When it comes to wheels, the difference between car and truck wheels doesn’t stop at size. Load capability, handling, fitment, price and ground clearance all play an important role in the purchase of OEM and aftermarket wheels. Here are some things to consider when deciding what type of wheels are best for your car or truck.
Let us begin with the obvious difference between truck and car wheels. Truck wheels are much larger in size. Since trucks are more likely to be in heavy-duty, off-roading situations, their larger wheels help to create ground clearance for the truck’s underbody. This improves approach and departure angles, allowing you to protect your mechanical components while scaling rough terrain.
Larger wheels and tires also make for better handling on dirt and gravel as well as improved breaking performance on pavement. The more rubber you have coming into contact with the ground, the more friction you can create. This also helps with towing capabilities.
When making a distinction between truck tires and car tires, consider what the vehicle was designed to do. Many sedans, coups and crossovers are designed for personal use and use passenger tires, while larger SUV’s and trucks used to carry heavy loads or trailers use Light Truck (LT) tires. The key component in deciding what tires your wheels need is load capacity. Make sure your tires can carry the weight of the vehicle and any additional cargo.
Truck wheel modifications also differ from car wheels. Some popular ground clearance methods are lift kits, portal axles and larger wheels. Aesthetically, large wheel modifications make a vehicle look lower, longer, and wider. However, the main objective of most truck modifications is to get the wheels to fit wide with a larger lip between the tire and wheel well. Today, many truck owners take this practice to the extreme. This type of fitment would be considered a poke fitment on a car.
Finally, pricing can differ greatly depending on wheel size. Both installation and replacement of truck wheels is more expensive than car wheels. Many manufacturers offer different OEM wheel sizes up front but to do this, they must fit the suspension to the specific diameter.
If you need guidance on wheel size or purchasing truck or car wheels, contact one of our experts today!