should i run 15" wheels or 16"?

[misfit]

should i run 15\" wheels or 16\"?

im swapping to a disc brake 14 bolt and converting my 44, can i run 15" wheels in the rear?)the front will need gridning right?)

 

[Grim-Reaper]

Re: should i run 15\" wheels or 16\"?

If you can run the 15's for one major reason. Bead lip on the rim. 16's and 16.5 don't have them. At low tire pressure like you would run off road your much more likly to loose a bead.
Waxer just did a story called 6-8 lug swap and it does discuss the grinding you will need to do.

Diging it in the dirt with my K5's
Grim-Reaper
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://grimsk5s.coloradok5.com/>http://grimsk5s.coloradok5.com/</A>

 

[nyyef]

Re: should i run 15\" wheels or 16\"?

why doesnt anyone make a bead lip on 16"/16.5" rims? or is it something to do with the tires?
sorta/kinda doesnt make sense.

Knife.
knife.coloradok5.com

 

[Chris Demartini]

Re: should i run 15\" wheels or 16\"?

<font color=blue>I have a 14 bolt with disks and a 3/4 ton 44 and I run 15" wheels. It fits over the rear fine, you just have to grind the front calipers. Bead lips are the part of the rim that holds the tire on. Without this, the only thing holding the tire on the bead is air presure. </font color=blue>

 

[DieselDan]

Re: should i run 15\" wheels or 16\"?

Wait a minute Grim; I thought 15" and 16" rims (and 14" , 17") had the safety bead. Only the 16.5 rim didn't mainly because the design is old. This being true, 16" rims have an advantage as far as clearance for brakes and less side wall height - a little more stable at speed. Yes/No?

 

[Grim-Reaper]

Re: should i run 15\" wheels or 16\"?

I thought the bead lip on the older rims stopped at 16. Originaly half size rims were rims were meant to run with tubes. The point was you would never get the bead to seat so you wouldn't accidently put a tube tire on a tubeless rim. With a tube tire the tube holds the bead to the rim.
The rule didn't stick so that all went to hell.
Now I might be wrong about the 16. I thought it didn't have the bead either. I though the rim where the bead contacted was at an angle also.

Diging it in the dirt with my K5's
Grim-Reaper
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://grimsk5s.coloradok5.com/>http://grimsk5s.coloradok5.com/</A>

 

[thatK30guy]

Re: should i run 15\" wheels or 16\"?

Every 16" rim I have ever seen had the safety bead on it. I have yet to see a 16" without it.

 

[Grim-Reaper]

Re: should i run 15\" wheels or 16\"?

My mistake. Thanks for clearing that up.

Diging it in the dirt with my K5's
Grim-Reaper
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://grimsk5s.coloradok5.com/>http://grimsk5s.coloradok5.com/</A>

 

[taterblazer]

Re: should i run 15\" wheels or 16\"?

Call a tire shop. They will know.

 

[jarheadk5]

Re: should i run 15\" wheels or 16\"?

Everything I've ever read says avoid 16.5" wheels due to no safety bead. Never mentioned any other wheel sizes to avoid due to this problem.

Semper Maintenance!

 

[AgDieseler]

Re: should i run 15" wheels or 16"?

What about 15" wheels on a D60? I already have my 15s on the front 3/4 ton 10 bolt, and needed grinding there. Are the D60 calipers and backing plates the same size, or should I plan for new wheels/more grinding?

David Oliver
'85 'burban - 6.2L J NA
5.5"lift, 35"BFGs
*B&B 6.2L TD and beefed T-700 coming soon*

 

[fr8train]

Re: should i run 15\" wheels or 16\"?

There are posts here saying that you cant find any 15" rims aside from wagons that are 8 lugs. I too would like to run 15" but I cant until someone finds some company that fits.

 

[Brian 89KBlazer]

Re: should i run 15\" wheels or 16\"?

Fr8train

Bart, Eaton & US Wheel all make 8-lug 15" wheels with any backspacing you want that will clear BOTH the 14-bolt & the Dana 60 calipers. I am getting a set of Eatons made in the next little while with a 3" backspacing so that I will only have so touch off the top of the D60 calipers; ie no major grinding.

I'll have photos & details when I get it done. It will be a while though.

Brian
89KBlazer

 

[6.2Blazer]

Re: should i run 15\" wheels or 16\"?

A guy in our club just got done putting 15" wheels on his front Dana 60 (Dodge version). The wheels are just standard 15x10 whitespokes with 4 1/4" backspacing. He did have to do quite a bit of grinding but it doesn't look too bad.

 

[fr8train]

Re: should i run 15\" wheels or 16\"?

My best friend has had problems in the last year with these wheels. Two bead lip probs. with the Barts and a ceter seperation with Eaton/Stocton wheels. He runs 42" boggers. I am just not happy with the trail record on our side. Also those wheels really heavy. And required some fancy wheel weights and weight patches for the tires to become somewhat streetable. This is all IMHO and experience. Others may have had better times with theres but for the most part weight and failure made me not even think of these again.