17" Alloy Rims - changeover to steel or just carry a second (Alloy) spare?
Submitted: Monday, Jan 09, 2006 at 16:20
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Member - Drew T (VIC)
Was reading post 29473 about changing tyres on alloy wheels and the damage you can do to the rims with tyrepliers & tyre levers etc. My previous 4WDs have always had steel rims, but my current model Prado of course has 17" alloys (& 265/70/17 Cooper ATs).
Whilst I use a plug repair kit & reckon they are great; I always take an extra tyre casing, tyre removal/repair gear, and a couple of tubes/tube repair gear, on the longer outback trips. In the unlikely event that i can't plug a leak (has only happened once when i drove on a flat for too long) & need to patch/replace a tyre I have just accepted that i'll probably mark/nick the alloy rims on the Prado. However, I've been thinking that i can probably reduce the risk by either:
- buying another alloy rim for the spare casing .. then gives me 2 complete spare wheels, thus further reducing the likelihood of having to change a tyre at all
- buying five 17" steel rims (not sure yet what size i would need) so i can change them without marking the rims. However at $200-250 for a new steel rim (given that i don't imagine you find many 2nd hand 17" rims) this isn't a cheap option
What do the rest of you do (and don't tell me to buy a new car with 16" steel rims etc etc :--)
Reply By: GaryInOz (Vic) - Monday, Jan 09, 2006 at 17:47
Monday, Jan 09, 2006 at 17:47
You can always bash a steelie back into shape if you hit a big
rock at speed. Alloys are toast when damaged (cannot be repaired back to full structural strength - would you trust it anyway???)
My vote - 5 steelies. Should be able to get steelies for a lot less than $200 ea (sunnies $60-90 ea)
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Reply By: arthurking83 - Monday, Jan 09, 2006 at 20:17
Monday, Jan 09, 2006 at 20:17
OR.......you could go with a 265/75-16 on a steel rim as the spare's spare!
17" - 16" conversion
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Reply By: RustyHelen - Monday, Jan 09, 2006 at 21:20
Monday, Jan 09, 2006 at 21:20
Hi drew
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Reply By: RustyHelen - Monday, Jan 09, 2006 at 21:22
Monday, Jan 09, 2006 at 21:22
try again....
Beadbreakers sell a slip over thingy made of plastic (looks like poly pipe) to put on the rim of alloy wheels.
You see them at 4wd shows etc.
Might be able to make something that will do the job.
Rusty
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Willem - Monday, Jan 09, 2006 at 22:00
Monday, Jan 09, 2006 at 22:00
Last year I left my alloys at
home and went on a 17000kim trip on the steels. Did bend a steel s lightly going offroad but suffered no punctures for the entire trip
For this years trips I am opting to use the alloys on the truck, steels on the trailer and a steel as extra spare.
Sure, one wants to be prepared, but just how often do you need to remove the tyre from the rim?
I would just buy an extra alloy rim.
AnswerID:
147502
Reply By: Mike - Monday, Jan 09, 2006 at 23:19
Monday, Jan 09, 2006 at 23:19
I carry an extra alloy spare, but have successfully changed tyres on my alloys many times, without damaging the rims. I use tyre pliers.
Happy trails, Mike.
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Reply By: Member - Stan (VIC) - Tuesday, Jan 10, 2006 at 11:23
Tuesday, Jan 10, 2006 at 11:23
Why not to get one steel rim with the same specs as the Alloy ones for a spare?
The steel rims should cost around 200-250. The alloy one - Speedy Grande without
Toyota logo is around $300..
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Reply By: Bob - Tuesday, Jan 10, 2006 at 12:58
Tuesday, Jan 10, 2006 at 12:58
These rice burners shure have expensive spare bits.
Brand new steel wheel for F250 from Ford dealers, $105.00
Bob
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Reply By: greydemon - Tuesday, Jan 10, 2006 at 13:33
Tuesday, Jan 10, 2006 at 13:33
I picked up a second hand steel rim for my Disco at a tyre place for $50 and stuck a second hand tyre on it to use as a second spare. With the Disco the supplied spare is a steel rim anyway.
It was pretty easy to find the second hand steel rim, there are always people tradiing in their steelies and upgrading to alloys. personally I don't care one way or the other, there were alloys on there when I bought the car otherwise I wouldn't have bothered as there are pros and cons for each type.
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Reply By: Member - Drew T (VIC) - Tuesday, Jan 10, 2006 at 16:36
Tuesday, Jan 10, 2006 at 16:36
Thanks for all your replies.
fyi .. rang around a couple of wheel
places & appears that there are no after market 17" x 8" 6-stud steel wheels made. Could try and get the Prado RV 17" steel rims but they are only 17" x 6" (good enough for a second spare though i suppose).
So if i do anything at all, other than just carrying a spare casing, looks like i need to get an alloy rim. Interestingly the options seem to be:
- original Toyota alloy (from Japan): around $1000!!!! (even a wrecker quoted me $600 for a 2nd hand one of these)
- "Phoenix" 17" alloy produced in Australia by Toyota: $250
- ROH 17" x 8" RTX: $245
Anybody know if there really are 17" x 8" 6-stud steel wheels available? or any cheaper 17" x 8" alloy rims?
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Reply By: Outnabout David (SA) - Wednesday, Jan 11, 2006 at 22:57
Wednesday, Jan 11, 2006 at 22:57
Drew,
The prado is a 7.5 inch wide rim not 8". Buy a set of R & Rbeadbreakers which won't scratch the alloy. or just buy the narrow steel rim which will get you out of trouble.
AnswerID:
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