Thread: Tyres for 5.5" rims

After my negativity about Road Grippers.......

I've just discovered that my local Toyota dealer almost always replaces the split rims and 7.5" Road Grippers that are still supplied as standard on Land Cruisers before the customer collects them. As a result, there is an ongoing source of these tyres (a set every week or two), brand spanking new, on Land Cruiser split rims. They are currently selling them at $200 each. Obviously they need to be removed and fitted to the relevant LR wheels, but this is still significantly cheaper than the Maxxis or Cooper tyres that I had been considering, and far and away cheaper than the $385 (each, tyre only) I was quoted for Road Grippers from the tyre dealer.

Moving them to the LR rims isn't a problem, the tubes are new and should be fine. I just need to figure out what to do with a set of Toyota split rims!

There is much debate on the internet about this. However I have used tube in tubeless tyres for years (try getting "nice" tyres in tubed flavour these days!) without problems. After seeing comments on this forum and several others, I called Coopers and asked them. To be honest they seemed to regard the question as ridiculous, stating that there is no problem whatsoever and that fitting tubes in tubeless tyres (for example on split rims) is standard pratice. They were very surprised that anybody should even consider it worth asking about!

You have to be careful that there are no stickers on the inside. A friend fitted tubes to BFG ATs which had a sticker inside and all tubes failed in a couple of KKs.
Regards Philip A

I just fitted new 7.50 16 light truck tyres (12 ply) to my series 3. They are Bridgestone (not sure what the model or type is) as fitted to the new Isuzu trucks, these are the Japanese made ones not Chinese. They look original and very similar to what was fitted on the vehicle new (or what I would imagine they would look like), nice deep tread and very quiet tyre compared to the cheapies that were on it.

Best part - $189 each fitted and balanced. RRP new is over $300, even compared to a dunlop sp road gripper at $260 or so they were a bargain.

Rims painted, new tubes and back on the car and I love them. Lots of tread, great in the wet too.

I will post some pics as soon as I take some.

Just shows you can find nice looking tyres to keep the rugged look, plain and nothing fancy.

Originally Posted by Warb

After my negativity about Road Grippers.......

I've just discovered that my local Toyota dealer almost always replaces the split rims and 7.5" Road Grippers that are still supplied as standard on Land Cruisers before the customer collects them. As a result, there is an ongoing source of these tyres (a set every week or two), brand spanking new, on Land Cruiser split rims. They are currently selling them at $200 each. Obviously they need to be removed and fitted to the relevant LR wheels, but this is still significantly cheaper than the Maxxis or Cooper tyres that I had been considering, and far and away cheaper than the $385 (each, tyre only) I was quoted for Road Grippers from the tyre dealer.

Moving them to the LR rims isn't a problem, the tubes are new and should be fine. I just need to figure out what to do with a set of Toyota split rims!

I don't believe you can use the tubes on the LR rims. The splits have those long brass valves and the LR rims have the short rubber types so they are not the same (so I was told when I looked at this option).

Originally Posted by pfillery

I don't believe you can use the tubes on the LR rims. The splits have those long brass valves and the LR rims have the short rubber types so they are not the same (so I was told when I looked at this option).

Yep, now I think about it you're right!!

Ermm....Lochie, you may have that sidewall warning a little wrong. It actually says "Do not fit to a 16.5 inch rim". It's not a common 4x4 wheel size, but comes up sometimes on heavy machinery and some aircraft. 7.50R16s and 235/85R16 tyres are fine on 6.5" wide rims as they are fitted onto 130s from the factory. And Series 2 and 101 Forward Controls have 6.5" wide rims as standard, wearing 9.00x16 (255/100R16) tyres.

Dan.
69 2A 88" pet4 (still in disguise), 68 2B FC pet6 (still dozing quietly), plus 10 others.

Originally Posted by dandlandyman

.... And Series 2 and 101 Forward Controls have 6.5" wide rims as standard, wearing 9.00x16 (255/100R16) tyres.

None of my Series 2's have 6.5" rims, the LWB's are all 5.5" (272309) and the SWB's are 5" (can't remember the number).

I can't vouch for the Forward Controls, but I'm fairly sure that in the Bonneted Control vehicles with 16" wheel nothing pre-Defender had even 6" rims, and the 6.5" are reserved for the 110 and 130 HD's (Wolf's).

Originally Posted by pfillery

I just fitted new 7.50 16 light truck tyres (12 ply) to my series 3. They are Bridgestone (not sure what the model or type is) as fitted to the new Isuzu trucks, these are the Japanese made ones not Chinese. They look original and very similar to what was fitted on the vehicle new (or what I would imagine they would look like), nice deep tread and very quiet tyre compared to the cheapies that were on it.

Best part - $189 each fitted and balanced. RRP new is over $300, even compared to a dunlop sp road gripper at $260 or so they were a bargain.

Rims painted, new tubes and back on the car and I love them. Lots of tread, great in the wet too.

I will post some pics as soon as I take some.

Just shows you can find nice looking tyres to keep the rugged look, plain and nothing fancy.

I'd be interested to hear what the ride is like on 12 ply tyres.

My Series 1 has 8-ply 7.00 x 16 Road Trek Major's (the spare is an original RTM with 6 plies) and the ride is quite harsh although springs etc. also have an influence.

I've been offered some bar tread 7.50 x 16 12 ply tyres and I haven't followed up because I think the sidewalls will be too stiff so it would be interesting to get some feedback.....

Colin