16" vs 17" wheels and tyre availability in remote locations

Sorry Gary but you are wrong. Many Pajeros came out with 18 inch wheels but many have put on the 17 inch from earlier model because of the ridiculous tyre prices and availability. This was done many times prior to rego and after rego. I asked my insurance about this and they said no problems . The NX Pajero has 18 inch but many use 17 inch rims and tyres with no insurance issues. The overall diameter of wheel and tyre is very nearly the same when appropriate tyres are fitted.

17 inch tyres are very common now. Give it another year or two and hopefully 18 inch will be in the same price range and availability as well.

Bt/ranger come out on 16, 17 and 18 inch depending on the spec level.

Sorrry Bigfish, I did not mean to offend. I was just stating that when I spoke to MY insurance company last year, their statement was if it was placarded 18" from showroom then I cannot go back to 17". Not that We couldn't put 17" on , BUT in case of a claim and found 17'" instead of 18" we could lose the claim, even though the 200series came out with 17" and 18". The hilux had a brake change in 2011 with larger brakes hence 16" will not fit over caliphers. I was only stating my 2 vechiles as I am not sure of other manufacturer's

No offence taken Garry. My vehicle also has issues with the calipers being bigger and from memory I think there are are only 2 after market rims that will fit. Size is not the issue, its the offset and brake caliper size. It is quite common for people to alter their wheel size. By also putting the correctly sized tyre on the overall diameter can stay the same. I have seen a few cruisers getting around with 20 inch rims and shallower tyres. Naturally no good for off road but would probably be great handling for bitumen , where I suspect they live their lives!

I suggest if your insurer is not happy with rim and tyre substitutions in like with state & federal legeslation and the Australian Standard, you will be wise to find a different insurer as they will be intolerant of a great many other things that matter to the touring 4wd owner.

cheers

You can fit whatever wheel/tyre size combination that is listed on the tyre placard - irrespective what size the car came with.

For example - my RRS comes standard with 18" rims - however the tyre placard lists wheel/tyre wheel sizes in 17", 18" and 20". 17" rims were never offered for my model but because its cousin the Discovery 3 could come with 17", these are listed on my tyre placard and are therefore legal - irrespective what the insurance company says.

Garry

YOUI...We,ll screw you.....lol

What ever comes factory on the popular vehicles will be available in all the major centres and most of the minor centres, Because most of the company and government owned vehicles and a great many of the locals drive factory standard vehicles.
Thuss I would be very surprised if you cloud not find the like of a 225/70-17 in any self respecting tyre shop. Because its on all the new 4x4 hiluxes likewise several other sizes.

285/70-16 is not factory standard on anything I know of.
BFG are also known to have had supply issues

cheers

Nothing to do with brake diameters HAVING to be larger, I suggest.
Our OKA has disks all round and a GVM of 6.6T and a GCM of 9T on 16" rims. It stops fine :)
Larger diameter brakes are probably cheaper and lighter because the callipers can be smaller and cheaper.
Then there is fashion.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

Zero to 100kph in 4-5 minutes? The petrol version of my car has 1" larger rims than the diesel because of larger brakes, apparently because the petrol variant performs a lot better. If it was as you say, they wouldn't have bothered because outwardly the cars look identical and money talks. Yes, I have double checked, the front brakes are larger and different on the petrol version.

The larger the brake disc diameter the more cooling and surface area. GUESS that is fashion for you. 15's were very popular once but they wouldn't even go near fitting over my callipers.

There are a number of reasons why pretty much all the major manufacturers ( except Nissan) have finally made the jump away from the 205r16.

It has been listed as an obsolete tyre for quite some time.

There are far better tyre formats and structures available

Yes the newer vehicles all have bigger and better brakes and thus require caliper clearance

All the new vehicles are heavier , have higher GVMs than the previous generation and higher towing capacities ...... the 205r16 was pushing its limits in the previous generation vehicles ..... they needed a bigger higher rated standard tyre.

The customer's all want better ride comfort .... yeh they could have squeaked the carrying capacity out of the 205r16, by upping the specified pressure ..... but it would have ridden more like a dray.
Going for a bigger, wider tyre on a bigger rim will allow for better ride and better handling on lower tyre pressures.

Fuel economy ...... pretty much right across the board cars are comming with lower profile tyres, because it gives then marginally better fuel econnomy ....... just like the thinner oil they all use...... and the longer oil drain intervals ..... it is all about showing a better environmental credential.

there are many reasons why most manufacturers are changing to a bigger wheel and tyre.

cheers

Just as a matter of interest, the new Hilux has 17" fitted to all the 4WD variants while the 2WD versions have 16" as standard.
Different calipers? Maybe, don't know.
I might just poke my head under one the next time I am at the dealers..

Actually I just had a look at their specs. The 2WD still appears to have the 2500 kg towing while the 4WD has the new 3500 kg rating.

Cheers
Pop

Pop, the ranger comes out with 16's as well. Brakes are definitely getting bigger and even the later 78 series utes got larger callipers that were used on the 100 series.