I really think you need RIms on these vehicles as they look som uch better with Rims. However, I have never changed before, and am hearing bad things about the vehicles ride after installing larger rims. Can anyone tell me what size they went to, and how bad is it. I really like a smooth ride, and do not want to sacrifice much. Thanks!

the change in ride shouldnt be bad at all, so long as you dont get a rubber band for a tire. stay with a 45/50 series tire and you'll be fine. i've got 22x9.5s with a 305/45/22 toyo. ride is great. a little stiffer over expansion joints on the freeway, but its also a hell of a lot more stable at freeway speeds. there are folks on here with 24s and 305/35/24 that say the ride aint to bad with those either!!!

I have Symbolic XR-25 22" Wheels Wrapped in Cooper Zeon XST 305/45/22 tires. Hiway ride is like butter! Handling and performance has also improved. Like said above, expansion joints... potholes and such. You are going to feel them!

Sometimes with the right rims and rubbers, your ride will be even better than stock. Don't get 28s or nothing like that and you'll be fine.:D

I changed the RIMS on all my vehicles. Better ride all around.
I am currently using DBL G type 111 by Giovanna - 24" x 10.5"

Tire Size is 305/35/24

Much better handling then oem Conti's, then again, you do feel any imperfection of the road.

Good Luck!

How aboput something not bumping it up too much like 20's or something. Would I notice that? Everyone mentions the same thing about road imperfections. I do love the truck, but it is already not the smoothest over bumps. I want to try to keep my loss in smoothness down. Also, I will be driving in Snow (not sure if that matters or not).

Several folks have kept the OEM 18s or switched to Chrome 18s and are quite happy with that. Just get rid of the OEM Continentals and get some better tires.

If you are interested in 20s, that's not bad either. 92TripleBlack has 20's on his and loves 'em. Check out the galleries and see what look you like. The bottom line is you gotta get what you like!

As far as you driving in the snow, the vehicle is kind of heavy and as long as you have good all seasons, you will be fine. Unless you get a $hitload of snow. :thumbup: Good luck!

Following this thread in a related topic. Those of you who have upgraded or upsized from OEM. How many of you have gone w/larger rotors (ie .. Big Brake mod)? I can see (just a feeling) .. maybe not having the need to upgrade for 20s or maybe 22s .. but 24s or more??

I really think you need RIms on these vehicles as they look som uch better with Rims. However, I have never changed before, and am hearing bad things about the vehicles ride after installing larger rims. Can anyone tell me what size they went to, and how bad is it. I really like a smooth ride, and do not want to sacrifice much. Thanks!
20" and 22" are the best riding rims with 22" starting to degrade. It gets more harsh from there. Most people went stock Contis to larger rims so the difference isn't that bad. The Contis ride like junk. But a good set of 18" will have considerable more comfort than 22" and larger. Price also is expodential with it almost doubling every 2 inches you add. EX. My set of rims AND tires was $2200 installed. By the time you hit 24", you are usually well over $5k and often closer to $10k with high tire replacement prices, rims more susceptable to denting and replacement, and no positive except looks. You loose tow capacity, acceleration, MPG, smoothness over rough roads, etc. Just be aware of what you are getting into when looking into larger rims.

My 20 inch 305/50s handle excellent in the snow but the ride quality does suffer. Here in New England the roads S*CK. We have ripped up streets and potholes allover. On the hiway - the ride is perfect. The occasional expansion joint will vibrate up to the steering wheel. Part of my issue is I am rolling on Goodyears. They are far from being a great tire. Some other board members suggested another brand like Falken or Hankook might help smooth it out. In my opinion, the sacrifice in ride quality is worth it. The Armada factory wheels are pretty plain but the 20" chrome are a perfect complement to my Smoke Armada. I wish I could find a set of "hyper-silver" rims to use in the Winter. The chrome tends to pit with the Winter salt. Currently I use factory wheels during Winter.

I have 22 x 9.5 w/6 in. Lip D'Vinci Ventos w/Black Inserts wrapped in Nitton NT420S tires (305/22/45). As stated above the highway ride is like floating. You do feel bumps abit more and rough riding roads can cause you stress. LOL

I have a White, 2005 Armada.
Considering aftermarket rims but not sure where to start. I know I want my rims to have the following characteristics: Ok to use in all kinds of weather ( I know chroms deteriorates in winter), is a lighter rim (In terms of weight) so I dont have to change out the factory brakes and is either a 22 or 24 in size. Any suggestions???

that is a tough queastion because on clubarmada we are divided on rim sizes. some of us like 24-26 and some of us like 18-22 so really its all about your personal prefrence. me i like 24-26 max u can get 24's for about 3000 with tires and smaller sizes wit tires for less. 24's have extra good handling but sacrafice smooth ride but the sacrafice is minimal. 18-22 has alittle better handling but you dont really sacrafice the smooth ride and you may get more miles out of your tires, depending on what tires you get. hope that helps.

