TacticalCucumber
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Hey all, as I was doing research for which tires to go with (as many are), I know unsprung weight calculations are important to some of you for gas mileage purposes.
Rebel 18" Wheel Weight: 26.7lbs
Falken Wildpeak A/T3WA 275/55/20 Weight: 45.3lbs
Nitto Ridge Grappler 285/70/18 Weight: 61lbs
New Rebel Wheel/Tire Combo Weight: 88lbs
Stock 20" Laramie Longhorn Wheel/Tire Combo Weight: 81.6lbs (confirmed)
Stock 20" Laramie Longhorn wheels: 36.3lbs
Unsprung weight increase per corner: 6.4lbs
I decided on Nitto Ridge Grappler 285/70/18 with the stock Rebel wheels for a few reasons. Yes I could have gone bigger since I've got a leveling kit and suspension links on my Laramie Longhorn w/ air suspension. As the 285/70 is 33.7" in diameter, there was still room to grow as many have done 35s such as 35x12.50.
Here's why I didn't do that: the Ridge Grapplers in 285/70 are rated at 59lbs from the factory. They turned out to be 61lbs on average between the four of them, but when you add on the stock Rebel wheel, which averaged 26.7lbs, That brings you to 88lbs. The 285/70/18 has an 8" sidewall, which much more than the stock 20s, but not enough to make it mushy or look stupid.
(I haven't weighed the stock 20s and 275/55/20 combo yet, but will when I get them installed. Based on the calculations I can do from Falken's website on the OEM Wildpeak tires, it appears that the stock wheel/tire combo is somewhere between 78-82lbs.). I was damn close at 81.6lbs!
This swap would therefore net a 6-10lb unsprung weight increase per wheel. Going any bigger than 285/70 meant another 9lb increase in tire weight for the Ridge Grapplers, and the BFGs in a comparable size to what I have were right at 69lbs, as well...so your net unsprung weight increase would double for another 10mm in width or height. Not worth the gas mileage loss.
This wheel/tire combo seems to increase the unsprung weight by the least amount possible (I looked at Cooper, BFG, Nitto, Toyo, MT, etc.), so it won't murder your gas mileage (for those who have EcoDiesels like me and care about that). An 8lb increase per corner will decrease gas mileage, but not by much as it is just about 10% increase in mass over stock. I am currently averaging 24.7 by the truck's estimate - accuracy of this aside - so I'll see what my net decrease is by the truck's computer and report back.
I will post later with pictures for install and fitment to show what (if any) rubbing or trimming/heating I have to do for those that are interested in this, as well. Hopefully someone else that is weighing their options (literally) can benefit from this info. Yes it is out there in other forums/threads, but not consolidated for those of us that have the "how big can I go" question as we consider the Rebel wheel swap.
Rebel 18" Wheel Weight: 26.7lbs
Falken Wildpeak A/T3WA 275/55/20 Weight: 45.3lbs
Nitto Ridge Grappler 285/70/18 Weight: 61lbs
New Rebel Wheel/Tire Combo Weight: 88lbs
Stock 20" Laramie Longhorn Wheel/Tire Combo Weight: 81.6lbs (confirmed)
Stock 20" Laramie Longhorn wheels: 36.3lbs
Unsprung weight increase per corner: 6.4lbs
I decided on Nitto Ridge Grappler 285/70/18 with the stock Rebel wheels for a few reasons. Yes I could have gone bigger since I've got a leveling kit and suspension links on my Laramie Longhorn w/ air suspension. As the 285/70 is 33.7" in diameter, there was still room to grow as many have done 35s such as 35x12.50.
Here's why I didn't do that: the Ridge Grapplers in 285/70 are rated at 59lbs from the factory. They turned out to be 61lbs on average between the four of them, but when you add on the stock Rebel wheel, which averaged 26.7lbs, That brings you to 88lbs. The 285/70/18 has an 8" sidewall, which much more than the stock 20s, but not enough to make it mushy or look stupid.
(I haven't weighed the stock 20s and 275/55/20 combo yet, but will when I get them installed. Based on the calculations I can do from Falken's website on the OEM Wildpeak tires, it appears that the stock wheel/tire combo is somewhere between 78-82lbs.). I was damn close at 81.6lbs!
This swap would therefore net a 6-10lb unsprung weight increase per wheel. Going any bigger than 285/70 meant another 9lb increase in tire weight for the Ridge Grapplers, and the BFGs in a comparable size to what I have were right at 69lbs, as well...so your net unsprung weight increase would double for another 10mm in width or height. Not worth the gas mileage loss.
This wheel/tire combo seems to increase the unsprung weight by the least amount possible (I looked at Cooper, BFG, Nitto, Toyo, MT, etc.), so it won't murder your gas mileage (for those who have EcoDiesels like me and care about that). An 8lb increase per corner will decrease gas mileage, but not by much as it is just about 10% increase in mass over stock. I am currently averaging 24.7 by the truck's estimate - accuracy of this aside - so I'll see what my net decrease is by the truck's computer and report back.
I will post later with pictures for install and fitment to show what (if any) rubbing or trimming/heating I have to do for those that are interested in this, as well. Hopefully someone else that is weighing their options (literally) can benefit from this info. Yes it is out there in other forums/threads, but not consolidated for those of us that have the "how big can I go" question as we consider the Rebel wheel swap.
Last edited:
. Full disclosure part of my brain is dead... so it is possible I either believed I had one then or forgot now... but I'm 100% certain the only thing I had was links. And after 30 days I took them off (they're now for sale btw) because I didn't like how horribly bouncy the Off Road settings of the air suspension were. 
