Jim M:
I'm far from being an expert, but I've wheeled casually since I was old enough to drive an old '81 K-5 Blazer. To cut to the chase, I have yet to read any magazine that endorses anything larger than a 17" wheel for off-pavement use.
I'm a regular reader of Four Wheeler, JP Mag, Land Rover Owner International, and sometimes I grab Off-Road and Petersen's. All of these resources seem to knock larger wheels for the following unified reasons:
- Added Weight
- Reduction of Sidewall Flex
- Larger Diameter = More Prone to Scraping on Rocks and Other Obstacles
JP Mag went so far as to call anything larger than 17s completely worthless.
Personally, I'd go the opposite direction with a 16" wheel on my H2, but don't know if that size will clear the calipers & brake assembly. I'm a fan of 15s and 16s for wheeling, but the "STREET" look has folks going with 18s, 19s, 20s, and even 22s+.
It's your hard-earned dollars so go for what makes you happy.
|