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18 vs. 20 inch - Any advantage to either wheel size?

Discussion in 'Wheels & Tires' started by gdog_Tundra, Feb 21, 2019.

  1. Feb 21, 2019 at 5:07 AM
    #1
    gdog_Tundra

    gdog_Tundra [OP] New Member

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    I have 20 inch rims now and am considering dropping back to an 18 inch.... yes or no and why?
    Thanks
    G
     
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  2. Feb 21, 2019 at 5:12 AM
    #2
    midnight

    midnight IXLR8

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    I am fixing to pull the trigger on this very same mod Saturday. I have 20 inch Black TSS wheels with BFG KO2 and going with the 18 inch TRD pro wheels and tires. Hope it makes the truck ride better.
     
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  3. Feb 21, 2019 at 5:41 AM
    #3
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    If you want more sidewall rubber for wheeling then the 18"s have the advantage. 17"...even better. If I didn't like my current 18" set up so much I'd be running on 17's.
     
  4. Feb 21, 2019 at 5:42 AM
    #4
    easleycrawler

    easleycrawler TOYOTA ADDICT- SSEM #78

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    I'm putting TRD Offroad wheels on mine as soon as my current tires wear out. I've got 20" BBS wheels now.
     
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  5. Feb 21, 2019 at 7:05 AM
    #5
    Sunnier

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    What Grey Woll said. Smaller wheels allow you to fit more tire in same space = more rubber cushioning between you and the road. Also, if you like to drive off-road, airing down increases comfort. Smaller wheels, more rubber = more comfort aired down... and less chance you'll get a flat.
     
  6. Feb 21, 2019 at 7:09 AM
    #6
    novae500

    novae500 New Member

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    20s look nice, but sometimes i wished i should just have purchased larger tires for the TRD 18 rims i have.
     
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  7. Feb 21, 2019 at 7:11 AM
    #7
    Ntmid8r

    Ntmid8r New Member

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    This!
     
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  8. Feb 21, 2019 at 7:25 AM
    #8
    Navi

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    Also been wondering about this myself. But, some say all the system in/on the truck (say my 2019) was designed to run with 20" wheels, going down to 18" would change all this. Any concerns here? And, when we talk 20" wheel, we're talking width of wheel, right? Any diff in height of the wheel vs 18 or is it other way around?
     
  9. Feb 21, 2019 at 7:44 AM
    #9
    Ntmid8r

    Ntmid8r New Member

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    Height, not Width.
     
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  10. Feb 21, 2019 at 7:48 AM
    #10
    joonbug

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    Zero advantage of having 20’s on a truck. Go 18’s or better yet 17’s.
     
  11. Feb 21, 2019 at 7:50 AM
    #11
    Navi

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    Will changing the height of the truck screw up all the TSS crap? any real concerns with that?
     
  12. Feb 21, 2019 at 12:04 PM
    #12
    Ntmid8r

    Ntmid8r New Member

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    It should not. Guys are lifting trucks with no issues. I went down from 20s to 18s with zero issues.
     
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  13. Feb 21, 2019 at 12:37 PM
    #13
    flying dave

    flying dave New Member

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    This is more of a curious question than anything. If you have the same diameter which setups generally tend to be heavier? A 20 with a smaller sidewall tire or a 18 or 17 with a larger sidewall tire? Let's say at a 35" tire
     
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  14. Feb 21, 2019 at 12:39 PM
    #14
    15whtrd

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    The only advantage a 20 inch rim has over an 18 inch rim with the same tire diameter, would be a little less tire roll in the corners. The truck would probably corner a little better. Other than that the 18 inch rim wins all day.
     
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  15. Feb 21, 2019 at 12:40 PM
    #15
    15whtrd

    15whtrd Mr. Blonde

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    I’d say negligible differences.
     
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  16. Feb 21, 2019 at 12:41 PM
    #16
    Marty McFly

    Marty McFly Nobody calls me chicken!! Except when off roading

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    Just to play devils advocate, if your truck is just for show, some 20s look pretty badass :oops:
     
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  17. Feb 21, 2019 at 12:42 PM
    #17
    Medic343

    Medic343 5+4+3=2

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    So I am not here to start a war but just to speak my mind and opinion. The vast majority of people on here will all say that 20s are worthless and 17/18s are the way to go. The reasoning for most as depicted above is because of the amount of rubber available for either off-road or cushioning on-road. But in reality aren't we talking about 1 inch here? I do not personally see that having 1 extra inch of sidewall is going to "tremendously" improve your off-roading capabilities or on road performance. That's just me.

