18" Stock Wheels vs 20" Optional Wheels For Mostly Suburban Driving???

[Tazbom]

I am shopping for a 2025 Land Cruiser LC. I would be driving is almost exclusively on Southern California suburban streets (80%) and freeways (20%). The only time I may need 4WD is an occasional trip to local mountains during the winter. I would like a wheel that handles well and provides safety in my mostly dry and smooth conditions, enhances gas mileage, is comfortable to drive on, looks good, and isn't cost prohibitive in the long run. If you possess good knowledge here, please answer the following questions with regard to the stock 265/70R18 vs the $1240 optional 265/60R20 wheels...

1. Do these two rims look the same? The website does not provide good pictures of the stock rims and none of the optional rims. Are they of similar quality?

2. What are the plusses and minuses of each wheel with regard to my needs.

3. Which do you feel would be better for my needs? If you feel the 20" would be better for me, would they be worth the $1240 additional cost?

 

[gentleman]

Hi Tazbom, my 2025 LC has the stock 265/60R20 and I test drove a 2024 FE with 265/70R18. Most of my recommendations are qualitative and not quantitative. Assuming everything equal, i.e. same wheel and tire width (265), same total wheel+tire diameter:

265/60R20 (large wheel, slim tire)
Pros:

• Better on-road cornering stability
• Sexier look

Cons:

• Generally more expensive tires (lower profile)
• Worse mpg (more and larger metal, less rubber and thinner rubber = larger rotational inertia = more energy to spend for acceleration)
• Slower acceleration
• Stiffer on rough terrain

265/70R18 (smaller wheel, thicker tire)
Pros:

• Generally cheaper tire
• Better mpg (opposite argument as for the larger wheels)
• Faster acceleration
• Cushier on rough terrain
• More badass look

Cons:

• Worse cornering stability

These are the theoretical differences. In reality, the quantitative differences between the two configurations are small. And for the look, well that’s truly subjective. Since you said that you will be driving 100% on the road, including the mountains (snow on mountain roads is still driving on the road), perhaps the 20” wheels better suit you.

That said, I recently bought my 2025 LC with 20” wheels. I was looking for a LC with 18” wheels and couldn’t find one in the State of California. Apparently, Toyota decided that all 2025 LC trims in California are fitted with the 20” wheels (I swear, I stalked 90% of the dealers in CA), only the 1958 trim was fitted with the 245/70R18 (also, weird tire size). So since you live in CA, as for your profile, if you want the 18” wheels either get a 1958 trim or prepare to spend the extra $1240 for the 20” wheels and then spend extra money for aftermarket 18” wheels + tires too.

 

[sukiyaki]

I was lucky enough to get a 2025 LC LC 18 in wheels in a local Toyota dealer (Toyota of Orange, Orange County) a few weeks ago. There were two trucks LC LC with 18 in and 20 in. I referred to 18 in wheels as the cons Gettleman said above.

 

[Mtn40]

20” wheel:

18” wheel (Land Cruiser trim):

I think both look good. I wanted 18” for better offroad.
I don’t think the difference will be noticeable in your case. Unless you really like the looks of one over the other I’d just find the Cruiser with the other options you want and you don’t have to worry about which wheel option it has.

 

[Area 51]

20" with Michelin Defender LTX MS2 rails on paved roads and decent off road and very good snow tire.

 

[RUN-8]

I have both wheels.

The distributor equipped our LC trim with the optional 20” wheels, and I bought a second full set of 18” stock wheels for a First Edition from another member on here.

If there is any practical difference in handling or fuel economy I haven’t noticed it. The Land Cruiser is a 5300-ish lb brick shaped 4X4 with a compliant suspension made for general purpose off road driving and on road driving. Nothing you do is going to turn it into a performance car, or an economy car. If you consistently find yourself exploring the limits of lateral grip between the 18”s and 20”s on a Land Cruiser you picked the wrong vehicle.

The only difference in tires between my two wheel sets is that the 18”s are wearing dedicated snow tires, 265/70/R18 Michelin X-Ice Snow’s, and the 20”s are still rocking the stock Dunlops. Same exact rolling diameter and width.

The 18”s look better in my opinion, and they ride a bit better having more sidewall. The better ride quality is something that is beneficial every day in 99% of your daily use. The same will apply to upgrading to a more off road oriented tire, the 18” is going to soak up bumps just a bit better and probably provide a bit more forgiveness in resisting damage to wheels, and sidewalls with the extra compliance.

My vote therefore is; if you can choose, choose the 18”s.

 

[TDAdams]

To me, the 20” is the better look by far and if you are driving primarily if not exclusively on suburban roads and highways the performance will be as good if not better than 18s. The ride may well be a bit firmer than 18s due to having a shorter sidewall but that’s a good thing — subjective, of course.