18" to 20" Bad / Good idea?

A buddy sold his Tundra and has some nice rims I like. They are 20" (from a platinum or limited?)

Stock, I have 18"... Any big positives or negatives in going with the 20"?

Thanks!

 

Your mpgs will change some. You will also have less tire sidewall.

 

I'm assuming both those are negatives of the 20"?

 

Less sidewall will make the ride comfort a little more harsh depending on the tire size. A larger rotating mass will slightly decrease the mileage.

 

Better handling with the 20’s. Plenty of tire choices these days, too. More clearance for big brakes. More baller look.

Less off-roady than 18’s, slightly fewer tire choices than 18’s, more susceptible to pothole damage (assuming a stock tire size, but there’s still lots of sidewall), tires are typically more expensive, might take a small mileage hit but prolly less than going from a p rated tires to an LT rated tire.

 

20” wheels on a truck are stupid.

More rotational mass that negatively affects acceleration, and to a lesser extent mileage. Ride quality will suffer, and so will durability where impacts are concerned.

The shorter stiffer sidewalls might make up for some handling deficits of the more flexible sidewalls of a smaller wheel diameter tire of equal overall rolling diameter. This is the only advantage and will be very very minimal given the vehicle is a 1/2 ton pickup truck that handles like a pig no matter what it’s rocking for tires and wheels.

Did you buy a truck to use as a truck, or did you accidentally buy a truck when you should have bought a sedan?

 

Once upon a time, everybody said the same thing about 18” wheels. Half tons came with 15’s or upscale 16’s; HD’s came with 16’s. Anything else was stupid. 18’s on a truck? Pfft. Might as well decorate it with stickers, put a body kit on it, and random buttons that you push while screaming ‘NOS YAAAAAHHHH!!! MONICA!!!!’ What a bunch of doofuses.

Now 18’s are standard on the tundra cuz them big brakes don’t fit with anything smaller (save a forged 17 with specific clearances).

Just sayin’…

 

I went to 20” wheels from my stock 18”. I like them a lot for how I use the truck, it stays on the pavement and gravel roads. Better handling, and actually better mileage by about 1 mpg. I got 19mpg on my last fillup, 65-70mph highway driving.

I run passenger highway tires and I believe it rides very comfortably even on rough and gravel roads. Washboards are great, and I occasionally tow a 7000lb camper on gravel. Comfortable and no flats.

But I’m weird. I even like the chrome on my truck.

 

So, I'm not the only one that remembers every half ton with... 235/75/15s (upgraded about the same size w/load cap 30x9.50s and when you could stuff 33x12.50s you had made it

235/85/16s were the 10-plys of those times and no real options w/that carrying capacity even existed

 

If I could get 17’s on a truck I’d prefer that.

Unless the brakes are so big a smaller wheel will not fit, there is no good reason to use a larger wheel diameter on any vehicle made to haul loads, tow trailers, and drive off road.

The Tundra doesn’t offer brakes large enough to need a 20” wheel to clear them.

 

and they were right. Until big wheels became the new hotness & tire companies found out they can squeeze a few more sheckles out of tires for bigger wheels & limited the size and range of 16" tire development. But when the tweel becomes available, 16's will be back.

 

This argument drives me crazy sometimes. To the OP, if you like the look of the 20 inch wheel then take it. Nobody else is going to judge/look at your truck more than you are and what good would it be for you to regret the chance you had to have a set of 20 inch wheels you liked better than a set of 18s because a bunch of random people said so.

I've had anything from 15s to 20s on my trucks over the years and yes while some have advantages over the others, none are big enough for the average Joe to make a big enough difference for an argument.

Get what makes you happy!

I guarantee you that if you did a study with 100 guys, blindfolded them before sticking them in a drivers seat of a half ton pickup let them drive 100 miles and then asked them if the truck had 18s or 20s 99% of them would get it wrong. Or I guess maybe 50% since it would be a coin flip of a question.

 

Say it ain’t so, Joe… Wait, I still have chrome bumpers and badges. Oh, the humanity!!!

