RESOLVED: Wheel and Tire Pre-Purchase Technical Questions

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

I purchased some Pro Comp wheels last year from 4 Wheel Parts through their eBay listing. The 3.5" back spacing was perfect and clears the tie rod with room to spare. I considered 16" in the same model but the lead time was months.

DWS_1131.webp
 
1911 said:
Yes, load-range C will air down and flex better for sure. I ran 34" E-range Toyo mud terrains on another truck heavier than a 40 (my FJC) and they lasted forever and never had a flat, but the sidewalls were way stiff and I would have to air them down to 8 or 9 PSI to get them to flex at all. They're made for much heavier trucks. For comparison, I've had 33x10.5x15 range C KM2's on my 40 for years, and they flex really well when aired down to 14-15 PSI.
Click to expand...

Thanks Lee!! Great info!!
 
David70FJ40 said:
I purchased some Pro Comp wheels last year from 4 Wheel Parts through their eBay listing. The 3.5" back spacing was perfect and clears the tie rod with room to spare. I considered 16" in the same model but the lead time was months.

View attachment 1261264
Click to expand...

Thanks David!! I'll check that one !!
 
David70FJ40 said:
I purchased some Pro Comp wheels last year from 4 Wheel Parts through their eBay listing. The 3.5" back spacing was perfect and clears the tie rod with room to spare. I considered 16" in the same model but the lead time was months.

View attachment 1261264
Click to expand...

Hey David,

I like these wheels, but they are 15x8... what tire are you running on them?

I want to run 33x10.50R15... would the 8"width cause me a problem with 10.50 tires?

Thanks!!
 
David70FJ40 said:
I purchased some Pro Comp wheels last year from 4 Wheel Parts through their eBay listing. The 3.5" back spacing was perfect and clears the tie rod with room to spare. I considered 16" in the same model but the lead time was months.

View attachment 1261264
Click to expand...

So, I checked the BFG site and they say, both KO2s and KM2s, in 33x10.50R15C need rims 7"-9" wide... so, these rims are perfect!!

Thanks David!!
 
I ordered four of @David1947 's wheels and four (edit: not 33") 31x10.50R15 KM2s.

The wheels are out of stock, gotta be made... So, I'm actually creating a job :)

But, I never was in a hurry anyway... So, it will probably be when we return from fly fishing in CO in mid-July.

Thanks everyone!! And Tom (@lostmarbles ) too!!
 
Last edited:
Danny,

Staying with 15" wheels will never hurt you on tire choices as long as BFG keeps making KO2's and KM2's. I mean that although there might be tires that look cooler the BFG's are hard to beat for traction, strength, and longevity.

Give some thought to the KO2's. After years of running BFG mud terrain I switched to the new KO2 at the end of last summer and am really impressed with them in the wet, snow, and ice - the soggy normal in Washington state.

They've been especially good in places where there's long wet grass and I can't see the ground under it. Too many times the ground under the grass has been saturated and about all my MT's would do is dig holes - like being stuck in quicksand (yeah, I look for ways around it). On roads they hold better, are quieter, and track better than MT's ever did too.

BTW, ProComp steelies have a long history of hard use - they do the job and I think the restyle of their "Rock Crawler" model is a lot better looking than the old ones. ( ran them with BFG 35 and 33x12.5x15's when I made my truck earn its lockers and never got one wobbly. If you do tweak one though it's not the end of the world because of their low pricing).
 
honk said:
Danny,

Staying with 15" wheels will never hurt you on tire choices as long as BFG keeps making KO2's and KM2's. I mean that although there might be tires that look cooler the BFG's are hard to beat for traction, strength, and longevity.

Give some thought to the KO2's. After years of running BFG mud terrain I switched to the new KO2 at the end of last summer and am really impressed with them in the wet, snow, and ice - the soggy normal in Washington state.