20" and 22" are the best riding rims with 22" starting to degrade. It gets more harsh from there. Most people went stock Contis to larger rims so the difference isn't that bad. The Contis ride like junk. But a good set of 18" will have considerable more comfort than 22" and larger. Price also is expodential with it almost doubling every 2 inches you add. EX. My set of rims AND tires was $2200 installed. By the time you hit 24", you are usually well over $5k and often closer to $10k with high tire replacement prices, rims more susceptable to denting and replacement, and no positive except looks. You loose tow capacity, acceleration, MPG, smoothness over rough roads, etc. Just be aware of what you are getting into when looking into larger rims.

as far as price, my shop sells 24" wheel/tire packages starting at $2900. and i dont know where you keep coming up with this loss of towing capacity from a larger tire. my 305/45-22 toyo proxes have a higher load carrying capacity than the stock contis (2601lbs for the contis, 2910 for my toyos). i pull a boat in the summer and a 25' toybox trailer just fine. as for the other questions about brakes, well, a big rim like a 24 or bigger will take some effect on your brakes. but unless you drive up and down the mountains all day, i dont think you will notice a difference.

Again, you get what you pay for. Sure you can get cheap 24", but the 20" of the same wheel will be less than half.
EX:
Bruiser wheels from MB in 20" are $170-250 depending on bolt pattern, etc.
24" are $200 more a wheel.

Yokohama tires Advan ST are $294 in 20", $477 in 24"
As far as tow rating goes, the 20" have about a 10%-20% higher rating than the 22" or 24" tires. This makes sense as they have more sidewall that allows more weight to be cushiioned.
This means you pay about $1500 more for 24" over 20", or close to double. And then double again every time you need new tires. ;)

my point about tow capacity is that the armada has a 9500lbs rating with its stock tires. you arent going to gain towing capacity by running a 10ply tire, all you gain is a stiffer tire that will handle the load better. the vehicle will still have a 9500lbs rating. my toyos have a higher load capacity than the stock tires, so i still have a 9500lbs rating. so you dont lose any towing capacity by going with 22 or 24 compared to stock.

IMO you can't go wrong with 20's

my point about tow capacity is that the armada has a 9500lbs rating with its stock tires. you arent going to gain towing capacity by running a 10ply tire, all you gain is a stiffer tire that will handle the load better. the vehicle will still have a 9500lbs rating. my toyos have a higher load capacity than the stock tires, so i still have a 9500lbs rating. so you dont lose any towing capacity by going with 22 or 24 compared to stock.

Its 9000, (9100 in 4x2), not 9500.
The tow rating assumes you put 10% of the weight on the tongue, which is the amount that the manual calls for. This translates to the tires. This is 900 lbs. Then add cargo weight, vehicle weight, and passenger weight, and you may exceed the rating of your tires.

As for your Toyos having higher load capacity than stock, which ones are you running? The Toyo Proxies S/T in 285-40-24, which are the only 24" in that tire that fit without a lift, have a tow rating of 2469. The stock Contis have a tow rating of 2601 and the Proxies in 20" are rated over 3000 lbs, 22" rated in the 2900s.
:crikey:

i have the 305/45-22. as long as you have a higher load capacity on your aftermarket tires than the stockers it'd be fine. and i know a 305/35-24 fits an armada without a lift.

i have the 305/45-22. as long as you have a higher load capacity on your aftermarket tires than the stockers it'd be fine. and i know a 305/35-24 fits an armada without a lift.

305-45-22is 2910, higher than the stock contis.
305-60-18 is 3086
305-35-24 isn't available for sale yet according to Toyo.com and the specs aren't posted.
The only one that will fit that is available according to Toyo is the 285-40-24 and their rating is 2469, lower than stock. Also, you will note that as you loose sidewall, you loose load rating. Its just a fact. Though tires vary on load rating from one model to another, they all loose rating as you loose sidewall, which was my point. ;)

I changed the RIMS on all my vehicles. Better ride all around.
I am currently using DBL G type 111 by Giovanna - 24" x 10.5"

Tire Size is 305/35/24

Much better handling then oem Conti's, then again, you do feel any imperfection of the road.

Good Luck!


Did you need to upgrade the brakes? I was told that with any rims bigger than 22" you need to upgrade?

Did you need to upgrade the brakes? I was told that with any rims bigger than 22" you need to upgrade?
That's BS. You don't need to upgrade brakes unless you want to. This vehicle is capable of stopping it's own weight plus another 6-9K in trailer weight. Changing the rims will not make the brakes work any less that they already do!

I got 22s and still got OEM brakes and just had them done at 30K miles.

Thanks a lot. That is what I thought and gathered from my reading in this forum but wanted some first hand re-enforcement. I am going to order the Giovanna Caracas 24's with pirelli's.

Thanks again

Thanks a lot. That is what I thought and gathered from my reading in this forum but wanted some first hand re-enforcement. I am going to order the Giovanna Caracas 24's with pirelli's.

Thanks again
The most common phrese you will here on this forum is "Post pics" as soon as you can! Good luck and looking forward to seeing your new shoes! :thumbup:

More than anything, sellers say you need to upgrade the brakes for two reasons, looks and they sell them. Neither of them are why you have brakes, which is to stop the vehicle. ;)