A buyers guide to purchasing a CORRECT wheel and TIRE package for the Off Road Looking Truck. Todays OFF ROAD look incorporates the Larger wheel diameters that the Street, Sport, SUV and Truck are using. These wheels/tires are diameters of 18", 20" and 22". Now of course some are still using the smaller(by todays standards) 17" diameter. With Lift kits Like Bulletproof Suspension, CST, Fabtech and RCD making kits for todays trucks, the desire to put a large diameter wheel and tire appears to be growing fast! It will soon be a major trend. Todays Truck manufacturers are putting larger brake packages to help stop these products in a shorter distance. These brakes require a larger wheel inner diameter to clear. Now these trucks come factory with what was yesterdays big wheel, 17".  So "plus sizing" a term for increase of wheel diameter from original is common on Off Road vehicles. Diameters now start at 17", then go to 18", 20", and 22", compared to 15" in the past. These are on Street Off Road to Full Off Road Race Truggy's(17") !

The right application is very important!! Most of today's Large Diameter Aftermarket Wheel Manufaturers are catering to the masses, not the small niche markets where the Off Road application is. In other words they make wheels that sell in the tens of thousands, not the thousands. So you end up with fittment diamentions that allow the wheels to bolt up to stock vehicles, not lifted applications. In turn they also are making the finishes that street buyers want, chrome. We all know that chrome is not the best for Off Road, even if it is very occasional. Polished, Machined and Clearcoated are great. Black is popular again. Method of manufacture is something to look at. Standard methods are Counter(Gravity) or Low Pressure Casting. Higher end methods are Forged (known often as Billet). A Term called "Backside Setting" often confused with "Offset" is of  importance when chosing a true Off Road wheel. Most lift kit makers that I have co-engineered wheels with, ask for wheels to be in the 4.1/2" - 4.5/8" "backside measurment. The majority of the large diameter wheels made for the masses do not have this "setting". They have more "backside" then can be used with a lifted application. Theirs are generally increased to more like 5.1/2" - 6" measurements. This once again is to fit the masses and keep the wheel inside the fender to not rub on turns, etc. Also the wheel widths are not wide enough. This makes the tire not "fill out" or look "sucked in". Currently many Off Road trucks are buying these "wrong" wheels because of thats whats available, not because they fit right! These wheels when having this larger "backside setting" measurment will often hit the suspension of an Off Road lifted truck. Then the unknowing install "wheel spacers" NEVER do this !!!! They are unsafe can interrupt the mating of the wheel to the brake/hub. Not to mention that the wheel stud in many cases is way to short  and thread engagement is impaired!! Please review these bulleted points and have knowledge in your purchase of todays Larger Aftermarket Wheel Diameters and installing them on Lifted Off Road Trucks/SUV. Thanks for reading and be safe and educated!! Tracy @ automotiveimage

• Try to use FORGED wheels when possible
• Avoid Chrome finishes that can fracture the chrome when Off Road/Rugged Driving is done
• Mate your "Backside Setting" with the reccommended guide given by the Lift manufacturer
• Commond "Backside Settings" for Off Road Lifted Trucks are 4.1/2"
• Do Not Use Wheel Spacers! Sell the wheels and get the right ones!
• Match wheel widths to the section width of your selected tire.Tire makers always supply info
• Most Off Road tires require wheels to be 9", 10", 11", 12" and some 14"
• Make sure the "Load rating" will be sufficiant with the tire diameter and the vehicle weight