 

There are a few Big Brake Kits that do, including the original TRD Big Brake Kit. They even offered a 22” TRD wheel. I’ve see a few sets up for sale for cheap that I’ve been tempted to snag for the sequoia. Then I realize that it’s a part time adventure mobile not just a grocery getter. And 22” tires are even MORE expensive…

 

These big brake kits are pretty pricey, and as much as I appreciate high performance brakes I have to ask myself what purpose is this truck serving? It is not, and never will be a sports car and a big brake kit probably isn’t going to make a 5600lb brick stop like a proper performance car.

 

Haha. I had some 31x10.50’s on my bronco and that was the bee’s knees. Was considering “stuffing” some 32x11.50’s on it but DROOLED over 33x12.50’s. 33’s wouldn’t clear without chewing up a little sheet metal and I didn’t have the cash to pony up for a real lift and giant 35’s that would make the thing invincible off road. I don’t think I knew anybody that just “daily’d” their truck on 35’s - that was just unfathommummummummable.

And I’m not that old.. I don’t think.

 

So are 35” tires. Or 33’s. Or 37’s, all of which are a detriment to the vehicles handling and braking characteristics. Yet, there are plenty of people that do it for other reasons - none of the least of which is aesthetics. I mean, that’s why I chose my truck to be painted with a color other than raw steel or clapped out rust. I like my truck to not be a complete eyesore.

To the OP, if you like the way the 20’s look, the difference really is minimal.

 

OP, where are you? What 18" rims do you have now? I agree that it is basically a matter of personal taste.

 

Like usual, it all depends on how you intend to use your truck, and/or what aesthetically appeals to you. My Sport came with 20's along with front and rear sway bars, does it look as great as some here with 35 and 37's, (which I love), not even close, but it drives surprisingly great on the street for a 6000 lb. brick. For my needs consisting of a daily driver and some weekends in the woods camping and some light duty off road logging roads, it does exactly what I bought the truck for. YMMV

 

I’m also in the camp of not putting giant tires on a vehicle unless there’s a specific use case for them that constitutes a majority of actual use. At this point 33”s are pretty common, and don’t require much of any modifications or sacrifices since these trucks are rolling around on 32”s already. Beyond that tire size, because there’s a lot of 33” tires out there as an optional fitment, I wouldn’t personally fit 35”s or 37”s to a daily driven 1/2 ton.

They look great, but will not get me anywhere in my AO that 32”-33” tires won’t as well. At least anyplace I can justify trying to take a daily driver that needs to stay intact and road worthy for day to day life.

 

Idaho / stock 18's

 

There are brake options for our trucks that would change your mind. @reywcms and I know the what what on this. They’ll still fit some 17” wheels…

 

I’d argue differently that they absolutely do brake as well as sports cars even weighing over 7k lbs

 

I'm going from 20 to 18 because I want to. But not until I wear the rubber off these new tires.

Not because of anything I have seen on the forums or one specific look or any advice I have received.

I am doing it for the beaches and trails in Florida. I like the 18 wheels I picked out and don't care for the stiffness of the ride I have now.

I ran 20's on this and my last truck. Just not my thing.

Do what you think looks best. Odds are you are going to use more pavement than not, which won't care to much what you have on. Love the look. Enjoy the truck.

 

Oh, and no matter what you decide, post pictures lol

 

Outstanding!

Do you know if an 18” wheel will clear them or is stepping up to a 20” mandatory?

I can see that as a benefit to guys who tow or haul heavy, or just have a ton of stop and go to deal with. I love the Brembo’s on our 2015 SS, even if they do need to be serviced more frequently than average basic brakes.

 

The kit we run fits in a 17” wheel

 

Hmmmmm…… I will have to look into this in more depth once I select my next new vehicle.

At some point maybe the company you bought from will support the 3rd Gen, Land Cruiser, and GX550? Hopefully? Those are my current short list.

 

The kits from Alcon

https://alconkits.com/products/heav...-present-front-rear-complete-brake-kit-detail

 

Thanks, that’s some serious hardware.

Impressive that the stock master cylinder powers it just fine, but maybe I’m underestimating how much power the stock master can generate.

Any issues with ABS calibration or did it just install and work correctly?