Advice - Downsizing from 20 inch wheels

Advice - Downsizing from 20 inch wheels

Postby Ando1234 on Mon May 07, 2018 9:13 pm

Hi All,

I currently have 265/50/20 wheels on my MQ - which seemed like a good idea when I got the ute as it was just used for around town. Now I am doing some long drives and going to a property with unsealed roads etc I am thinking of going down to a smaller wheel to improve economy and have better tyres for off road performance.

So what are the best options for something in the 18 inch range? Need an A/T tyre. Appreciate any advice and please limit criticism of previous wheel choices lol
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Re: Advice - Downsizing from 20 inch wheels

Postby L200Shogun on Mon May 07, 2018 9:39 pm

265/50/20 is 30.4"
265/60/18 is 30.5"

31s are a common choice in tyre size
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Re: Advice - Downsizing from 20 inch wheels

Postby 98kellrs on Tue May 08, 2018 3:00 pm

Personally I'd go 275/65/17 as it gives you much more options on AT's and a 7" sidewall which would help protect your alloys (im assuming), from being cracked by potholes, rocks etc on unsealed roads.
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Re: Advice - Downsizing from 20 inch wheels

Postby NowForThe5th on Tue May 08, 2018 6:09 pm

265/70R17.

Why?

17" wheels are the most common so both tyres and wheels are likely to both offer more choice and better pricing.

265 width is the sweet spot. No dramas with rubbing but lots more rubber on the road than the standard tyres. You can choose between different construction types, and different compounds - soft like the Bridgestone D697s for grip or harder like the Coopers or Mickey Thompsons for long life. They fit on the standard, factory wheels. Going to 275 reduces choice and bumps price up while the extra 4% width gives little advantage (unless you're racing at Bathurst) and increases wear on tyre edges.

As mentioned above, a 7" sidewall gives lots of room to reduce pressures and lengthen your contact patch for grip off road. 65 series give slightly better on road performance, especially acceleration and economy, but the penalty with the 70s isn't that much with a diesel. Different story altogether with a petrol where one size makes a huge difference.
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Re: Advice - Downsizing from 20 inch wheels

Postby 98kellrs on Wed May 09, 2018 9:02 am

Here's a video of what happens to alloys offroad, the lower the profile, the greater the risk of doing that kind of damage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWM3o2v46KI
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Re: Advice - Downsizing from 20 inch wheels

Postby Ando1234 on Wed May 09, 2018 5:30 pm

Thanks guys, really appreciate the feedback. Aside from the better off road ability I am trying to get some decent economy. With the 20 inch wheels I struggle to get under 10.5 l/100km cruising on the freeway so hopefully this would drop with 17's.
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Re: Advice - Downsizing from 20 inch wheels

Postby L200Shogun on Wed May 09, 2018 6:44 pm

245/65/17 are 29.5" standard size
265/50/20 are 30.4"
265/65/17 are 30.6"
265/70/17 are 31.6"
265/60/18 is 30.5"
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Re: Advice - Downsizing from 20 inch wheels

Postby Ando1234 on Wed May 09, 2018 7:20 pm

Ok so these 3 options:
265/65/17 are 30.6"
265/70/17 are 31.6"
265/60/18 is 30.5"
all have a bigger size than my existing 20 inch tyres. So what will be the change in fuel economy, if any?
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Re: Advice - Downsizing from 20 inch wheels

Postby L200Shogun on Wed May 09, 2018 7:24 pm

265/50/20 are 30.4"

the 265/70/17 is the one that is a size bigger
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Re: Advice - Downsizing from 20 inch wheels

Postby Ando1234 on Wed May 09, 2018 10:13 pm

Any thoughts on the BF Goodrich K02 in 265/70R17?
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