Rim size

Hi Folks.
What are peoples thoughts on rim sizes 15" or 16". I have just acquired a set of deep dish vitara rims, I would like to fit them to my Jimny which has a 2" spring spacers. so my question is what (16") tyre size would fit my car or should stick with 15" rims

1390_taz wrote: Hi Folks.
What are peoples thoughts on rim sizes 15" or 16".

I had a dilemma for a while. I used 16s on my Junior which normally has 15s. I went back to 15s even though I liked the 16s for reasons like tyre choice and clearances. But I like a bigger sidewall and that means using a smaller rim.

Been looking into this recently.

For a 2" lift, the tyre size range which will fit into unmodified arches goes is a max of 235/75/15, and even that's a push.

Most of the brands have a number of 15" MT tyres in the ranges up to the above overall diameter (i.e. rim + tyre), whereas most of them are very limited in the 16" rim sizes at or below that overall diameter.

If you had more of a lift than 2" and were willing to significantly cut your arches, then there are loads of 16" MT tyres from many most manufacturers in the much bigger sizes.

I think gearing would become an issue if you go too large on a standard transfer box

Venter wrote: Been looking into this recently. there are loads of 16" MT tyres from many most manufacturers in the much bigger sizes.

Yes the tyre choice is a lot better in 16s but I personally am more fond of wide than tall especially as I don't go mud plugging so for me there is a limit to tyre diameter.

Helijohn, I might have waffled on a bit in my earlier post and the message lost, but what I was trying to say was that there is very limited tyre choice in 16" up until a certain size, and then a large choice above that size. Unfortunately the threshold size regarding this choice disparity is slightly larger than what is practical with only a 2" lift and standard gearing.

So I'd recommend sticking with 15" and going for 215/75/15 MT's. Given the OP's avatar pic and lift I doubt that on-road tyre recommendations are relevant in this case. 235/75/15 is the upper end of what is doable with a non-remould MT and 2" lift, but gearing starts becoming an issue at this size, which it isn't yet with the 215's.

Back to the rims, loads of non-offset steel 15" out there, very little in way of offset rims, so if offset is a necessity 16" would be the way to go, but then you come back round to the issue of limited small - mid tyre size choice.