Perhaps we shouldn't ask whether the 4x4 market is ready for big-wheel fitments, but rather, does the 4x4 market need big-wheel fitments? After all, bigger wheels means a shorter sidewall, and how many times have you let a tire's sidewall scale a rock to pass through an obstacle? Or floated across a sand dune at 8 psi on 20 inches of tire contact patch? We remember a few years back when we mounted up a set of 17-inch wheels shod with 37-inch tires to our '01 TJ. Making the leap from 15s (the same diameter wheels we'd run since we learned to drive) felt huge at the time, and we weren't certain that we were gaining anything by making the switch. The 17s proved their worth, however, and earned a permanent spot under the TJ as our everyday rollers. So when BFG introduced its Limited Edition Mud-Terrain T/A KM tire in one size that fit 22-inch wheels, we had to have a taste to see if this was a trend worth sticking with.
Limited Edition Mud-Terrain
T/A KM Tire Specs
Size: LT335/55R22
Overall Diameter: 36.8 inches
Width: 13.5 inches on 11-inch wheel
Bling Factor: High
Big-wheel trends have been increasing in popularity, both in the aftermarket segment as well as with vehicle manufacturers. Chrysler, Chevy, and Ford all offer 20-inch-and-larger fitments for fullsize trucks as either standard equipment or factory options. With the luxury-SUV market steadily increasing in popularity, BFG first launched into the big-wheel tire fitment with a 20-inch All-Terrain T/A KO application. The concept tread Mud-Terrain soon followed and is offered as a means of gauging customer reaction and interest to determine if the LT335/55R22 is here to stay.
As the market continually strives to keep up with what works best, and in many cases what looks best, we're forced to ask, How far will it go? Can we expect to see 22-inch-or-larger wheel diameters become as commonplace as 35-inch tires have? Will looks begin to outweigh performance? Maybe and hopefully not. After all, people still want a tire that performs well, even if it is to fit a 22-inch wheel. For the time being, however, we'll probably stick with our 17s for most of our trail use. But the biggie 22s certainly got a lot more attention on the street, leaving us with a pretty good assumption that until more sizes are offered, this is where the LT335/55R22 concept Mud-Terrain will find its home.