01-13-2017, 07:15 PM
rolly bits showed up today. the stock 5.3x12 tires aren't called "China bombs" by accident. they're going straight to a shelf for use as emergency spares.
i decided on 15x5, GM 60's-era "Gennie" steelies from Wheel Vintiques and a 175/65-15 Kumho Ecsta PA31 radial. The steelies definitely have "the look", come nicely primered, and will allow me to plug on some "Moon" chrome hubcaps and matching trim rings later.
![[Image: DSC_1407_zpsdlsvio9h.jpg]](http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o193/bradfosk06/DSC_1407_zpsdlsvio9h.jpg)
aw wook at da widd'l ty-aww iss just a baybay
![[Image: DSC_1409_zpslipvjnyx.jpg]](http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o193/bradfosk06/DSC_1409_zpslipvjnyx.jpg)
a couple other really major things that a wheel upgrade will do for me besides just not exploding:
• stock tires are rated to 55mph, and that won't work for me with all the interstate travel we'll do
• the bigger tires will slow down the wheel bearings, extending their life span
• the radials, while having less payload capacity, still have a ton of overhead for my weight and will ride MUCH softer which will beat up my cabin less
• the bigger wheels will really fill up the fender which looks awesome
the only complication, which caused considerable headaches in planning, was trying to find moon-hubcap-compatible steelie with as close to a zero offset as possible. i'm gaining an inch of width over the stock wheels, but i have to be sure i leave a bunch of room next to the frame for the side wall to come down and not hit the tire. in the end i'm going to run a 3/4" spacer on each hub, which i'm not crazy about, but its the best i can do and should not affect me in the long term since i'm running the trailer pretty light. if i did my math right, i might even be able to bump down to a 1/2" spacer...we'll see. other guys have logged 15k+ miles on 1 inch spacers with heavier campers with no drama, so i'm hoping the hear-say works out for me.
i decided on 15x5, GM 60's-era "Gennie" steelies from Wheel Vintiques and a 175/65-15 Kumho Ecsta PA31 radial. The steelies definitely have "the look", come nicely primered, and will allow me to plug on some "Moon" chrome hubcaps and matching trim rings later.
aw wook at da widd'l ty-aww iss just a baybay
a couple other really major things that a wheel upgrade will do for me besides just not exploding:
• stock tires are rated to 55mph, and that won't work for me with all the interstate travel we'll do
• the bigger tires will slow down the wheel bearings, extending their life span
• the radials, while having less payload capacity, still have a ton of overhead for my weight and will ride MUCH softer which will beat up my cabin less
• the bigger wheels will really fill up the fender which looks awesome
the only complication, which caused considerable headaches in planning, was trying to find moon-hubcap-compatible steelie with as close to a zero offset as possible. i'm gaining an inch of width over the stock wheels, but i have to be sure i leave a bunch of room next to the frame for the side wall to come down and not hit the tire. in the end i'm going to run a 3/4" spacer on each hub, which i'm not crazy about, but its the best i can do and should not affect me in the long term since i'm running the trailer pretty light. if i did my math right, i might even be able to bump down to a 1/2" spacer...we'll see. other guys have logged 15k+ miles on 1 inch spacers with heavier campers with no drama, so i'm hoping the hear-say works out for me.
2010 Civic Si
2019 4Runner TRD Off-Road
--------------------------
Past: 03 Xterra SE 4x4 | 05 Impreza 2.5RS | 99.5 A4 Quattro 1.8T | 01 Accord EX | 90 Maxima GXE | 96 Explorer XLT
2019 4Runner TRD Off-Road
--------------------------
Past: 03 Xterra SE 4x4 | 05 Impreza 2.5RS | 99.5 A4 Quattro 1.8T | 01 Accord EX | 90 Maxima GXE | 96 Explorer XLT