Reversible wheels?

[Stomis]

Has anyone had wheels made that have 0 off set (IE 4in back spacing on a 8in wide wheel) with a flat center so you can mount the wheel either way?

I'm thinking about this because I think I'm going to get some 41in XLs for my truck in the future. Which would require me to get some 20in steel wheels made. MRW has a pretty good price considering I can choose my center, width, and backspacing.

The idea is that since the XLs are a directional tire being able to mount the wheel from either side would give me a spare I can mount in the correct direction on either side of the truck. Plus I could do 4 wheel rotation of the tires too.

Anyone done this?

 

[79bonanza]

you could also paint each side a diffrent color and run white or black wheels lol which ever you perfer on that day lol

 

[obijuan]

Hemmt wheels are reversible. Basically flat but have conical seats on both sides for front and rear super singles. They're not 0 offset though.

 

[blazinzuk]

You tend to have to check your lugnuts quite often as most wheels have a raised portion of the wheel to help the lug nuts stay tight.

Our wheels are lug centric too so tapering the holes is a must

 

[Stomis]

You tend to have to check your lugnuts quite often as most wheels have a raised portion of the wheel to help the lug nuts stay tight.

Our wheels are lug centric too so tapering the holes is a must

I figured with 8 lug you could run 4 lugs tapered on 1 side and 4 on the other. Unless theres enough meat in the center plate to taper both sides on all the holes but I doubt it.

Doing that I figured 4 tapered lug nuts and 4 regular nuts with lock washers.

 

[obijuan]

just get a thick flat plate center and have it dual drilled. one side is countersunk on the outside and the other on the inside.
so 16 holes on a 1/2 inch plate center would be plenty strong.
so theres no raised area on the wheel for conical seat lugnuts.

alternatively you can use mag shank lugnuts.

 

[Stomis]

just get a thick flat plate center and have it dual drilled. one side is countersunk on the outside and the other on the inside.
so 16 holes on a 1/2 inch plate center would be plenty strong.
so theres no raised area on the wheel for conical seat lugnuts.

alternatively you can use mag shank lugnuts.

Hmm I didnt think of having them dual drill the pattern. Good idea.

 

[Blue85]

With just a flat plate and a good taper, you may have the lug nuts nearly bottomed out against the WMS. This is not good for clamping force, so the lug nuts may tend to loosen. Instead of making a really thick center section, a simple solution would be to run a thin spacer behind the wheel.

 

[obijuan]

you mean you DONT want your wheels to be 150 pounds each? lol

 

[sweetk30]

I figured with 8 lug you could run 4 lugs tapered on 1 side and 4 on the other. Unless theres enough meat in the center plate to taper both sides on all the holes but I doubt it.

Doing that I figured 4 tapered lug nuts and 4 regular nuts with lock washers.

NOT SAFE

and if you look at a rim center were the lugs go thay are slightly domed so when tightened down thay bind in even tighter to lock the nuts in and center the rim good.

and if both sides are tapered for lugs that area would be a little to thin for my tastes on that big heavy tire you plan to run .

 

[imiceman44]

Hmm I didnt think of having them dual drill the pattern. Good idea.

You need a set of hub centric wheel centers, like the dually wheels, and use a outer ring for the clamping.
If you ever saw a dually you would understand what I am talking about.
The wheels are flat on both sides and the ring on the outside has the tapered domes fro clamping but the wheels are not lug centric, they are hub centric.

 

[Stomis]

You need a set of hub centric wheel centers, like the dually wheels, and use a outer ring for the clamping.
If you ever saw a dually you would understand what I am talking about.
The wheels are flat on both sides and the ring on the outside has the tapered domes fro clamping but the wheels are not lug centric, they are hub centric.

Yeah I've seen them before on some toyota trucks. Idk I'm just thinking. I'm gonna get Yoko Geolander MTs if I can get 5 of them when I'm ready for tires but would like to apply the same idea since theyre also directional.

And the 41s are only 95lbs a piece. Not really awful.

 

[imiceman44]

Yeah I've seen them before on some toyota trucks. Idk I'm just thinking. I'm gonna get Yoko Geolander MTs if I can get 5 of them when I'm ready for tires but would like to apply the same idea since theyre also directional.

And the 41s are only 95lbs a piece. Not really awful.

Yeah it's pretty simple if the guys that make the wheel centers can do hub centric.
I know most companies go lug centric that way they can have the wheels fit different axles of the same lug nut configuration, like chevy dodge and ford.
Their hubs are not all equal.

 

[6.2Blazer]

To do this right is probably going to take some custom work which equals a big price tag. Sounds like you are talking steel wheels which would mean some sort of custom flat center. As already mentioned most normal steel wheel centers are actually domed (versus just having a taper cut into them) where the lug nuts seat, and you obviously can't have a dome on both sides because the wheel wouldn't sit flush.

Besides the lug nut seats, keep in mind that most steel wheel centers are pressed and not flat. The exception is some of the cheapo aftermarket H1 wheel centers and several people complain about bending them. Anyway, the point being is that a pressed (non-flat) center could have clearance issues. Think like this is a bowl with the normal orientation with the bottom of the bowl being where the lug holes are and the sides dishing out away from the wheel hub. Turn the wheels around and now the dishing does towards the wheel and possible clearance issues with brake calipers and stuff (may or may not be an issue, especially with 20" wheels).

Assuming it will cost more I really don't see the benefit in this for the purpose you describe. There is no way I would personally even think about jumping through these hoops just so the spare tire points the same direction for the ride home until you can change and/or fix it. Also, how often are you going to cross rotate the tires to really make the custom wheels worth it? You can still swap them front to back, and then periodically just them them remounted if you want to cross-rotate them.

In the end, if you could get reversible wheels fairly easy with no significant cost increase then go for it.......but I am guessing that will not be the case.