My dilemma- keep current wheel set up and buy 1 spare or buy 5 new wagon wheels?

[skidplate]

I respect everyone's opinion here and I'm in no way a tire and wheel engineer, but I've run 32/11.50/15 on stock steelies with no issues. I knew it was not optimum but ran them on the trail and highway. I now run 33/10.50/15 on the stock wheels, as do many other mudders. The only issue I can see is possibly uneven wear. The tires on my truck usually weather crack before I wear them out.

1st. pic is 32/11.50 second pic is 33/10.50. My .02

 

[coonassjohn]

Nice ride, but the rims are too skinny.

 

[ToyotaMatt]

View attachment 1638961 View attachment 1638963 I previously posted about the current wheel set up for my rig here: Couple questions about wheels, and axles on my rig

After a little research, I found that to add a spare it will cost me as much buying a new set of 5 Jackman-style wagon wheels. To get a matching spare, it’s $290 (used wheel-$55 delivered, chemically stripping the polyurethane coating-$55, powder coating-$125, plus a spacer for my rack if needed-$55). If I were to decide to replace my current set up and get 5 new wagon wheels from Summit Racing, it would cost me $285 delivered. In either case, I’m buying a new spare tire. Given that the cost is equal, I can’t decide if I want a more traditional wagon wheel look or keep it as is with just adding a spare. What would you do in my case? One thing I didn’t factor into the equation is that I could sell my 4 Enkei wheels, but doubt it would fetch anything more than couple hundred max. Also, for now, I’d use the current size tire and once they wear out, I’d want to get 33x10.5x15 Mud Terrain tires. I’m thinking the wagon wheels would tuck in better inside the wells, especially in 7” as opposed to 8” width to give the “tall skinny” look with the 33s. Do most of you all with wagon wheels run the 15x8? It seems like that’s the case.


Anyhoo, here is another pic of my rig with the current wheels. What say ye? TIA!

When U say Wagon Wheels U mean WAGON Wheels right ?

 

[Ride Fly]

When U say Wagon Wheels U mean WAGON Wheels right ?

Yep! I’m liking those a lot for the more traditional look. The current black wheels are more the current trend imho.

 

[ToyotaMatt]

Yep! I’m liking those a lot for the more traditional look. The current black wheels are more the current trend imho.

Traditional is Good

Grey Steelies are Over-Rated ...........

I have seen these OEM wagons painted color keyed to match the vehical body paint color and look DAM sharp

Cool cruisers has a Red fire dept, fj40 with Red color keyed wagons , and chrome lug nuts / black center caps , it looks good

 

[David70FJ40]

@coonassjohn Each time I see the photo of your truck I get the itch to buy wider wheels and tires. Please don't show it again, makes my wallet hurt!

BTW It is a splendid looking truck!

 

[brian]

Skinny is the way to go, otherwise you get tire outside of the fenders/wheel wells.
in most states with annual "safety" inspection requirements, there are tire/fender codes dealing with tread/tire exposed. some allow a little, others do not. pa frowns on tire sticking out past the fenders.

 

[Trialsallday]

I have 4 white wagon wheels just sitting under my porch.
These ones ..

 

[JohnnyC]

I went thru that wagon wheel stage ... love my 16” split rings... but... that’s not for everyone either

 

[ColoradoCarlisle]

To each their own but stock in my opinion or at least something made for a cruiser
I like the split rims with 255 85 16s

 

[coonassjohn]

@coonassjohn Each time I see the photo of your truck I get the itch to buy wider wheels and tires. Please don't show it again, makes my wallet hurt!

BTW It is a splendid looking truck!

Thank you very much and remember it's only money. You might as well spend it 'cause you can't take it with you.

 

[Ride Fly]

To each their own but stock in my opinion or at least something made for a cruiser
I like the split rims with 255 85 16s

Do you currently have all those vehicles in your signature lines? I’ve got a 87 Westy camper that I’ll never part with.

I went thru that wagon wheel stage ... love my 16” split rings... but... that’s not for everyone either

Ive seen split rims mentioned before but not sure what they mean. One-piece vs two-piece? What’s the upside/downside of splits?

I have 4 white wagon wheels just sitting under my porch.
These ones ..

Are you offering them for sale? Are they original Jackman or newer makes? I ask because I’m looking for 5 and I’d like them matching.

 

[GHalll]

What is the theory behind 31x10.50 mounted on factory wheels being dangerous? Is it more of the big box stores CYA than anything so they don’t get sued? Can many of the non factory modifications that we do be considered dangerous?

I have both.

 

[coonassjohn]

Go to a tire/rim calculator on the net and see what size rim it calls for. The size I found on several different sites all recommended is 7-9" but anyone can do what they like no matter what I guess.

 

[JohnnyC]

I’ll try to sum up the issues of why you shouldn’t put wider than recommended on the rims....

