18" wheels on a 2016 Yukon Denali???

[CharPatton]

Hi:

We’d like to buy a 2016 Yukon Denali.

However, we don’t care about fashion or looks, and have heard that 18” wheels are better than 20” wheels off road and in snow.

Thus, is it possible to buy a 2016 Yukon Denali but with the 18” wheels that come with the Tahoe LS rather than the 20” wheels that come with the 2016 Yukon Denali? Is there any design/engineering reason not to do this, other than a less firm ride and possibly slightly less optimal handling on dry roads at high speeds (we don’t drive fast!).

Thank you!

 

[rattmobbins]

Wheel size doesn't make a bit of difference in off road or snow handling capability, your tire choice does.

Every decent off road and snow tire you can find in the 18" size you'll also be able to find in the 20" size.

The only benefit an 18" tire would have is a little more sidewall so you could lower the tire psi for real gnarly off road stuff, which I guarantee you're not going to be doing in a Denali.

Just get the factory 20s. You'll be fine.

 

[Fifty]

It is true that you will have a softer and probably a slightly more controllable ride on dirt roads with the 18's (the controllable part won't really be measurable unless you are in the race or rally dept).
Letting the rubber handle small movements helps considerable. Think about the bots dots on the road. They are a little less than an inch and when you drive over them how much do you feel them. Airing down from a 20 inch rim to soak that up when driving gets you one inch closer to the rim.
Not as quite a worry with 18's.

On road, the 18's will give you a softer ride as well unless you start getting into the "E" rated tires, at which point the spring rate of the side wall is so much stiffer than the trucks spring rate that it will negate any advantage you Gained with the extra inch between you and the road.

Snow really likes a skinny wheel with lots of sippens... So that's where you would look at the tires out there. The 20's are a 275 tire I believe... I do not know what the Chevy 18's are. The 17's are a 265...

You could play around with sizes until you got a tall skinny tire, yet, you would want a stiff sidewalk and soft rubber...so back to the same crappy ride.

I don't think you will gain much in the snow by going to a smaller wheel.


All told, if you spend 90% of your time on cement...go with the 20's. Especially if you have never aired down a tire before.


(I'm still asleep, just woke up, so if this post jumps around a bit I apologize)

 

[CharPatton]

Wheel size doesn't make a bit of difference in off road or snow handling capability, your tire choice does.

Every decent off road and snow tire you can find in the 18" size you'll also be able to find in the 20" size.

The only benefit an 18" tire would have is a little more sidewall so you could lower the tire psi for real gnarly off road stuff, which I guarantee you're not going to be doing in a Denali.

Just get the factory 20s. You'll be fine.

Thanks!!!

 

[CharPatton]

It is true that you will have a softer and probably a slightly more controllable ride on dirt roads with the 18's (the controllable part won't really be measurable unless you are in the race or rally dept).
Letting the rubber handle small movements helps considerable. Think about the bots dots on the road. They are a little less than an inch and when you drive over them how much do you feel them. Airing down from a 20 inch rim to soak that up when driving gets you one inch closer to the rim.
Not as quite a worry with 18's.

On road, the 18's will give you a softer ride as well unless you start getting into the "E" rated tires, at which point the spring rate of the side wall is so much stiffer than the trucks spring rate that it will negate any advantage you Gained with the extra inch between you and the road.

Snow really likes a skinny wheel with lots of sippens... So that's where you would look at the tires out there. The 20's are a 275 tire I believe... I do not know what the Chevy 18's are. The 17's are a 265...

You could play around with sizes until you got a tall skinny tire, yet, you would want a stiff sidewalk and soft rubber...so back to the same crappy ride.

I don't think you will gain much in the snow by going to a smaller wheel.


All told, if you spend 90% of your time on cement...go with the 20's. Especially if you have never aired down a tire before.


(I'm still asleep, just woke up, so if this post jumps around a bit I apologize)

Appreciate your sharing your expertise!