Are 16 inch wheels endangered?

[Goatman]

Looking at new rims for my '06 Rubi. Seems like there are few choices still being made in a 16 inch rim. Do you think it's better to switch to a 17 incher or stay with the 16? I know when the 14 inch was common and almost over night it disappeared. Is th 16 inch rim next? A whole lot of tires aren't available for it that are all in 17's. Might be handy if I ever want to get some oversized brake & rotor upgrades. What do you guys think?

 

[TJ_2000]

16”s have never really been popular. It was either 15”s or 17”s and up.

 

[Chris]

No one wants 16s. It's a poor wheel choice due to the lack of tire selection.

The smart thing to do is either go down to 15s or up to 17s. Both of those sizes have plentiful selections of tires.

If you're set on the Moab look (which I totally get), Quadaratec makes spot on Moab replicas in 15" sizes, or you can add the JK Moab wheels which are 17".

 

[89grand]

There actually is a reasonable tire selection in 16", but the tires generally suck for us, as in being too high a load range. I mean you can get a 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 etc in a P metric 16". But yeah, as far as wheels, they are becoming more rare for sure.

 

[glwood]

I've not seen a wheel I like better than the 16" stock Moabs. So far, the only 32" load range C tires for 16" wheels I've run across are Goodyear Duratracs and Toyo AT2s...

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I can only hope 16" wheels are the endangered unwanted bastard child of the wheel industry.

 

[MaloStapalo]

15"s or bust.

Unless it's a new Escalade, then 24"s or bust.

 

[89grand]

15"s or bust.

Unless it's a new Escalade, then 24"s or bust.

For TJ's, yeah, 15" is where it's at. Unfortunately JK's, and probably more so the JL's, running a 15" is nearly impossible. I run 22" wheels...on my Dodge Magnum, and it just looks right on that car, but unless I ever went to a 37", which I won't, my Jeep will have 15's.

 

[MaloStapalo]

For TJ's, yeah, 15" is where it's at. Unfortunately JK's, and probably more so the JL's, running a 15" is nearly impossible. I run 22" wheels...on my Dodge Magnum, and it just looks right on that car, but unless I ever went to a 37", which I won't, my Jeep will have 15's.

We have a 2019 Escalade Platinum at work for our shuttle and it looks small with 22"s. That front seat massager is grade A though.

 

[89grand]

It's weird how you get accustom to things, like bigger wheels. I still hate anything bigger than a 15" wheel, unless it's a 17" on a 35"+ tire, but wheels that weren't small at one time look small now. Some will still hate it, but here's my Magnum with 22's, and they just look right to me.

 

[MaloStapalo]

It's weird how you get accustom to things, like bigger wheels. I still hate anything bigger than a 15" wheel, unless it's a 17" on a 35"+ tire, but wheels that weren't small at one time look small now. Some will still hate it, but here's my Magnum with 22's, and they just look right to me.

View attachment 91078

I actually don't hate that and I am probably the first person in a room to hate on American cars.

 

[psrivats]

I've not seen a wheel I like better than the 16" stock Moabs. So far, the only 32" load range C tires for 16" wheels I've run across are Goodyear Duratracs and Toyo AT2s...

Same here. I still wish someone would make the classic CJ style wagon wheels in alloy with the right TJ bolt pattern. I would buy that in a heartbeat. When my current Duratracs wear down, I'll likely move to a 15" wheel.

 

[glwood]

Same here. I still wish someone would make the classic CJ style wagon wheels in alloy with the right TJ bolt pattern. I would buy that in a heartbeat. When my current Duratracs wear down, I'll likely move to a 15" wheel.

Have you looked into the load range C possibilities for 32x11.50/15 tires at all? I've been a long-time fan of the MT Classic alloy wheels, and would consider those in a 15.

 

[Steel City 06]

I know people keep trying to talk me out of it, but I really like the idea of 315/75R16 on stock Moab wheels. I’d be stuck with load range D in that size though

https://www.rubiconownersforum.com/...quest-315-75r16-stock-rims.html#/topics/44738

 

[Goatman]

I always liked the 8 holes in the rim. Main reason to think about different size is to remove those Rubicon rims from my sight. Never been a big chrome fan. No shiny trim. No shiny bumpers. The 8 hole in either flat black or a charcoal grey. So 15's or 17's? Any problems for a 15" rim with rotor/caliper or possible "big brake" kit? 35's would be my MAX tire. I have always been happy with 32's or 33's and being able to drive back home. No real rock crawler or dune climber. I'm happy with forest and creek style med. trails. Perhaps a trip to Utah for my bucket list, but I'm an east coast type of guy.

 

[Steel City 06]

I always liked the 8 holes in the rim. Main reason to think about different size is to remove those Rubicon rims from my sight. Never been a big chrome fan. No shiny trim. No shiny bumpers. The 8 hole in either flat black or a charcoal grey. So 15's or 17's? Any problems for a 15" rim with rotor/caliper or possible "big brake" kit? 35's would be my MAX tire. I have always been happy with 32's or 33's and being able to drive back home. No real rock crawler or dune climber. I'm happy with forest and creek style med. trails. Perhaps a trip to Utah for my bucket list, but I'm an east coast type of guy.

The 15” big brake kit will fit almost any 15” rim. You might even be able to fit the 16” kit in a 15” rim. I have the Super 16” kit, which is designed to fit in the Moab 16” wheels. I believe the 15” kit is very popular with 35s. The 17” kit if I recall correctly is mainly for people who run 40s or similar

 

[Chapman4266]

Looking at new rims for my '06 Rubi. Seems like there are few choices still being made in a 16 inch rim. Do you think it's better to switch to a 17 incher or stay with the 16? I know when the 14 inch was common and almost over night it disappeared. Is th 16 inch rim next? A whole lot of tires aren't available for it that are all in 17's. Might be handy if I ever want to get some oversized brake & rotor upgrades. What do you guys think?

I have MB wheels on mine. Very affordable and I like them. 16”.

 

[Goatman]

Yup. Those are my #2 pick for rims. If not the 8 hole, then the "d" hole rims.

 

[Goatman]

Chapman do you happen to know the weight of those rims? Goes perfect with the red. I've got black paint, so thinking more of a smoke or charcoal color for the rims. Dont like the shiny stuff on my vehicles.

 

[Chapman4266]

Chapman do you happen to know the weight of those rims? Goes perfect with the red. I've got black paint, so thinking more of a smoke or charcoal color for the rims. Dont like the shiny stuff on my vehicles.

Approximately 20 lbs. I found them for sale a couple weeks ago, but now shows unavailable. Must have released newer model with some changes. These are actually matte black. I applied some dressing to clean them up for a car show my brother hosts in the one pic. Be advised the “bead locks” are just plastic look-alike bolt heads. I have one that got snapped off wheeling. It doesn’t bother me. They’re cheap and solid wheels imo. MB has quite a few cheaper wheels for us.