Fj Cruiser Steelies?

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

High Desert

High Desert

Joined
Mar 21, 2005
Threads
100
Messages
1,225
Location
Central Oregon
Yes I've searched.

I brought home a fjc 17" steelie. I put it on the front left hub. There was no tire on the FjC wheel. The wheel cleared the tie rod and the claiper.

It seems the reason for spacers is to get clearance over the caliper and the tie rod. Both are inside the (inside) of the fjc 17" wheel...so what's up with needing spacers?

Put another way...

In that I do not see running a tire wider than 10.5-11 inches, why would I need 1.25 inch spacers?

Are the spacers needed to stop rub in turns and/or flex? Or is everyone using spacers because they run 12.5 width tires?



I have an OME 2.5 inch lift and currently run stock wheels and 33X10.5/15 BFG AT
 
Yes you will rub inner fenders you are moving the tires in 1.25 inches with those wheels. Plus you will greatly reduce your turning radius from hitting the inner fender on the front side.

Are you going to wheel the truck or just road driving?

Go flex your truck now with your stock wheels and your 10.5 and see if you have 1.25 to give. Remember metric size tires are all over the board on width.

You might get away with a 255/80/17 since it would be about 10" wide.

My rear rubbed the body a but with 285/75/17 with 1.25 spacer on an FJC wheel at full flex
 
What is the backspace of the steelie you bought? With a 17" wheel the issue isn't with rotor/caliper clearance. The new wheels of newer vehicles are designed with alot of backspace, usually 4" or more. Its part of the design of modern wheel/brake assemblies. Our old landcruisers were designed with backspacing of 3.5" or less.
The use of wheelspacers is to position the wheel rim and tire far enough out from the suspension and frame so that the tire won't interfere with the other mechanical parts of your truck, ie:springs, as well as positioning the wheel/tire in the wheel well opening as well. The modern wheel with a higher backspace will give you a narrower track width, by virtue of having the wheels/tires closer inboard.
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.
I have to say that I never considered the FJ steelies when I bought my new rims, otherwise I might have got a set and had them cut and welded with a higher BS, I think they are the best looking 'stock' wheel out there. I've got a wierd dislike of wheel spacers for some reason, I'm old fashioned I guess.
 
cruiserpilot said:
What is the backspace of the steelie you bought? With a 17" wheel the issue isn't with rotor/caliper clearance. The new wheels of newer vehicles are designed with alot of backspace, usually 4" or more. Its part of the design of modern wheel/brake assemblies. Our old landcruisers were designed with backspacing of 3.5" or less.
The use of wheelspacers is to position the wheel rim and tire far enough out from the suspension and frame so that the tire won't interfere with the other mechanical parts of your truck, ie:springs, as well as positioning the wheel/tire in the wheel well opening as well. The modern wheel with a higher backspace will give you a narrower track width, by virtue of having the wheels/tires closer inboard.
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.
I have to say that I never considered the FJ steelies when I bought my new rims, otherwise I might have got a set and had them cut and welded with a higher BS, I think they are the best looking 'stock' wheel out there. I've got a wierd dislike of wheel spacers for some reason, I'm old fashioned I guess.
Click to expand...

There are oem...15 and 16 that are same looking wheel as fjc.

Spacers are ran a lot more than you would think in real world across the automotive platforms.
 
Yeah, spacers are alot more common now for sure.
What is the width of the FJ steelies? I know there are lots of factory wheels looking similiar, for me if they were made either 8" or 10" wide, that'd be what I'd want.
 
these are 7.5 inch. And I have not bought them yet...just trying them out.
Now it's all making more sence. I did not have my head wrapped around the whole geomitry deal...
given that 17" tires are at least $50 more than a 15-16" rim tire...I might just go ahead and order some with the correct backspaceing...by the time I buy the steelies and then buy spacers I'll have ruined any savings I would have had buyint these fjc steelies at $25 ea.
thanks to all for the the input.
HD
 
cruiserpilot said:
Yeah, spacers are alot more common now for sure.
What is the width of the FJ steelies? I know there are lots of factory wheels looking similiar, for me if they were made either 8" or 10" wide, that'd be what I'd want.
Click to expand...

not many that wide.....only 6 lug toyota wheel that I know of is FZJ80 wheel. There are some TRD wheels that are 8" wide.

I don't understand the need to ever run a 10 wide wheel.

Most OEM wheels are between 5.5 to 7.5 (the newer are 7.5)
 
High Desert said:
these are 7.5 inch. And I have not bought them yet...just trying them out.
Now it's all making more sence. I did not have my head wrapped around the whole geomitry deal...
given that 17" tires are at least $50 more than a 15-16" rim tire...I might just go ahead and order some with the correct backspaceing...by the time I buy the steelies and then buy spacers I'll have ruined any savings I would have had buyint these fjc steelies at $25 ea.
thanks to all for the the input.
HD
Click to expand...

Another factor is weight... Non OEM steel wheels are twice as heavy.

Also if you ever plan on swapping wheels again you are going to be faced with same issue. So if you get spacers now then you open up the door to any wheels.

Also if you are getting custom backspaced wheels go 3 instead of 3.5 if you are going to run a wider tire for the same issue of rubbing in the rear.

To be honest you are not really gaining much on a tire by changing wheels than what you have now.

Buy the FJC wheels and resell them and double your money.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom