going from 15" to 17"

[xjnmud]

I'm running a 35x12.5 and have the crazy engineering idea/ goal to make my truck badass both on and off-road. so how much and of what do you lose or gain from going from a 15" wheel to a 17" wheel.

Somethings I've considered

added
handling? -good
shorter brake? - good
sleeper effect -could be good or bad
unsprung weight? -bad
prices for tires and wheels - bad

lossed
wheel protection - bad

Are there any good Articles you guys know about with Facts?

 

[beraad44]

it is really hard to make a vehicle "badass" both on and offroad. your going to lose some sidewall flex with a 17 inch wheel. what kind of gearing do you have? if its stock id fix that first to help your performance. and you need to remeber its a jeep not a racecar. it would be nice to have them handle like one, but buy lifting one your heading in the wrong direction.

 

[xjnmud]

Of course its hard, haha. thats why im trying. I run yukon 4.56's and she is getting lowered in the near future for on and off-road purposes. but the subject is on wheel size.

 

[xjnmud]

badass on road is relative. we're talking good for a lifted jeep not sports car.

 

[beraad44]

if your only looking at wheels then your only looking at sidewall flex. less sidewall. less flex. less flex on road = better handling. off road with a bigger wheel you will be more susceptible to wheel damage and have less traction from the flex of your tires. but it probably wont be that noticeable since several guys on here run 16s and 16.5.

 

[Darky]

Running a 17 with 35s ought to give you decent sidewall still while stiffening it up some from a 15". Do you still have swaybars? My Jeep with swaybars handled real nice at 5" and 33s.

 

[Johnnie Walker]

With that large of a tire, I do not think that 17's are an issue, isnt that the what JK's are from the factory? I know humvee's and other vehicles have 17" wheels and do jsut fine off-road cuz of the large dia tires.

 

[bjoehandley]

Shouldn't the taller rim also help with any side hilling too and be just just as good if better over all outside of rock crawling?

 

[AtomicPunk]

I'm actually going from my 17 inch wheels to 15 inch wheels. The only reason is that tires are about 50 dollars more (large size tires) a piece for 17 inch wheels.

 

[DanMan2k06]

I know humvee's and other vehicles have 17" wheels

Most are 16.5 but yea same principle

 

[bluedragon436]

I was looking at going with either a 16 or 17 rim myself.. But I think I might just stick with the 16's for the fact of a bit more wheel safety...

 

[BlueGerbil]

As soon as my 35x12.5R15 are worn down I´ll switch to 35x12.5R17 or 315/70R17, perhaps even to 18".

Why? When I look at a 31x10.5R15 tire, than I´ve got (31-15)/2=8" of rubber to flex. When I run a 35x12.5R17, I´ve got (35-17)/2=9" of rubber to flex - so I shouldn´t loose any tire flex but gain some stability on road. Since I use my trail rig to drive across europe on road manners are important to me as well.

 

[drknyt]

(37-15=22)(22/2=11) that should allow plenty of sidewall flex lol who cares if you can barely hold it down the road