It is time for me to change my tires. I have stock 17" rims with stock 275/70/17 Wranglers. I plan to go to a 285 BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A or perhaps a 295 Nitto Terra Grappler. My question is this: I would actually like to replace my 17" rims with some 16"'s and put the new tires on those. Question is, I read somewhere that due to the brake size on the 2003 4x4 it was necessary to use 17" rims to get over the caliper. Any truth to this?

 

Yes. Also, I think I read somewhere here that even some aftermarket 17's may give you trouble. Why do you want to go 16?

 

There is no real good reason why I wanted to go with a 16" rim. I want to replace the stock ones I have because they have gotten pretty caked with road tar from the last two summers. I kind of like the lokk of a smaller rim with a taller tire so that is pretty much what I was thinking. I was hoping to go with someething like a simple brushed (satin) finish Weld wheel. Guess I better not chance it too much. All I know is, replacement tires on the 4x4 off road trucks are expensive,

 

If you want to stay small I would go 18. There is a huge selection of rims out there for 18. Since the fad is 20+ you could probably get some 18's real cheap too. That way you can put the money into those Nittos. Those are awesome tires. Wish I got them myself.

 

yeah, ditto on 18's. cheaper than usual.

 

Right on. Well, maybe I should just see if I can have my stock 17's refinished to get all that tar off. I amhesitent to go as big as 18" rims because I think they would look out of place on the truck with "4x4 OffRoad" down the side. I dont know, maybe I am wrong, I was just thinking that going with 18" or larger wheel gives it more of a "pimped street rod" truck look than what I am going after....or I could just be crazy!

 

I went from 17 to 20 and it doesn't look bad at all. I have black centers though, so it makes them look smaller than they really are. A lot of people said to me, "so you got 18s." If you go 18 you will barely notice it especially with larger tires.

 

OK, that makes sense. I do like the ones that are mostly black in the middle with a silver/bar metal colored ring around the outer rim. That may not be too bad then.

 

get a bigger tire too if you want that smaller rim look too.