    For conversation sake, let's take a 35" tire. 35x12.50r20 versus 35x12.50r18
    • 20 inches of that 35 is taken by the wheel leaving 15 inches of "rubber" or sidewall. Divide that in half you in theory have 7.5 inches of sidewall on top and bottom
    • 18 inches of that 35 is taken by the wheel leaving 17 inches of "rubber" or sidewall. Divide that in half you in theory have 8.5 inches of sidewall on top and bottom
    Now weight, that is the only real advantage I could possibly see coming out of this conversation.
     
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  18. Feb 21, 2019 at 12:47 PM
    #18
    15whtrd

    15whtrd Mr. Blonde

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    On my old Dodge I went from 17 inch to 20 inch and I could feel the difference. It looked bad ass but I definitely felt the bumps more. It did corner better though. I’d say that 1-1/2” of extra rubber is important if you’re doing any type of fast off roading. Airing down, it will leave you that much more room before rim contact. It certainly makes a difference and I have felt it.
     
  19. Feb 21, 2019 at 12:57 PM
    #19
    joonbug

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    It actually makes a huge difference. Especially when you're aired down, you're not at 7.5-8.5" anymore. More like 4-5" One inch doesn't seem like much but that's basically 20% more sidewall and air you're riding on.
     
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  20. Feb 21, 2019 at 1:07 PM
    #20
    Navi

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    If 18 seems to have advantages discussed here, why did Toyota put 20's on the Limited? i'm not sure if 20's come across the board on 2019's but they did come on my truck (Limited 4x4). i'm not sure what TRD and others get (SR5 vs 1794, etc). just a looks thing??
     
  21. Feb 21, 2019 at 1:10 PM
    #21
    15whtrd

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    Because they look nice and some folks don’t really take their 4 x 4‘s off road they just need them for bad weather. Also when you buy the truck you can have them put 18s on if you like.
     
  22. Feb 21, 2019 at 1:14 PM
    #22
    joonbug

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    There's absolutely nothing wrong with 20's on a street rig. You'll actually improve performance on the road. And I think a lot of people actually prefer the looks of a larger wheel. It's just not enough sidewall when you go offroad. Hence the 18" wheels on the Pro and they swap to an 18" for the TRD Offroad package.
     
  23. Feb 21, 2019 at 1:17 PM
    #23
    easleycrawler

    easleycrawler TOYOTA ADDICT- SSEM #78

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    I agree, I think 20's look good on the tundra. I've got 20's with no plan to lift, so the 285/55's ride like shit. That's why I picked up a set of 18" TRD Offroad wheels.
     
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  24. Feb 21, 2019 at 1:17 PM
    #24
    easleycrawler

    easleycrawler TOYOTA ADDICT- SSEM #78

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    Plus I can get white letters back.
     
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  25. Feb 21, 2019 at 1:40 PM
    #25
    Sunnier

    Sunnier Pity the warrior that slays all his foes

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    I can't say it better than these guys but can add, I've taken my stock 2017 TRD 2WD off-road several times. I air down the stock Michelins more or less depending on how many sharp rocks I expect to encounter. I'm careful not to turn while stopped, as precaution to avoid a pinch flat. The tires have chunks of tread missing-- I've possibly used them for applications "above" that intended-- but they've performed well. I've looked at other guys' tires aired down, and I feel really sure that extra inch of rubber makes a positive difference off-road.
     
  26. Feb 21, 2019 at 2:31 PM
    #26
    Marty McFly

    Marty McFly Nobody calls me chicken!! Except when off roading

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    if I went bigger on a lift 6+ I’d go 20s and give up the dirt life LOL :anonymous:

     
  27. Feb 21, 2019 at 2:40 PM
    #27
    Sunnier

    Sunnier Pity the warrior that slays all his foes

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    :censored: :crapstorm: :quickdraw: :smack::angrygirl:
     
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  28. Feb 21, 2019 at 2:42 PM
    #28
    Marty McFly

    Marty McFly Nobody calls me chicken!! Except when off roading

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    :rofl:

     
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  29. Feb 21, 2019 at 2:55 PM
    #29
    joonbug

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    If I had to guess, the 20's will be heavier. The tire will be the same with a tiny bit of additional sidewall which weighs very little. And you're replacing that with 2" more of metal wheel, which weighs a lot more.
     
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  30. Feb 21, 2019 at 2:58 PM
    #30
    Sunnier

    Sunnier Pity the warrior that slays all his foes

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    But it depends on which wheels. Even within same diameter, I've seen 6# difference from one model to another. Hardly anyone compares the same wheel for multiple diameters.
     
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