Airing Down and Wheel Width

[azaizai]

So I have two potential setups, maybe three:

Setup 1: 5 33x12.50 tires on 5 15x8" wheels

Setup 2: 4 33x12.50 tires on 4 15X10" wheels with one of the 15x8"s as a spare.

I'm going on a wheeling trip next weekend and there will be some crawling to be had. I'd like to air down a bit (15-20psi). Now, I imagine the safest 'air down' combo would be the 10's...but then I wont have a 'spare'.

How dangerous/unreliable would the 8" wide wheels be aired down to that level? I'd like to have a full size spare (and they're already mounted).

If the worse comes around..and I have to switch out a 10" for an 8"...what would that feel like? 3 10" wheels and 1 8" on the truck.

Thanks for the read and help!
Azaizai

 

[RavoHimself]

i would go with the 10's just for the ability to flex easier. Me and my dad's jeep was on 8's with 35x12.5 crushers. we had to air down to like 6 before they started to work really well. now we have bead locks so it about makes it a 9" rim. we can air down to 1psi if we wanted to but thats more because of the bead lock than the rim size. but i would go with the 10's and air down to about 10psi or untill you have a decent size bulge at the bottom. your friends can help you out. and if it comes down to it the 8" will work fine as a spare. you just might have to air down more

 

[azaizai]

Ah, I see.

So the narrower wheel just squeezes the beads in far enough that you dont get a noticeable increase in footprint until you're really low.

Fair enough!

 

[RavoHimself]

yes. a 12.5 on 8" rim will get the donut effect. it will be very round instead of having the tread be flat. you would have to air down a lot. but you could always go with 33x10.5 unless you already have the tires. thats what i'm going to do

 

[bcost882]

well it depends. if you will be airing down only once awhile. The 8in wide wheel would be more reliable at the pressure because it has more pressure on the tire to the rim. It also lets the tread run flat on the ground more when aird down. while the 15x10 can cause it to cup if aird down depending on tires. but if you run it on the street 99% of the time go with the 15x10s these will let your tire not wear out the center but if you air down too much and then get some pressure on the sidewall it can pop the bead off the rim. so it depends on what you are doing. and the 15x8 isnt dangerous it will just cause your tires to wear funny. so it all depends on what you are using for. an as for the spare no worrys it is will be fine just get the other fixed as soon as you can after.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

8's all the way. They hold a bead wayyyy better off road and help to protect the sidewalls a bit more.

I had my 35x12.50's on my 8's for 3 years and my 36x12.50's have been on the same 8's for 3 more years now with zero issues.

The tires get aired down to anywhere from 8-15psi depending on the terrain every weekend or so.

All my tires have always worn perfect on the street as well when aired to 32/35psi.