Were I to ride in the conditions you describe on a regular basis,
I think I'd go the CL "new to me" route.

There is a glut of 80's hard tail (ie none of that suspension and
hinges stuff on it) MTB's with wheels that are specifically designed
to take fatter tires and more abuse. Often they can be had more
cheaply than your new rear wheel.

They are easily modified into urban assault vehicles.