tire width change w/ rim size change?

RatLabGuy

RatLabGuy

You look like a monkey and smell like one too
Joined
May 18, 2005
Location
Churchville, MD
If you have, say, a 31x1050 on a 7" rim... if you were to change to an 8" wim, would the functional width of the mounted tire actually change?

my suspicion is "no" b/c either way the sidewall is wider than the rim... but at the same time it isn't "pinched in" as far in the middle... so just a really small change?
 
I have ran 31x10.50s on both and could not tell difference between a 7" or 8" wheel, other than the way it looked. There is a recommended rim width on the tire.
 
I actually just did this. Went from a 7 in to an 8 in rim with 31 x10.50 BFGs. I think the 8 in looks a lot better. It give the 4runner a much wider looking stance and makes the tires look not so tall and skinny. As far as functional width, the tread is still the same width, just the sidewalls are a little farther apart, which could possibly wear the tires funny, but adjusting the psi would probably alleviate that.
 
I think one of the biggest negatives to going with a wider rim is the way trash gets jammed down in the bead easier when you air down off road.
 
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