Escalade with 26" wheels and tires

Axxlrod · January 10, 2003

I went to the LA Car Show last weekend. I went to "Preview Night" on Friday January 3. It was great to see everything when there was no crowds.

Anyway, in the aftermarket hall, I saw some sweet rides. Such as an Escalade with 26" chrome wheels. They were huge! But still looked good. The brake discs looked so tiny through the wheel. They also had on display a 28" wheel and tire package. This was not mounted on a vehicle; it was freestanding. I think it was too big. Practically every SUV on display had at least 24" wheels. There was several H2 there also with custom wheels and one with a monster suspension lift with 38" mud terrain tires.

I took pictures of the Escalade with 26's, but the picture came out really dark. The escalade was black also, so it didn't come out very well.

I talked to a tire rep, and he told me how the new trend was wheels that technically are 22", but the wheel goes up the side wall several inches, so it looks like a 28" or so wheel, but it is an illusion. I didn't really like the look very much... too ghetto for my taste.

LarryE · January 10, 2003

I can almost like 22's but anything bigger is just useless

shaq has a H2 with 26's but I guess if you have that much money you don't mind to drive and worry about denting the rims

k1500chevy97 · January 10, 2003

26"

Thats too big IMO

anything over 20" is crossing the line IMO

Our heavy trucks only have 22.5s on them .

I fear that someday they will find a way to put a chrome tractor wheel on a car or truck . Bling Bling on the 46" rimz

chevyman992002 · January 28, 2003

There is acutally a wire wheels company that makes a 50 inch wheel right now. I saw it on a show last weekend on TNN that was doing some SEMA coverage. It's getting ridiculous.

BLKESC · June 9, 2003

IMO I think that 26"on Escalades and H2's they work. Upscale trucks, upscale wheels. They probably would be fine for Burbs, Tahoes, and Yukons too. But there has to be a point where big gets too big. With such a great mass added to the rotating assembly (brakes, rotors, bearings) and suspension, that really should be putting a beating them and wearing the breaks prematurely! A big set of wheels can easily add 200lbs extra to the suspension. Then again, I guess that its possible since guys have been rolling lifted trucks with huge tires for years. I know that steel is heavier than rubber, but it's got to be greater than stock.

01Burb · June 9, 2003

I looked at 22s but I actually use my Burb and Baltimore streets are the worst. Pot holes the size of small swimming pools. They will rip up 24s for sure and 22s are risky. 22s are the best looking IMHO since the overall diameter of the wheel can be retained. Upwards of that and you are increasing overall wheel/tire diameter.

nationsfinestra · July 17, 2003

That's not a 50" wheel -- it's a 36 or 48 or something like that. Back a few years ago when 20's were just coming out, Dayton made the show only rim to make fun of the other people out there. The weird thing is that pretty soon they're gonna catch up with that.

And on another note, I'm running 22's on my Sierra, I'm laying frame, and I'm fine with having them. I'd run bigger if I could fit them and keep the A/c, but once I bodydrop it that won't be a possibility. I do remember though that back in the day when 16's were just coming out, most people thought a 40 series tire was too small and that you couldn't run those tires without bending a rim. Now running a 245/35 20 is common. You've gotta be careful running any low profile tire be it a 16 or a 26. It's common sense.