Posted by Ben on August 17, 19100 at 07:01:12:
In Reply to: Wheel width vs. tire size posted by Doug S. on August 16, 19100 at 16:39:53:
There are recommended wheel widths vs tire sizes that all tire manufacturers have. Your tire shop should have these on hand for you to review. Actually, they will usually only mount tires onto wheels within these listed ranges.
Unless you manage to talk the tire shop into doing something out of the listing. My 265/75x16's are mounted on 10inch wide wheels (bead to bead...many today measure the outside, which would make mine 11.5inch wide).
Wider reduces the amount of squirm, which increases the tires responsiveness, overall air volume (part of the load carring metrics), reduces the angle of attack for the side wall plies, reduced running temp (this is part of what is the problem with the Firestone's in the news of late) etc. Down side is that the sidewalls are "exposed" to road hazards (cuts and bruises) and the ride is not as "soft".