Wider Wheels = Worse Handling?

[Rainman519]

I hate to create another wheel thread, but I haven't exactly seen this covered. My JTR is running stock wheels (17 x 7.5) with 317/70/17 tires which makes the handling and ride very tolerable. I want to put 17 x 9 wheels with -12MM off-set on it which is the recommend size for the tire. So the question becomes, will going with the wider wheel and negative off-set drastically affect the steering and handling?

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[Factoid]

No, as long as toe, tire pressure, and tire balance are set correctly.

It is true that generally speaking wider tires wander more, but that is more due to the road surface and crown catching the wider tires.

 

[xpcdoojk]

The more rubber in contact with the road the better the car / jeep / handles. F1 cars in 1950 had 4” tires, now, they are 3 times that wide. They would be even wider if allowed. Which doesn’t mean that there are not problems with wider tires other than they are more expensive.

 

[Renegade]

Who says that negative offset wheels are “recommended“ for 315/70r17 tires?

 

[Rainman519]

No one says -12mm is recommended, my intent was to state that wheel width for 35” tires are anywhere between 8 and 11 inches depending on manufacturer. I’m running Nitto Ridge Grapplers so a slightly wider wheel is recommended. The off-set doesn’t matter in this case.

 

[Renegade]

No one says -12mm is recommended, my intent was to state that wheel width for 35” tires are anywhere between 8 and 11 inches depending on manufacturer. I’m running Nitto Ridge Grapplers so a slightly wider wheel is recommended. The off-set doesn’t matter in this case.

I gotcha then. As long as you stay within reason, everything should be fine. Wheel offset is very much a personal visual preference as long as you stay within functionally acceptable parameters.

 

[danielspivey]

I think a lot of people read this post incorrectly, the OP isn’t changing the width of the tire, only the width of the wheel. He is trying to get into the tire manufactures recommended range of wheels.

Generally speaking, your tire should handle better if it’s mounted on wheel that’s recommended for that tire size. Many people here run wider tires than the manufacture recommends for the stock rum width. This results in the tire bring concave and could risk the tire seal to the rim, especially when deflating in some off-road conditions. Additional if you have an issue with a tire on a too small rim, it’s not going to be covered under warranty or if you wreck you could have issues with insurance.

As for the negative off set, you would technically be decreasing the wheelbase width, but I’m guessing this won’t be an issue since in your set up with wider tires, its still probably close to if not wider to the stock wheel base with stock tires.

 

[danielspivey]

No, as long as toe, tire pressure, and tire balance are set correctly.

It is true that generally speaking wider tires wander more, but that is more due to the road surface and crown catching the wider tires.

He’s not changing the tire size/width- just the wheel width. Theoretically the tires should handle better because they would be on rims to the manufactures specs.

 

[Factoid]

Actually, he is. That too narrow wheel pinches the tire contributing to a narrower cross-section and difficulty getting an even contact patch that utilizes the the entire width of the tread. Under inflating in an attempt to increase contact patch creates drag, tire heat and risk of losing the rim seal.

The OPs intention is exactly what he should be considering and my comment is aligned with his question. Using the correct size rim for the tire will improve performance and handling.

 

[Rainman519]

Thanks guys, exactly what I was looking for, and again sorry for the initial confusion with the -12mm reference. I just can't help but think that the tires are "pinched" on the 7.5" rims and would function better on a wider rim. "Honey, the guys said I need new wheels, really, they did"!

 

[Factoid]

If that works, let us know and I'll try it with my wife!

 

[danielspivey]

Actually, he is. That too narrow wheel pinches the tire contributing to a narrower cross-section and difficulty getting an even contact patch that utilizes the the entire width of the tread. Under inflating in an attempt to increase contact patch creates drag, tire heat and risk of losing the rim seal.

The OPs intention is exactly what he should be considering and my comment is aligned with his question. Using the correct size rim for the tire will improve performance and handling.

How does the wheel width change the tire tread width, which is what makes contact with the road?

I currently run 285/75 17s with stock 7.5 rims. Would my tread width get wider with a 9” rim?

It was my understanding this only changed the angle of the sidewall, which on a properly inflated tire still shouldn’t be bulging out in the center of the tire.

 

[Murgatroid]

The more rubber in contact with the road the better the car / jeep / handles. F1 cars in 1950 had 4” tires, now, they are 3 times that wide. They would be even wider if allowed. Which doesn’t mean that there are not problems with wider tires other than they are more expensive.

Back in the 70's, when I bought my first truck (17 years old), I thought it would look so much cooler with wide mags on the back. Made that truck such a rough ride, you felt every bump. Wider tires will ride rougher and decrease gas mileage, more friction.

 

[danielspivey]

Thanks guys, exactly what I was looking for, and again sorry for the initial confusion with the -12mm reference. I just can't help but think that the tires are "pinched" on the 7.5" rims and would function better on a wider rim. "Honey, the guys said I need new wheels, really, they did"!

I’m no tire expert but my local tire guy just said it wouldn’t change the actual tire tread width but would change how the middle of the tire meets the rim, and could cause failure. The preferred rim for your tires is a 9.5 and the minimum is 8”. I’m surprised your shop mounted them on a 7.5”?

I attached the specs from Nitto Incase you don’t have it.

 

[Factoid]

Daniel, to your point it is more the effective width I was referring to. While you can't change the physical width of the tread, you can pinch the tread with a too narrow wheel so you don't effectively use all of it and you ride mostly on the middle.

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