked better. I have thoughts of just getting all spare wheels to cut down on tire replacement costs, then sell the 20"s.
As for the weiner comments, my girlfriend is not complaining...
And yes my truck has been stuck in the mud, is often dirty and full of truck type cargo.
In reply to RossD:
Those look like the new normal. Maybe I am offended by 22s or 24s.
If you're using it for towing (a lot), it'll help the ride out. Otherwise, it won't make it easier. I've seen some at 19.5 which would look great on a truck but not as massive as what comes from the factory these days.
I have a '66 F-100 with the standard 15" tires. It looks like a toy parked next to a 2012 pickup, but the funny thing is there's just as much room in the bed for hauling stuff.
Otto Maddox wrote:
Those look like the new normal. Maybe I am offended by 22s or 24s.
Yeah, it's got to the point where if I see a large SUV or truck with the stock 17s or 18s on it, they look small and wrong somehow. Hell, the stock 18s on my Range Rover looked small on it.
stuart in mn wrote:
I have a '66 F-100 with the standard 15" tires. It looks like a toy parked next to a 2012 pickup, but the funny thing is there's just as much room in the bed for hauling stuff.
I'll bet the brakes suck in comparison, though, and it won't tow as much as the 2012 version. 
Once upon a time, you could walk up to your pickup and drop your tool box over the side as you opened the door. Not any more.
I think height to width is a bigger issue. The bigger wheel tire combinations look so narrow - like wagon wheels.
Trucks are big. 18's on my Silverado look tiny and weird and they're the smallest that will fit over the brakes. I see lots of trucks that look like mine with 20's and they look better. I'm cheap though, 18 inch tires are cheap, relatively speaking.
RossD
UltraDork
4/3/12 2:02 p.m.
My truck tires are 32.9" tall and 10.8" wide (32.9/10.8=3.05)
My NA Miata tires are 22.7" tall and 7.28" wide (22.7/7.28=3.12)
My miata has a more wagon wheel ratio than my truck does... only by a small margin. Just a point of reference
