Decided to go shoe shopping for your truck or jeep today? There is a huge selection of off-road wheel tire packages waiting for you to explore. A certain look of a rim design may draw you in, but you must take note that it goes beyond the surface appeal.

Changing your stock wheels is the first step to make your rig off-road ready. It is one of the most common modifications that people do to their off-road vehicles. New wheels and tires can also give an aesthetic boost to your ride.

Searching for good rims and tires

Do I want to purchase an alloy wheel? Do I want a bigger rim and tire setup? Should I put on a lift kit? You might have thought of these questions. Before you get on the wheel-and-tire buying process, you should know a few facts before you check out.

For first-time buyers, purchasing wheels and tires can be overwhelming. You will see a lot of wheels and tires available. What you are about to buy is an investment for your vehicle. Making use of our wheel and tire package configurator can help you narrow down your choices. Helping make your choice the right one.

Checking the dimension of the wheel

Before we get started. Let us talk about dimensions. Making sure these wheels are going to fit right is key. Buying the products with the wrong, diameter, width, and backspacing. Will surely bring disappointment to your day.

Picking the wrong backspacing will impinge on the suspension components of your vehicle. The wrong diameter and width will also damage the suspension because the wheels will not fit over your vehicle's brake calipers. Get the right measurements, and you can avoid a lot of issues. 

Also, take note of the rim offset when you are searching for new off-road rims. If you change where the tire sits laterally, it will have an impact on other parts. This may alter the factory specs that affect the handling. Offset is the distance from the mounting surface to the centerline of the wheel. It comes in three types: Zero, Positive, and Negative. Truck owners usually change the offset of their truck to provide a more aggressive look and a wider stance.

Zero – the hub mounting surface is directly even with the center of the wheel. Normally, OEM wheels have zero offsets.

Positive – the hub mounting surface of the wheel is closer to the fender side. More commonly found on cars today. This offset pushes the wheel in toward the brake and allows you to install bigger and wider wheels.

Negative – the hub mounting surfaces are closer to the wheel flange which is inside the brake line. Commonly found on custom trucks and off-road vehicles. You will notice that the wheels stick out past the fenders. This type of offset makes the wheels and tires look like it is poking out or stick outside the fender. Some truck owners install aftermarket fender flares to fill in the additional space.

If the rim is wider than the stock, there may not be enough space to the ball joint or steering arm. It is needed so the extra width can still fit inside the wheel well. Therefore, the wrong rim and tire fitment may cause rubbing onto the fender panel. It can also overstrain the wheel bearings and may result in bigger suspension problems.

Tire measurement

When choosing tires. You may notice. That the tire sizing formula begins with a letter. This identifies the type of vehicle and service the tire is for. Here is some tire measurement info you must take note of:

"P" - represents that the tire fits on vehicles primarily used as a passenger vehicle. Such as cars, minivans, SUVs, and light-duty pickup trucks.

"T" – means that the tire is a "Temporary Spare". Only use this tire(s) in emergencies. Do not drive on this tire for a long period of time.  

"ST" –this signifies that the tires are a "Special Trailer Service" size. Only used on boats or utility trailers. The ST-sized tires are not used on cars, vans, or even light trucks.

"C" – represents a "Commercial" tire which is intended for vans or delivery trucks. Euro-metric sized tires with C characteristics are often used for vehicles that can carry heavy cargo.

"LT" – stands for light trucks. This tire type is designed to be used on vehicles that can carry heavy loads.

Note: If a tire ends with "LT," this may mean either an earlier "Numeric", "Wide Base" or "Flotation" Light Truck size. Tires under this category are for vehicles with towing trailers or capable of carrying heavy loads.

Flotation tires –uses inches rather than metric measurements. It has gained popularity among farmers. Now commonly used in the farm and agricultural industries. It keeps the farm vehicles above ground to not damage the soil beneath.

Best tires for the terrain

Now that you have decided what wheel to purchase for your vehicle. What tires are you going to get? Before picking any off-road wheel and tire package, you need to know the terrain type that you're going to be driving on. That way you can match the tire to your needs.

Mud Terrain Tires

Designed for performance for off-road terrain. What makes these tires do well in these terrains are the deep tread blocks and the large voids between them. The depth of the tread blocks allowed the tires to dig in. The large voids, help clear out mud, gravel, and other debris that you encounter when you are off-roading. If you are about to embark on some muddy terrain, here at 4WheelOnline. We suggest something like Toyo Tires Open Country M/T. These mud terrain tires give maximum traction. We would also suggest Nitto Mud Grappler. Designed to channel the mud away. 

All Terrain Tires

If you are looking for a tire that will be good for both on and off-road activities, look no further then all-terrain tires. This tire is designed to give you grip on loose terrain without losing the safety and control on the pavement. The all-terrain tire separated into two zones: on-road and off-road. The combinations of hybrid tread patterns and tough compounds makes this tire great for the multi-surfaces you throw at these tires.

Winter Tires

Driving in icy conditions can be nerve-racking. There is always the potential of losing traction while driving on snow or ice-filled roads. Snow tires are here to rescue you from all this danger. Snow tires, designed for cold elements, have a special compound made to stay softer and more flexible under the colder conditions of winter. Thus, giving you better traction for the ice and snow-filled roads.

Street Tires

Street tires are one of the most versatile tires on the market. They are also the most used tires. Street tires design is for most weather conditions and can handle the non-extreme weather conditions that we encounter throughout the year. Unless you are in an environment with extreme cold, you will not need to change out these tires in the winter.

Wheel and tire combo

The factory rims and tires are generally designer with fuel economy in mind. Hence, it is not suitable to use for rough terrain. The stock tires are smaller which is only good for city driving. If you look at its construction. You will notice the difference of off-road wheel and tire package compared to the stock you currently have on your ride.

Alloy rims are more popular compared to steel-made ones. If you search for alloy rims, you can find a myriad of designs available. Alloy-made is lighter and has greater heat conduction—making it a nice rim to use in tricky terrain. In contrast, the steel wheels are heavier but can be easier to repair. Practical in some sense but the weight of steel wheels can affect acceleration and fuel economy of the vehicle.

Getting ready to purchase?

Here at 4WheelOnline, we have a wheel and tire package configurator. This can greatly help in finding the right kind of wheels and the right size of tires. Do not forget to provide precise vehicle information to ensure proper installation kit and fitment. 

Follow a few simple steps and you can narrow down the selection of rim and tire packages for your vehicle. We also provide mounting and balancing for free. Install your package with the free installation kit included.

Lessening the hassle of browsing through a wide list of wheel and tire options. This helpful guide can get you started finding the best bang for your buck. Happy shopping.