Wheel width opinions sought - Poll

[BudTX]

I have a 1983 K20 with a 700R4, 350, 10 bolt front, 14 bolt SF rear, open diffs. The truck will see 50% gravel road driving and 50% mud.

I have a set of 35X15.50-16.5LT TSL/SX tires on the way that I got a smoking deal on. I am going to run a 6" spring lift (another good deal from a mechanic friend), and am trying to decide on wheels to finish out this phase of the build up.

I am probably going to go with steel wheels, something along the lines of Rockcrawlers. The extra weight versus aluminum is a bit of a concern, but I'd rather have the ability to hammer out dents if necessary.

My question is, do I want the 16.5x9.75" wheels, or go with the 16.5x12"? I kind of like the idea of the narrower rim, to help hold the bead on the 16.5" tire. On the other hand, the wider rim will widen out the tire, and may help with flotation.

Thoughts/comments?

 

[PsychoticDeadGuy]

i like the look of the wider rims but a narrow rim is the cheap mans beadlock...

 

[74757685k5]

wider you will have to trim more sheet metal.

 

[78Suburban]

if 8" had been an option, I would have voted for that. I'm gonna run my 33x12.50x16.5 TSL's on stock 16.5x6.75" wheels. The ultimate wheels would be recentered hummer beadlocks. I would NOT go with a 12" wide wheel, with 16.5 wheels, because you need all the help you can get holding a tire on without a safety bead
James

 

[Inu-Hanyou1776]

Go with the narrower wheels if you're not planning on running beadlocks or a wheel equipped with safety beads, they'll hold the tire on better.

 

[BudTX]

i like the look of the wider rims but a narrow rim is the cheap mans beadlock...

That's pretty much where I am headed. Keeping the wheel narrower for the rare instances where I may need to air down will probably be cheap insurance.

The poll results are a lot closer to 50/50 than I was expecting.

 

[jekbrown]

yeah, a 12" rim is way to wide for a 35. For a 42 or 44 maybe... but nuttin smaller than that needs a 12" wide rim.

j

 

[Leper]

yeah, a 12" rim is way to wide for a 35. For a 42 or 44 maybe... but nuttin smaller than that needs a 12" wide rim.

j

werd