Wheels. 15x10 vs 15x8.

[hairy_apple]

I've done a bunch of reading on here and other sites saying that 8" wheels is better then 10 for off road use. Holds the tires on better at lower pressures.

What about on road use? What about overall handling? I've seen very little about that. I use my cruiser enough on the road that on road handling is up there in considerations when making modifications.

Currently, I have 10 inch wheels and I've been very happy with them. I feel the extra width improves the sidehill and on road stability a lot over stock (might be a lot to do with more tire grabbing too). Am I going to lose some stability with narrower wheels? I also like the way the tire's sidewalls are not puffing out. The tires look tall and skinny on the 10s.

I like the look of the 8" widened steelies a lot better. The 10's look too deep. I like the idea of being able to go to lower pressures (although I've never had an issue before with tires coming off at low pressures), but I don't want to change the handling on the road of the cruiser for slight gains off road and better looking wheels.

I am about to spend some decent money to buy and then have widened stock wheels, I just want to make sure I am happy with them once I do it.

I guess I've heard a lot of opinions... but not much as to WHY the 8's are better other then that they hold the tire on better at lower pressure.. which like I said, I've personaly never had an issue with.

I'll be running 35x12.50s again. Don't see myself ever going any larger then that.

 

[sadam_husain]

its not a matter of whether 8" or 10" are better it comes down to your application and the rim width and tyre size combo your using, a lot of tyres work fine on 10" rims without popping beads and others are too narrow and are never going to stay on

 

[Weber Sarge]

With proper contact patch/pressure running a 12.50 tire on an 8" rim is not an issue - I've gotten 40k and more out of Swampers driving them mostly on the highway and wear was very even across the tread . Some tires depending upon sidewall construction will show more bulge than others but it's not a big deal . Recently swapped out 12.50's for 10.50's and that was a huge difference in rolling mass and fuel mileage for my dd .
Sarge

 

[Tools R Us]

...
I guess I've heard a lot of opinions... but not much as to WHY the 8's are better other then that they hold the tire on better at lower pressure.. which like I said, I've personaly never had an issue with.

I'll be running 35x12.50s again. Don't see myself ever going any larger then that.

Another consideration is tire and rim protection. A narrower rim pulls the sidewalls in, better protecting, reducing the chances of rock damage to them and rim bead edges. For a rig that will see play in the rocks, I prefer the 2/3 rule, about 8" rim for a 12" tire.

 

[hairy_apple]

Huh, that actually makes sense. I had not considered that... my 10's have plenty of rock rash around the edges. However, would that not then just be transferred to the sidewall and be more likely to damage the tire instead of the wheel?