Tire and Rim choice

[Arivalsend]

Well guys I have searched and read up and searched some more and I feel as though the info has increased my indecisive nature. I am at a crossroads and am getting a rig ready to travel down to Chile this following fall. I almost have the vehicle completed, but I am at a loss on the wheel tire combo and would love any suggestions you guys/gals may have. Ok so here is what I am down to. I have a 1988 first gen 4Runner, dual arbs running 5.29s. It is soa with a 85 mini truck axle, using a 80 series diff/carier. So clearance is not an issue although I have worked very hard at bringing this down into about 3 1/2 inches over stock height.

I currently have a full set of Toyo AT's brand new 265/75/R16s, these are mounted on a set of 5 wheelers black steelies. Picked them up at the beginning of my build. Well I am sure you guys know, but my vehicle got a bit heavy with adds and armor. I regeared and now I am running 5.29s. And so this gear combo has made me choose not to use the Toyos and they are sitting in my garage waiting to be sold.

I ended up with a spare set of nearly new Weld 15" wheels with 35" SSRs. Now I have no intention of using these tires for overland travel as I have read they are soft and wear quickly. I just got the wheels/tires included in another horse trade and so am considering using the rims.

Ok so after all that long winded intro here is my dilemna. I have used BFG At's in the past on my rigs and had good luck with them. I wanted to stick with a narrower tire, nothing much bigger than 11". Preferably staying in the 10-10.5 range.

This gives me several tire options
Using the Steelies
-purchase a set of 255/85/r16 BF Mt's and go with the heavier duty tread and heavier unsprung weight wheels (these rims are 37lbs per).
-purchase a set of 290/75/r16 BF AT's (albiet 11.5")

Or.....
Go with the Weld 15" rims (dubious on these as I have had no prior history with them and I am generally a steel guy or a factory aluminum user).
-purchase a set of 33 9.5 AT's or the 10.5s if I cannot source the 9.5.
-purchase a set of 33 10.5 MT's

So that is where I am at. I have 5 of each type of rim so that is not a problem. I also have 5 nearly new 35" SSRs and 5 new Toyo ATs case anyone is looking.

I have really ruled out the 35" size as I have read this is just too much wear and tear on the rig. Although if you guys have opinions to the contrary please fire away. I am running a pretty stout rig with longfields and hi-steer/ High Angle Driveline drive-shaft.

Which would you choose why. I don't mind the added noise I hear are involved with MT's. But I am worried about life on these, I want to get at least 35k on the tires. I work in the rockies in the summer and so this will see a good deal of rock roads and way off the beaten path trips during the summer before the South America run. Any help you guys can give me would be great. I will be ordering 5 of these and so its a good hit to the checkbook. And with a garage full of SSR's and the Toyo AT's, this will be my last tire purchase for a while(hopefully ) thanks guys

 

[nickw]

Well guys I have searched and read up and searched some more and I feel as though the info has increased my indecisive nature. I am at a crossroads and am getting a rig ready to travel down to Chile this following fall. I almost have the vehicle completed, but I am at a loss on the wheel tire combo and would love any suggestions you guys/gals may have. Ok so here is what I am down to. I have a 1988 first gen 4Runner, dual arbs running 5.29s. It is soa with a 85 mini truck axle, using a 80 series diff/carier. So clearance is not an issue although I have worked very hard at bringing this down into about 3 1/2 inches over stock height.

I currently have a full set of Toyo AT's brand new 265/75/R16s, these are mounted on a set of 5 wheelers black steelies. Picked them up at the beginning of my build. Well I am sure you guys know, but my vehicle got a bit heavy with adds and armor. I regeared and now I am running 5.29s. And so this gear combo has made me choose not to use the Toyos and they are sitting in my garage waiting to be sold.

I ended up with a spare set of nearly new Weld 15" wheels with 35" SSRs. Now I have no intention of using these tires for overland travel as I have read they are soft and wear quickly. I just got the wheels/tires included in another horse trade and so am considering using the rims.

Ok so after all that long winded intro here is my dilemna. I have used BFG At's in the past on my rigs and had good luck with them. I wanted to stick with a narrower tire, nothing much bigger than 11". Preferably staying in the 10-10.5 range.

