2nd Set All Season, For Long Distance Trips, Swap Out AT/MTs, What are the choices in 18"?

[kpanda17]

We all have our selected wheel and tires or core 20" with AT or MT tires, great for off roading or dune sand running in my case. For when I need to drive 500+ miles and want max range, what cheap steel 18" wheel and tires should I get? Looking for cheap as the KO3s MTs ate my money.

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[ABILISK]

I’d go for the UP.FIT Forged PD Wheels. They’re forged aluminum and will get better range than steelies. There’s an option to make them a wheel and tire package and they offer good street tires for them like the Elite Force TAs, the Geolander X-CVs and others.

If you value price over range, T Sportline makes the Cyber Steelie. They’re about half the price of the Unplugged Performance wheels, but they’re 20” steelies so range won’t be the greatest. They’ll be pretty darn indestructible, though.

 

[tmeyer3]

Just get some 18" then, you don't need fancy ones advertised as "CT wheels."

Here are mine, and no, they don't rub with 35x12.5s:
https://rimzoneonline.com/catalog/p...wheels-satin-black--18x9-18mm-6x139.7-(6x5.5)

 

[kpanda17]

thanks guys, great info
what I needed

 

[TwiztOG43]

Just get some 18" then, you don't need fancy ones advertised as "CT wheels."

Here are mine, and no, they don't rub with 35x12.5s:
https://rimzoneonline.com/catalog/p...wheels-satin-black--18x9-18mm-6x139.7-(6x5.5)

What kind of range drop are you seeing?

 

[tmeyer3]

What kind of range drop are you seeing?

Range drop from what? The spare tire on the top hits the range a bit but I only put it up there when I'm going slow and off-road anyway.
The 18" wheels don't affect the range. The tires aren't mudders so they didn't change anything either.

 

[TwiztOG43]

Interesting

I was looking to get 18s with K03.

But couldn’t find any first hand knowledge regarding going down to 18s. What you are stating seems to contradict others who swap their stock 20in wheel with OEM ATs for K03 or AT4Ws in regards to range loss.

Other than removing the Harmonic managers, did you use hub centric rings?

Range drop from what? The spare tire on the top hits the range a bit but I only put it up there when I'm going slow and off-road anyway.
The 18" wheels don't affect the range. The tires aren't mudders so they didn't change anything either.

 

[TwiztOG43]

Interesting

I was looking to get 18s with K03.

But couldn’t find any first hand knowledge regarding going down to 18s. What you are stating seems to contradict others who swap their stock 20in wheel with OEM ATs for K03 or AT4Ws in regards to range loss.

Other than removing the Harmonic managers, did you use hub centric rings?

Range drop from what? The spare tire on the top hits the range a bit but I only put it up there when I'm going slow and off-road anyway.
The 18" wheels don't affect the range. The tires aren't mudders so they didn't change anything either.

 

[tmeyer3]

Interesting



I was looking to get 18s with K03.



But couldn’t find any first hand knowledge regarding going down to 18s. What you are stating seems to contradict others who swap their stock 20in wheel with OEM ATs for K03 or AT4Ws in regards to range loss.



Other than removing the Harmonic managers, did you use hub centric rings?

I'm using gripmax xts https://www.gripmax.com/html/products/light-truck/11.html



I don't have the time or interest to keep up with "cool kid" tire trends ? I just do what empirically works well and doesn't break the bank.



I tried lug centric first on these wheels and it work so well I haven't needed to get hub rings. If I have wheel balancing issues later I'll get some, but no need yet, they're perfect. Maybe I got lucky, IDK



As for range loss when going down to 18s, you'll find that range loss will be much more significant if you drop pressure to 35-40psi instead of doing the 50 recommended than changing your wheel. On 18x35s its common to run 35-40 psi, so just up it to the recommended on road pressure and don't run overly aggressive tires unless you need them. I haven't noticed any appreciable difference (390-410Wh/m), but if you're super anal about range numbers maybe you will notice micro changes where I wouldn't.

 

[hemiarch]

So let’s stay we wanted to have a second set like is being suggested that’s strictly freeway oriented and to maximize range, why steelies and why those tires? Wouldn’t you want the lightest possible rim/tire combo with a narrower tread and less sticky?
Anybody know how to do this? What size wheel and tire? what tires would produce the absolutely best range numbers?
Any good strictly efficiency wheels you can recommend for our trucks? Any other variables I’m not considering here?

 

[ABILISK]

So let’s stay we wanted to have a second set like is being suggested that’s strictly freeway oriented and to maximize range, why steelies and why those tires? Wouldn’t you want the lightest possible rim/tire combo with a narrower tread and less sticky?
Anybody know how to do this? What size wheel and tire? what tires would produce the absolutely best range numbers?
Any good strictly efficiency wheels you can recommend for our trucks? Any other variables I’m not considering here?

I’d go for the UP.FIT Forged PD Wheels. They’re forged aluminum and will get better range than steelies. There’s an option to make them a wheel and tire package and they offer good street tires for them like the Elite Force TAs, the Geolander X-CVs and others.

I stand by what I said. Aluminum 18” wheels and street tires. Don’t think you can beat that.

 

[hemiarch]

I stand by what I said. Aluminum 18” wheels and street tires. Don’t think you can beat that.

Any specific recommendations? I’m seriously considering this.

 

[hemiarch]

Have any of you actually changed wheel/tire combination on your cars and seen significant improvements in range?

 

[ABILISK]

Any specific recommendations? I’m seriously considering this.

BF Goodrich Elite Force TAs are top pick. Michelin Defenders are a close second. On aluminum, not steel, 18” wheels of course. No better range can be had.

 

[hemiarch]

BF Goodrich Elite Force TAs are top pick. Michelin Defenders are a close second. On aluminum, not steel, 18” wheels of course. No better range can be had.

Thanks for that

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