Tire shop said NO to 31x10.5x15 on 5.5 steelies!!!

[jvincig01]

I went to Americas Tire Company today and was ready to have some BFG ATA's thrown on my stock steelies but got denied!!! They said the width of the rim was 5.5 inches and they would not throw one a 31x10.5x15 OR A 30x9.5x15.... they said it was unsafe?!

I have ready every single post on this site and see people running the SAME stock rims I have ... 5.5 inches and they have 31x10.5's.... am I missing something here. Why did they say no? Is it really a safety issue?

 

[eyebmx]

Wider than OEM specified tires for a rim will allow the sidewall to roll under the rim easier in corners. This does make the vehicle less stable at speed. I'm not saying not to do it, just that is the big dealers liability excuse for why they will not do it. I find it odd that they would not even put the 9.5s on though, as those are pretty close to stock width anyway. Stock width is a little over 8inches.

 

[DougAustinTx]

I just had 5 Michelins of that size put on my stock steelies at Discount Tire. Everything I have read on this topic agrees that it is hit or miss on whether a given shop will mount 31x 10.5's on our stock wheels, but Discount Tire appears to routinely get it done. I haven't seen a single post on this site saying that their tires came off the rims in normal driving. Of course, with low tire pressures and crawling up a boulder, unexpected things could happen.....

 

[cousinavi]

Yeah, i'm running the same tires on the same rims. i know more concerning things happen on the trail though! Just saying

 

[Brian in Oregon]

Tire shops are fickle. The local Firestone will not fix flats that have punctures on the outer two inches of tread. Yeah, tread, not sidewall. The local Les Schwab dealer was amused by that and said no problem.

 

[cousinavi]

they would rather sell a tire than fix one!

 

[edwjmcgrath]

Go to a local garage or a 4x4 specialty shop rather than a big chain tire company to have them installed.

 

[TurboDiesel69]

My local shop is awesome, they aren't against using tubes... ahahah

 

[Sea Knight]

I've encountered this problem at several tire stores over the years including Discount Tire and Costco. I typically take the rims to them and have the tires mounted, but not while on the truck. If they ask, tell them it's for an unlicensed off-road vehicle. Smaller non-franchised tire outlets are usually cooperative as well.

 

[fj404life]

Les Schwab mounted up 5 33/10.5/15's on stock wheels for me no questions asked. FYI they will also sandblast and powdercoat wheels for 25$ a wheel.

 

[lostmarbles]

This is my take on the subject .........

Narrow rims tend to make a wide/high-tyre "roll" when you're cornering. So the issue is really "stability at highway speeds" (particularly when cornering) rather than "tyres coming off rims".

And if you read brochures put out by tyre manufactureres (like BF Goodrich), they often specify minimum rim widths. So the installers who refuse to mount tyres are usually just obeying the guidelines set by the tyre manufacturers (and so they can't be blamed because they fear lawsuits in the event of accidents).

And the tyre manufacturers themselves have to be cautious (especially in todays climate where people like to shift blame around) when they specify their minimum rim widths.

But short-wheelbase high-centre-of-gravity 40-series cruisers basically "handle like sh#t" (even in comparison to the BUSES I drive every day). And this "inbuilt instability" has far more influence on "road manners" than fitting such wide tyres on 5.5" rims IMO.

BF Goodrich say my 5.5" rims are too narrow for my 235/85 R16 tyres but I believe after decades of driving my BJ40 (with all sorts of tyres fitted to it) that my present tyres have no negative influence on the handling of my cruiser (above and beyond the skittish-behaviour it already exhibits from being ultra-short with a high centre-of-gravity).

In fact, I believe my modern radials now are safer than the 7.50 x 16 crossplys that my cruiser was sold new with.

 

[jvincig01]

This is my take on the subject .........

Narrow rims tend to make a wide/high-tyre "roll" when you're cornering. So the issue is really "stability at highway speeds" (particularly when cornering) rather than "tyres coming off rims".

And if you read brochures put out by tyre manufactureres (like BF Goodrich), they often specify minimum rim widths. So the installers who refuse to mount tyres are usually just obeying the guidelines set by the tyre manufacturers (and so they can't be blamed because they fear lawsuits in the event of accidents).

And the tyre manufacturers themselves have to be cautious (especially in todays climate where people like to shift blame around) when they specify their minimum rim widths.

But short-wheelbase high-centre-of-gravity 40-series cruisers basically "handle like sh#t" (even in comparison to the BUSES I drive every day). And this "inbuilt instability" has far more influence on "road manners" than fitting such wide tyres on 5.5" rims IMO.

BF Goodrich say my 5.5" rims are too narrow for my 235/85 R16 tyres but I believe after decades of driving my BJ40 (with all sorts of tyres fitted to it) that my present tyres have no negative influence on the handling of my cruiser (above and beyond the skittish-behaviour it already exhibits from being ultra-short with a high centre-of-gravity).

In fact, I believe my modern radials now are safer than the 7.50 x 16 crossplys that my cruiser was sold new with.

Thanks for the great reply! I really appreciate all the detail and your perspective. I am thinking I am going to go with 31x10.5x15 regardless of what they tell me is recommended. I found a place that will do it and they didn't seem to care. This is not my daily driver and I basically do trail riding and street cruising with it. It doesnt go fast so cornering quickly isnt a big deal to me.

 

[1973barnfind]

they think you're going to do highway speeds in a land cruiser. ha!
mount them yourself. i did it, and i'm pretty on the bead.

 

[65swb45]

You will also pay in shortened tire life expectancy, as you will not be able to get anything approaching normal tire patch contact with anything near normal tire pressure.

This problem is not exclusive to your situation though. While I have experienced it in the past with several of my off road rigs, I currently have this problem even with the FACTORY RECOMMENDED tire size on the FACTORY WHEELS of my '02 trailblazer.
Correct tire patch contact [confirmed by 14k of even tire wear] has only been achieved by running a tire pressure UNDER 20 pounds!

Best

Mark A.

 

[DWitcher]

I daily drive my rig on stock stealies (5.5" wide) with 35/12.50/15's. Its V8 powered and I'm an agressive driver. I have never noticed a handling issue or "rolling" of tire bead on or offroad. Find a different tire shop.

 

[myquestoyota]

wow

I daily drive my rig on stock stealies (5.5" wide) with 35/12.50/15's. Its V8 powered and I'm an agressive driver. I have never noticed a handling issue or "rolling" of tire bead on or offroad. Find a different tire shop.

Do you have a picture of those 12.50's on a stock steelie? Sounds like a bunch!

 

[alaska60]

Les Schwab mounted up 5 33/10.5/15's on stock wheels for me no questions asked. FYI they will also sandblast and powdercoat wheels for 25$ a wheel.

and give you free BEEF too.

 

[DWitcher]

Do you have a picture of those 12.50's on a stock steelie? Sounds like a bunch!

This the best shot I have right now. I need to upload some more.

 

[skidplate]

I drove for two years on 32/11.50/15's on stock steelies, Hwy. speeds, off road, snow, mud etc. never had an issue. I'm now spinning 31/10.50's that that make it feel like I have power steering. I don't have any problems at all with the 10.50's. First pic. is the 32/11.50, second is 31/10.50.

 

[JohnnyC]

a friend runs q78x15 SS on stock steelies they are 35"x11"

if your tire guy doesn't mount them...get a new tire guy or go with split rims and you'll be your own tire guy...i've been running splits for many years and love them