Thinking of bringing some 16 & 17 inch wheels to market

[Qtonic]

I feel like there are not enough wheels available for our Cruisers, so I'm looking to having some manufactured. I'd like to get some initial feedback about gaps in the market. My focus will probably be on 16" and 17" wheels with factory offsets. 18" seems more available, and those that do exist in 16" and 17" seem to have offsets that can add complexity to fitment.

Even if you're not immediately interested in new wheels, I'd like to get a rough estimate of what might be most interesting to you. Am I correct so far that 16's & 17's are where the demand is? If so, which would you prefer?

Regarding color options, are you most interested in traditional-look light silver painted, gunmetal, black, bronze, or even raw suitable for your own finishing?

I'm also thinking about the center caps. Should I add significant investment to new caps, or is reusability of factory caps important to you even if it means painting them? That might be a challenge depending on what caps people have to start with. Any ideas are appreciated, including whether center caps are particularly important to at all given the other advantages of new wheels.

Thanks for your feedback. Hopefully this might lead somewhere helpful to the community.

 

[CruiseLanderAZ]

I feel like there are not enough wheels available for our Cruisers, so I'm looking to having some manufactured. I'd like to get some initial feedback about gaps in the market. My focus will probably be on 16" and 17" wheels with factory offsets. 18" seems more available, and those that do exist in 16" and 17" seem to have offsets that can add complexity to fitment.

Even if you're not immediately interested in new wheels, I'd like to get a rough estimate of what might be most interesting to you. Am I correct so far that 16's & 17's are where the demand is? If so, which would you prefer?

Regarding color options, are you most interested in traditional-look light silver painted, gunmetal, black, bronze, or even raw suitable for your own finishing?

I'm also thinking about the center caps. Should I add significant investment to new caps, or is reusability of factory caps important to you even if it means painting them? That might be a challenge depending on what caps people have to start with. Any ideas are appreciated, including whether center caps are particularly important to at all given the other advantages of new wheels.

Thanks for your feedback. Hopefully this might lead somewhere helpful to the community.

17 inch
Black, silver, gunmetal

 

[FxFormat]

I don't see a point of 16" wheels with the factory offset. We can just use the 16s OEM which are forged and much stronger than anything available.

In order to run bigger tires we need a little more aggressive offset, as not to hit the UCA, that's the main reason why i run an aftermarket wheel. I thought about going spacers but i don't want to risk with balancing issues and strength overall.

If you can get a 17x9 wheel with +35mm offset, that would be ideal to run wide tires on it.

 

[Qtonic]

@FxFormat What about 17x8 at +35 offset? What size tire did you have in mind?

 

[DDabs]

How about a 16x7" wheel with a proper offset to run 255's without looking dorky?

 

[Qtonic]

@DDabs What would your ideal offset be in that width?

 

[AK Wes]

I feel like there are not enough wheels available for our Cruisers, so I'm looking to having some manufactured. I'd like to get some initial feedback about gaps in the market. My focus will probably be on 16" and 17" wheels with factory offsets. 18" seems more available, and those that do exist in 16" and 17" seem to have offsets that can add complexity to fitment.

Even if you're not immediately interested in new wheels, I'd like to get a rough estimate of what might be most interesting to you. Am I correct so far that 16's & 17's are where the demand is? If so, which would you prefer?

Regarding color options, are you most interested in traditional-look light silver painted, gunmetal, black, bronze, or even raw suitable for your own finishing?

I'm also thinking about the center caps. Should I add significant investment to new caps, or is reusability of factory caps important to you even if it means painting them? That might be a challenge depending on what caps people have to start with. Any ideas are appreciated, including whether center caps are particularly important to at all given the other advantages of new wheels.

Thanks for your feedback. Hopefully this might lead somewhere helpful to the community.

I would definitely be interested in a 16" bronze or gunmetal version! Just make sure you are willing to ship them to Alaska!!!

 

[FxFormat]

@FxFormat What about 17x8 at +35 offset? What size tire did you have in mind?

Shops won't mount a 305 wide tires on 8" wide rim, ended up getting 18x9 ET +30 and running 305/65/18. I would love to run a 295/70/17 on a 17x8.5" rim if i could. Would be the ideal setup, which in theory will stuff under the fender without rubbing if the offset is a +35 with the correct back spacing.

 

[Qtonic]

@AK Wes What would you be looking for beyond the factory 16's? The color or just a different look?

 

[LCReunion]

How about a 16x7" wheel with a proper offset to run 255's without looking dorky?

This is what people really spend the most time and money looking for.
OEM are readily available and great for 285/75, but a re a tad wide and not right offset for 255/85 which are arguably the best off road. People spend a great deal of time and money looking for overseas market steel wheels for this purpose(from 70 series mainly).
Regardless of the trendy move to bigger wheels, 16inch wheel and 33 inch tires(255 or 285)is still the king for overland/off road in a 100 series.
17 are acceptable. 18 and up are for the mall.

 

[suprarx7nut]

17s with a slight change in offset to move the wheel outboard more would be my preference. I would much rather buy new wheels than run spacers. For width, I think factory is fine.

I'm a huge fan of bronze wheels. For styling I just really hate the fake beadlocks. A simple 5 spoke is good, but a 9 or 10 spoke would also be great.

When my summer BFG ATs wear out I'll be looking to buy new wheels. So far it's looking the 5 spoke SCS or method 702 wheels are my favorite. I'd love to see what you come up with.

 

[Qtonic]

@LCReunion Thanks for the feedback. Have an ideal offset in mind for 255 on a 16x7?

 

[Qtonic]

@suprarx7nut No streetlocks! How much of a change in offset for a 17x8? +40? More, less?

 

[LCReunion]

+35 or 40 Color is less important to me

 

[suprarx7nut]

@suprarx7nut No streetlocks! How much of a change in offset for a 17x8? +40? More, less?

I'm honestly not sure what the factory wheels are. I'd estimate moving the wheel outwards 10-15mm is appropriate, but that's just a guess. I would need to measure the tire at full compression and lock to get you a good number.

 

[FxFormat]

Factory offset are +60, i'm 95% sure

 

[DDabs]

Would these wheels be steel or aluminum? Weight? What styles are we talking here?

 

[implayaz9]

Width of 8 wide would be great option for the cruiser . offset of 0 to 25 would be great

 

[Qtonic]

@DDabs My plan so far is cast aluminium with relatively conservative styles, similar to factory look for the 200 series but in appropriate sizes. I'll see what can be done to deviate from that plan, more in the style of available 5 spoke FN and F5 wheels. Steel wheels would be cool too, but the manufacturer I've spoken to works in aluminum.

My feeling was that vehicle-appropriate wheels, ie not walmart parking lot TRUCK meetup wheels, in just the right sizes would have good demand to make this happen. Of course, I'm definitely looking to refine my plan based on feedback.

 

[Alibaster]

I am in for 16" wheels if they keep it less blingy. I'd prefer to stick to 16" myself with enough room to run a conservative center cap. I'd be interested in something like whats pictures here, stolen from the tundra wheel thread. Same color too. Not too wild on running spacers either.