They've been especially good in places where there's long wet grass and I can't see the ground under it. Too many times the ground under the grass has been saturated and about all my MT's would do is dig holes - like being stuck in quicksand (yeah, I look for ways around it). On roads they hold better, are quieter, and track better than MT's ever did too.

BTW, ProComp steelies have a long history of hard use - they do the job and I think the restyle of their "Rock Crawler" model is a lot better looking than the old ones. ( ran them with BFG 35 and 33x12.5x15's when I made my truck earn its lockers and never got one wobbly. If you do tweak one though it's not the end of the world because of their low pricing).
Click to expand...


Thanks Honk!! Great info!!

I've had many great recommendations for the KM2s also... I've ordered the KM2, but have plenty of time to change my mind... IIRC the KO2s are about $30-40 cheaper per tire...

Thanks!!
 
honk said:
Danny,

Staying with 15" wheels will never hurt you on tire choices as long as BFG keeps making KO2's and KM2's. I mean that although there might be tires that look cooler the BFG's are hard to beat for traction, strength, and longevity.

Give some thought to the KO2's. After years of running BFG mud terrain I switched to the new KO2 at the end of last summer and am really impressed with them in the wet, snow, and ice - the soggy normal in Washington state.

They've been especially good in places where there's long wet grass and I can't see the ground under it. Too many times the ground under the grass has been saturated and about all my MT's would do is dig holes - like being stuck in quicksand (yeah, I look for ways around it). On roads they hold better, are quieter, and track better than MT's ever did too.

BTW, ProComp steelies have a long history of hard use - they do the job and I think the restyle of their "Rock Crawler" model is a lot better looking than the old ones. ( ran them with BFG 35 and 33x12.5x15's when I made my truck earn its lockers and never got one wobbly. If you do tweak one though it's not the end of the world because of their low pricing).
Click to expand...


Well, I've given the KO2s some thought and here's what I've come up with...

  • I spoke with three guys who off-road Central Nevada with KM2s, two of them have also used KO2s... they all agreed that KM2s are best in my environment unless you are using your vehicle as a DD or drive frequently in snow and/or ice.
  • I don't work and don't DD anything.
  • I've driven in snow twice in Central Nevada, but on gravel roads and only because I got snowed in in the area of the Arc Dome Wilderness.
  • KM2s are noisier... but, it won't matter in 44... I wear noise reduction headphones to listen to audio books.
  • KM2s fuel efficiency isn't as good... but 44's fuel efficiency when driving over sharp Nevada talus, is an oxymoron.
  • KM2s are only available in load range C (6 ply) and many have said that C is best for 'air down' driving, because C flexes so much better on an FJ40.
  • KM2s have more tread... more protection from sharp rocks/talus, when driving over sharp Nevada talus, in load range C.
  • KO2s may last longer, but I can only legally drive 44 < 5k miles per year anyway and I'd rather they don't outlast me!!
Thanks for the info though, honk... if I were commuting or driving in wet/snow/ice, I would change... I will mull this over further... and I'm free to change to KO2s anytime up until the new wheels arrive... but I expect to stay with the KM2s I've ordered.

Thanks!!
 
I went with the Toyo MT's simply due to their tread warranty - the compound is proven to handle sharp rocks and such without damage and so far they have nearly 30k on them with little wear , still 3/4 or so tread left . The rims I got were from JT Outfitters , Eagle aluminum with 3.75" backspacing - no fitment problems .

I still think for the standard 33x10.50 selections the stock steel rims can't be beaten , especially if you have them widened to 7" or 8" wide . I know it's a lot of extra cost , but nothing beats that look and their durability . I'm a bit biased against BFG's due to past issues with them on the trail - far too many failures from sidewall punctures and I know they've upped their game in construction quality but that's just my opinion .

I think the ultimate wheel would be a 16" OEM that has had the outer ring replaced to make a non-split ring wheel and set the width out at 3.5" BS , 7" wide for the 10.50 tires ...
That said , JC has ran those split ring 16's now for some time without issue other than the weight of the wheels themselves .

Sarge
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom