35x12.50 MT's on 15x7 wheels??? - Quick answer appreciated

[admin]

Someone is selling some 35x12.50 Mud Terrains on 15x7 wheels. They sound like exactly what I'm looking for, but the narrow wheel sounds strange. (I haven't seen them yet)

Does anyone run this combo or have a pic? Thanks!

 

[SteveL]

I'm also getting some 35" BFG's. I was gonna put on my 15x8 rims but read on here that combo was a little loose on the street. I'm on the fence of going with 15x10 for road stability.

 

[broncolove]

15X7 is too small for a 12.5 tire. They will crown in the center causing them to wear in the center. 15 x 8 is about the smallest rim to run with a 12.5 tire

 

[PBR]

7's are great for off-road but like said earlier they do crown on the road. the reason they are better off-road is they keep the bead on better. 8's are the perfect size for a 12.5, 10's are to wide. IMO.

 

[Broncobowsher]

7's pull the sidewalls in. Pucker the tire in the center. 8's do it as well, but most peole can live with it. If it is a lighter rig and you can get away with lower tire pressure you might even get fairly even wear out of them. But you need to keep the tire pressure low to pull that off. Low tire pressure on the street tends to lead to squirlly tires, reduced gas milesage, increased tire heat and softer ride.
Going to 10's requires more tire pressure to keep the ground pressure of the tread even across the road and have even tire wear. That higher tire pressure reduces rolling resistance, cooler running longer lasting tire with better gas milesage. But offroad the rim is more exposed and the bead is more suspectable to rolling off if you place high side loads on the tire at low pressures.

So, what is best? Depneds on what you prefer. but generally that 7" rim is going to be too narrow. My guess is that the 7" rim is a stock rim off an F150 or a really cheap aftermarket one. Just had to have the 35's...

Tires good, rims fair, combo bad.

 

[admin]

Thanks everyone. That confirms what I was thinking.

 

[68 Broncoholic]

I run 9" wide wheels and 15.50 wide tires which is a crazy combo (run full width axles) but they're bead locked. For street I wouldn't recommend a narrow rim. The great thing about a narrow wheel with wide tires is its tough to debead.

 

[Gummi Bear]

Jon,

I ran the BB/F150 10 hole wheels for many years, they're 7 or 7-1/2" wide, and I ran them with 35x12.50's for a good while. They did fine, no funny bulges, and no strange handling. I drove it to work (40+ miles each way) lots of times with that setup. Take the time to find the right tire pressure to keep the wear even, mine never wore funny, my pressure was ~22PSI to get a consistent footprint.

Don't be scared of it, it works just fine.

All that being said, if you don't like the look, up to 10" wheels will do fine. It's a personal preference.

 

[toddz69]

Jon,

I ran the BB/F150 10 hole wheels for many years, they're 7 or 7-1/2" wide, and I ran them with 35x12.50's for a good while. They did fine, no funny bulges, and no strange handling. I drove it to work (40+ miles each way) lots of times with that setup. Take the time to find the right tire pressure to keep the wear even, mine never wore funny, my pressure was ~22PSI to get a consistent footprint.

I will add that I run 35/12.50 MT/Rs on these wheels too (they're 7.5" wide). I usually run 30-32 psi in mine and they're wearing great after several years - even, consistent wear, good handling (for an EB), etc. I run the same pressure in them that I ran when I had the 33/9.50 pizza cutters on 7" wheels.

Todd Z.