This gives me several tire options
Using the Steelies
-purchase a set of 255/85/r16 BF Mt's and go with the heavier duty tread and heavier unsprung weight wheels (these rims are 37lbs per).
-purchase a set of 290/75/r16 BF AT's (albiet 11.5")

Or.....
Go with the Weld 15" rims (dubious on these as I have had no prior history with them and I am generally a steel guy or a factory aluminum user).
-purchase a set of 33 9.5 AT's or the 10.5s if I cannot source the 9.5.
-purchase a set of 33 10.5 MT's

So that is where I am at. I have 5 of each type of rim so that is not a problem. I also have 5 nearly new 35" SSRs and 5 new Toyo ATs case anyone is looking.

I have really ruled out the 35" size as I have read this is just too much wear and tear on the rig. Although if you guys have opinions to the contrary please fire away. I am running a pretty stout rig with longfields and hi-steer/ High Angle Driveline drive-shaft.

Which would you choose why. I don't mind the added noise I hear are involved with MT's. But I am worried about life on these, I want to get at least 35k on the tires. I work in the rockies in the summer and so this will see a good deal of rock roads and way off the beaten path trips during the summer before the South America run. Any help you guys can give me would be great. I will be ordering 5 of these and so its a good hit to the checkbook. And with a garage full of SSR's and the Toyo AT's, this will be my last tire purchase for a while(hopefully ) thanks guys

Ideally I think some 235/85/16's would be the best, but your 265's are about the same exact size, just a bit wider. I would go with what you have, I dont see any problems. You wont be cruising at 70mph with your 5.29's, but 60 should be no sweat.

Truth be told, the 33x15 tires measure out to about 32.5+/-, so the 265's are really less that 1" smaller.

I think the gereral consensus is to stay away from 15" rims south of the border, unless your carying plug kits and/or multiple spares as they are harder to source than 16's.

 

[Arivalsend]

I would go with what you have, I dont see any problems. You wont be cruising at 70mph with your 5.29's, but 60 should be no sweat.

Nick thanks for the insight. I am just worried on the 265s that with the smaller diameter I may be over-reving my 3.0 3VZE. It is a 5spd and in great shape, the tranny was just fully rebuilt. If I am driving around at 60 and at 3500RPMs is my only concern. But that may be the best way to go. I do have these suckers paid for. Hmm food for thought. Is there a problem with finding 15" spares south of the border? I had not heard that. But I suppose especially with something as hard to track down as a 33 9.5, I may see issues. I am hoping to not have to track anything down if I have come decent tires. But I am always conscious of a little visit from my pal Murphey.:wavey:

 

[madizell]

For what it is worth, I don't think you could break a Weld wheel, but if you did, repairing it would require heat and TIG or heli-arc for aluminum, whereas steel can be beaten with a hammer and then welded with two car batteries, jumper cables, and a weld stick, or a Redi-Welder, which is reasonably priced. If you trash an aluminum wheel, you are usually stuck with it unless you are really good at working with aluminum. In the end it is a confidence thing. If you don't have confidence in the aluminum wheel, stay with the steelies. I use Weld aluminum wheels and don't find them an issue. I no longer use steel wheels for off road, but that's just me.

 

[Arivalsend]

If you don't have confidence in the aluminum wheel, stay with the steelies. I use Weld aluminum wheels and don't find them an issue. I no longer use steel wheels for off road, but that's just me.

Thanks for the thoughts Madizell. I am not against running an aluminum rim I just wonder if Welds are a good type to run. These rims are the Weld Roadhawks. I have just read reports of people having these blow centers out of them or cracking along the inner welds? So I am a bit dubious to stake my travels on a rim that I have no experience with. Its good to hear of someone who uses these for offroad and has had a good experience. I generally take the bad reports with a grain of salt as generally people who have had bad luck with a product are going to be interested in posting it for everyone to see. While people like yourself who use and have had good luck with this rim don't always have any need to post up reviews as the rims are working out great. What type of Weld rim do you use? Is it a 2 piece or 1 piece design? Any thoughts on the Roadhawk? I do like the thought of trimming off 50lbs in unsprung weight.