FJ40 16" wheels

[FJ406]

I had a question about some new wheels I just mounted so I figured I would pass along some specifics in case anyone else was interested.

I was in need of new tires and didn't like my options for 15" x 5.5" stock wheels. After looking around a bit, 235/85-16's on a 7" wide rim, seems like a good size for me, and offers lots of tire options. I went for the steel smoothie wheels based on the info in this thread: https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/need-steel-rim-replacment-help-16x7.802540/page-7. Love2fly and the others had been down all the usual channels, and seemed to have done all the homework. I ordered the 16" x 7" wheel with 4" backspace from Summit Racing:

I had a tire shop mount a tire and the rim; and check front and back for fit and/or issues. Fit was good, so I ordered 4 more and had a local outfit powdercoat them "new black hammer":

Here she is with her new shoes:

Everything works great and no rubbing anywhere. New tires are almost 3" taller, so I get 1.5" more clearance. Tough these tires are taller but about the same width as my old 235/75-15's the steering isn't noticeably different. Next on my list is a 2.5" lift, which I think will also improve things a bit.

5 wheels from Summit (free shipping): $484.85
Sandblast and powdercoat: $325
Tires, mounting, etc.: $999.25
for a grand total of $1809.85.

The wheels come primer gray like in the top pic above, and could be fine as-is, or just get rattle-canned for a more economic option. Another option I've heard about, is to get the wheels from Wheel Vintiques directly, and they can do custom backspacing for an extra $25 per wheel. I have not confirmed this personally, but another guy I know locally is going that route.

Happy trails...matt

 

[SAB]

Those came out great. I wonder what the need for custom backspacing would be if they fit well out of the box?

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

Those look really good! Did you run into issues with the 4" backspacing? I was considering this route, but my understanding is 4" backspacing would require wheel spacers to get them to fit.

Those came out great. I wonder what the need for custom backspacing would be if they fit well out of the box?

I believe someone else here had the same wheels built with appropriate backspacing and wasn't super happy with the results. The company achieves the backspacing by simply reversing the inside of the wheel, so it doesn't have quite the same look (mirror imagine).

 

[SW20]

I had a set of these exact wheels for my 1979 FJ40, there is NO ISSUE with backspacing. The wheel itself is wider than stock. Stock wheels are 5.5 inch wide with 3.5 inch back spacing. These wheels are 7 inches wide, with 4 inch backspacing to offset the wider wheel. Zero issues, and fit great.

 

[BigDogg]

Are any of you guys going to try welding tabs on so you can mount factory style hub caps?

 

[shelfboy1]

they look like 6 bolt jeep wheels from a wagonneer

 

[NHFJ]

just to chime in I had a quote from cruiserparts a few weeks age 16 inch black or grey painted , with clips and hubcaps just under a grand. I think it was for 5, so 180 a wheele , done.... haven't pulled the trigger , got a sweet sixteen bday coming up ...

 

[Pierps]

Are any of you guys going to try welding tabs on so you can mount factory style hub caps?

@dogfishlake is working on a method for modifying oem hubcaps to fit these wheels. If he can figure out a way to produce them economically, I'd definitely be on board!

Check it out:

Summit smoothies wheels...

 

[dogfishlake]

@dogfishlake is working on a method for modifying oem hubcaps to fit these wheels. If he can figure out a way to produce them economically, I'd definitely be on board!

Check it out:

Summit smoothies wheels...

The Vintiques wheels can be had with a 3.5" backspace as a custom order but you should still order from Summit to do it as you will get free shipping (the rep at WV actually suggested it). The downside is the 3.5" b.s. is with the center rim reversed and it koses some of the factory contour in the process. Not terrible, just different. I went to a set of 4" b.s. wheels and all good except it is really tight to the relay rod on hard left turns. I may have to move the stop a touch.

The big problem with the WV wheel is the factory cap not fitting. I bought some new caps (about $15 each from mr t) and cut the lip out of them. Then I bought some baby moon caps and cut the dome out of that. Next were some laser cut rings to bring it all together- voila, a factory cap that goes in a Wheel Vintiques wheel. Well, sorta. The cap does not go down completely flush around the edge, and the baby moon cap doesn't work super great.

My thought is to make new rings to attach to a new Toyota cap, but I just haven't had time yet.

I am running my original idea in the meantime though.

Here's what I have now

 

[dogfishlake]

Here is the 3.5" b.s. "reversed" rim

Note airborne dog in the background. Total fluke. He was fetching his own stick!

 

[dogfishlake]

I don't have any pics of the back of the cap to show how I did it. This one kinda shows how the edge of the cap sits proud

 

[AlaskanWheeler]

My experience with improper back spacing with 15" wheels, is that the steering joint makes contact with in outter inside of the wheel. It's not much but is enough to nessesitate a 15" wheel with the correct back spacing. The increased diameter of the 16" wheel negates the required back spacing. To a point, I'm not sure...

 

[dogfishlake]

Here is the steering joint clearance with the 4" back space wheel. Less than a half inch, but enough.

 

[dogfishlake]

Here is the new hubcap with lip cut off, baby moon with dome cut off, and laser cut spacer ring in between. Pardon the welding. I suck a tig welding but can do it for prototype work. Real professionals would handle that for a production version. It still need work because it doesn't grab the wheel well enough imo.

 

[dogfishlake]

There is a really sweet size out for the new KM3 mud terrain. 750R16E

It is 31.8 inches tall and only 8.5 inches wide. A nice split between the usual 31's and 33's which are usually 10.5 inches wide. Old school tall skinnies. It's a shame that tire can't be had in a 15" but if the Wheel Vintiques 16" works out, it would be a great combo.

 

[BigDogg]

Wouldn't it be easier to weld old style tabs to the wheels, and not modify the caps? Or is there something preventing this approach?

 

[dogfishlake]

Wouldn't it be easier to weld old style tabs to the wheels, and not modify the caps? Or is there something preventing this approach?

The ring that the cap snaps into has too small of a diameter for the oem cap. Wheel Vintiques has another style wheel that would work for installing clips into, but not available in 6 on 5.5 and no plans of making it.

 

[WaTrout88]

By the way, Summit caught on to the Toyota wheels popularity and bumped up their price for the 16x7 4"BS to $144/ea!! I found a lower price and they cut it some but no where near the $96.97. If you ever come up with some FJ40 hub caps that fit, let me know.

 

[WaTrout88]

I ended up talking to Summit and they price matched at about $114/ea. I went with the 16x7, just got them back from the powder coater and come to find out the primer is powder coated so no need to sand blast! Getting some 235/85/16 mounted up today. Excited to get them on my rig next week!

 

[dirthugger]

any experience with these 16” steelies on a disc converted axle?