The wider you go the more you move the contour of the bead inward at its base ... easier for the bead to come unseated when stressed in say a hard turn

Also you have more movement of the tire ... not enough lateral stiffness and the tire will feel like it’s rolling over it self ... however stronger sidewall tires like truck tires are ‘stiffer’ and do not move as much as passenger tires would

And lastly a smaller rim ‘balloons’ the tire and you do not have good contact ...

These issues are marginal as we can live with a smaller contact area or run a lower pressure... and the tires being truck tires are stiffer and ‘roll’ less than a passenger tire ... and... we no longer have a 33x9.5 ... soooooo we are stuck with 10.5

A toyota split ring (rim) is unlike the widow makers of the horror stories you may have heard of ... still you need to take precautions when mounting ... as we would take precautions with anything else like using a roll bar in a lifted truck ... wearing a seatbelt Incase of a roll over

Benefits to a toyota split rim/ring is you can make your own tire repairs in your garage or on the trail and your now open to the tall and skinny 255/85r16 ... a 33x10 tire ... drawback is that they got a bad rap from the widow maker rims of the 50’s and 60’s therefor most cases you are going to be the one mounting and dismounting these tires... tire shops do not want to touch them... unless... you go to a ‘truck’ center they wouldn’t blink an eye they would do it so your very limited in who can repair your flat

We have several threads about split rims here ... they are a good read

Btw our Aussie brethren love the splits and would not think twice about using them as the toyota split ring design is quite safe

 

[JohnnyC]

Video showing a wheel flexing on rim... now imagine a taller tire mounted on a smaller than recommended rim

 

[Ride Fly]

Video showing a wheel flexing on rim... now imagine a taller tire mounted on a smaller than recommended rim

I’ll try to sum up the issues of why you shouldn’t put wider than recommended on the rims....

The wider you go the more you move the contour of the bead inward at its base ... easier for the bead to come unseated when stressed in say a hard turn

Also you have more movement of the tire ... not enough lateral stiffness and the tire will feel like it’s rolling over it self ... however stronger sidewall tires like truck tires are ‘stiffer’ and do not move as much as passenger tires would

And lastly a smaller rim ‘balloons’ the tire and you do not have good contact ...

These issues are marginal as we can live with a smaller contact area or run a lower pressure... and the tires being truck tires are stiffer and ‘roll’ less than a passenger tire ... and... we no longer have a 33x9.5 ... soooooo we are stuck with 10.5

A toyota split ring (rim) is unlike the widow makers of the horror stories you may have heard of ... still you need to take precautions when mounting ... as we would take precautions with anything else like using a roll bar in a lifted truck ... wearing a seatbelt Incase of a roll over

Benefits to a toyota split rim/ring is you can make your own tire repairs in your garage or on the trail and your now open to the tall and skinny 255/85r16 ... a 33x10 tire ... drawback is that they got a bad rap from the widow maker rims of the 50’s and 60’s therefor most cases you are going to be the one mounting and dismounting these tires... tire shops do not want to touch them... unless... you go to a ‘truck’ center they wouldn’t blink an eye they would do it so your very limited in who can repair your flat

We have several threads about split rims here ... they are a good read

Btw our Aussie brethren love the splits and would not think twice about using them as the toyota split ring design is quite safe

Excellent summary and video JohnnyC!!! Especially of the bead seating explanation. I never really thought about that and how it decreases the bead’s hold on the rim’s lip. If I had any inkling of going with the 33x10.5 on a steelie, they are now gone.

The more I think about my choices, the more I think I’m going to stick with my current set up and get the matching spare. I guess the main reason I considered the wagon wheels is that it is a classic look, albeit not a true traditional stock look (I think...did 40s ever come stock with wagon wheels??). But the slight downside is that tons of rigs have them, so mine would like the rest.

Now the dilemma is whether to get one 31” BFG AT to match or sell the 4 and buy 5 new 33” MT tires (either Toyo Open Country or BFG MTs). The current 31”s are practically new. Less than 2500 miles on them.

 

[JohnnyC]

Mind you that is the reasons for ‘why’ they say no to mounting them

But... there are TONS of guys who do run the 10.5’s on stock rims... I even did before going to the splits ... and splits aren’t too much better only difference is a 1/2” ... even seen guys run 11.5 on stock rims

Nobody really has any issues as I said before the tires are stiff (sidewall construction) truck tires ... we are not hugging turns (it would flip before bead goes) ... we are not going high speeds

It’s not as ‘dangerous’ as the manufacture makes it out ... I was just giving you the reasons for their thinking

 

[JohnnyC]

I’d be more concerned with rolling over because of the top heaviness of our cruisers then with having 10.5’s

Many more things to worry about than how wide can you go

 

[Ride Fly]

I’d be more concerned with rolling over because of the top heaviness of our cruisers then with having 10.5’s

Many more things to worry about than how wide can you go

Yea that’s also very likely that we’d roll before the tire came off the rim, especially when you have the tall skinny look. Also, I’d think that with the lower tire pressures guys are using to counter the balloon effect, it would increase the odds of coming off the rim. In any case, thanks for the awesome discussion. Definitely learned a lot about tires/wheels here!!!