Winter Tires....again....

[vt_maverick]

I will never get tired talking about tires!
Wish there was one thread devoted to the best tires for the VX. All sizes, all styles, even whitewalls!!!

+1 - Maybe not on one massive thread, but I think the more tire threads the better! I may be looking for snow tires this fall also, so I wouldn't mind lurking on this thread.

[MSHardeman]

etlsport, will 15" rims fit around the brakes on the VX? I have found a few nicer sets of 15" rims, but I read somewhere that 15's might not be the best to put on the VX due to mud/snow packing into them on the back side around the brakes. Old wives tale?

I've been looking around for some cheap 16" rims because I figure that there would be more tire options than with the stock 18's. I have seen a few junky ones on my local Craigslist and maybe I just need to bite the bullet and get them. I have to switch my thinking because I've been looking for something pretty when, in fact, these are winter tires so they will get beaten up by the magnesium (sp?) chloride that they put on the roads up here.

Riff Raff has, yet again, generously offered his help so I will let the lurkers know what we (well, really HE) come up with.

[pbkid]

etlsport, will 15" rims fit around the brakes on the VX? I have found a few nicer sets of 15" rims, but I read somewhere that 15's might not be the best to put on the VX due to mud/snow packing into them on the back side around the brakes. Old wives tale?

I've been looking around for some cheap 16" rims because I figure that there would be more tire options than with the stock 18's. I have seen a few junky ones on my local Craigslist and maybe I just need to bite the bullet and get them. I have to switch my thinking because I've been looking for something pretty when, in fact, these are winter tires so they will get beaten up by the magnesium (sp?) chloride that they put on the roads up here.

Riff Raff has, yet again, generously offered his help so I will let the lurkers know what we (well, really HE) come up with.

hey mark, i had 15's on my VX... just so you know. it was somewhat difficult to get mud out of there but i just crawled under the VX and pressure washed one wheel at a time from the inside.
i ordered these yesterday from 4wheelparts. pretty excited to see em on the new runner.
http://www.bjsoffroad.com/CartGenie/prod-656.htm

[MSHardeman]

Thanks Jack. At least now I know that the 15's will fit around the brakes.

I found a few decent rims on Craigslist over in the Denver area so I may be altering my criteria for Riff Raff. I'll have to wait and see what he comes up with. If we/he can find some decent snow/winter tires for the stock 18's then I would rather not spend the extra cash on rims, but if I can find winter tires for a 16" or 15" rim a lot cheaper then that would offset the cost of the rims.

[pbkid]

Thanks Jack. At least now I know that the 15's will fit around the brakes.

I found a few decent rims on Craigslist over in the Denver area so I may be altering my criteria for Riff Raff. I'll have to wait and see what he comes up with. If we/he can find some decent snow/winter tires for the stock 18's then I would rather not spend the extra cash on rims, but if I can find winter tires for a 16" or 15" rim a lot cheaper then that would offset the cost of the rims.

tires for a 16 inch rim are gonna be MUCH cheaper than tires for the odd sized VX rim... probably almost the same cost for the total package. then it will save you lots of $$$ next time.

[Triathlete]

For wheels you might look at your local pic 'n' pull (or over on the Planet though shipping would probably kill the cheap part) for a Trooper or Rodeo. They have both 15 and 16 inch factory wheels. Leave 'em stock or throw a coat of flat black paint on 'em and you got some cheap, nice winter wheels. As far as size (I don't about size availability, haven't checked winter tires since I rarely have to worry about that white stuff), possibly the same diameter but in a 10.5 width. The narrow tire isn't so much for cutting through snow but it puts more weight on the contact patch area I believe (someone feel free to correct me if i am wrong).

[Bee Sting]

I picked up an extra set of stock 18" rims from Bee Venom a while ago so that I can put snows on the four crappiest (best are 3 of Mr. Venom's and 1 of my originals).

Snow tire I am looking at is the FIrestone Winter Force 225x60R18 (Tire Rack$92 plus shipping). May be a bit small for a lifted rig, but not all that expensive.

[pbkid]

For wheels you might look at your local pic 'n' pull (or over on the Planet though shipping would probably kill the cheap part) for a Trooper or Rodeo. They have both 15 and 16 inch factory wheels. Leave 'em stock or throw a coat of flat black paint on 'em and you got some cheap, nice winter wheels. As far as size (I don't about size availability, haven't checked winter tires since I rarely have to worry about that white stuff), possibly the same diameter but in a 10.5 width. The narrow tire isn't so much for cutting through snow but it puts more weight on the contact patch area I believe (someone feel free to correct me if i am wrong).

ya mark, thats what i did... i picked up a set of stock toyota ones (same bolt pattern) and then that opened up a world of options for tires... and they also have 15's and 16's.

you are incorrect about the cutting billy, a narrower tire has less likelyhood to 'float' on the snow (think about a snowboard at high speed and skii's at high speed, the board floats much better). but you ARE correct about the contact area also, they give more weight per cubic inch and therefore have less likelyhood to slide.