Wheel Options?

Hey Folks

Toying with wheels, I've got a 2nd gen VVT Jimny (with the fat bumper), currently at stock height (or about 20mm lower after 110k miles of suspension sag) on stock tyres. Planning on popping a 2" lift on sometime before the summer, along with that set of 215/75r15 AT tyres. Not sure what I want to do with wheels.

Currently I have the stock 2nd get 5 spoke alloys, I am not a massive fan of them but they aren't awful. Would love to go a bit 'wider' than stock but as a general rule I have a distrust of wheel spacers, having seen and heard off far to many spacered Land Rovers shedding their wheels with various consequence, don't want to go the full 15x7 ET30 sticky outy look that is popular (and will likely foul on my bumper), but do like the look when the wheels are nearer to flush with the arches.

So I have been looking at what is available, have come to 3 options

1. Keep stock 5 spokes, leave as-is with the new tyres
+Simple, I already have the wheels
+Stock weight, don't need to worry about killing my economy/acceleration more than the 215s will
+OEM, one less thing to declare on insurance
-Not a fan of the look of them
-Would likely want to fit a ~25mm spacer to achieve the look I wanted


2. Pick up a set of gen 1 Jimny steel wheels
+I like the look of these, especially when powdercoated black (steel wheels are exceptionally easy to refurb/paint yourself)
+Likely near enough to make no difference to the weight of the Jimny alloys
+OEM same as above
-Same above with the spacer

3. Pick up a set of 15x7 ET0 or ET-15 modulars from Jimnybits
+As above, look good
+No need for a spacer, the 15x7 ET0 by default has ~15mm more poke than a stock jimny wheel (15x6 ET5 right?)
-Based on my experience with land rover steel modulars, I imagine they are REALLY heavy, would like to be told otherwise.

So those are my options, I am tending towards option 2 as it seems to be the best middle ground, a light set of OEM quality steels which will likely be very cheap. Does anybody know of a reputable ~15-25mm spacer in Jimny sizes? Not sure if the £50/corner sets on JimnyBits are worth it, they cost more than a set of wheels. Are there any other wheel options I've not thought about?

Thanks
CAElite

Caelite wrote: Hey Folks
3. Pick up a set of 15x7 ET0 or ET-15 modulars from Jimnybits
Thanks
CAElite

Go for the #3 option. Maybe find some Vitara wheels or such. I would say if you are not going mountain climbing then get alloy.
I used Vitara wheels on mine and went to 225s with no lift needed.

I'm running the ET0 8spokes in black on mine. Got them from www.4x4tyres.co.uk/ great service and seem to be a good quality wheel, although probably the same one from wherever you buy them from :lol: :lol:

Also running 215/75 r15 with no bother and no lift yet - Jimny currently in the garage with the lift kit being fitted ready for next weekend hopefully.

The tyres are pretty much level with the arches so shouldn't be an issue come MOT time , no rubbing even at full flex. not the best angle but this is what they look like on mine if it helps.

I do like the wider look but have done this on other 4x4's and the downside is the car getting covered with mud. Also when its hot so you have the windows open the inside gets covered too. I have kept the Jim standard width but with 215/75/15 tires and like the compromise.

I like the look of the original wheels painted black, I have never had an issue with my mot though with - 30mods and 215/75/15

I have never had any problems with spray of any sort even when I had tyres where the tread was barely covered by the arches. Then again I never went looking for mud.

I originally did option 3 and they looked cool with stock size ATs, but rubbed on the arches when I went to 215/75s (with a 2" lift).

I then switched to option 2 and honestly I think they look just as good, but are lighter and don't scrub. I got old stock steels for free but spent a bit getting them professionally refurbished and painted black. The extra width of the 215s makes them appear almost as wide as when I had 7.5" wide wheels, and the paint quality is better.

This isn't a great comparison, but on the left is 7.5" wide wheels with stock size ATs and on the right is the painted stock wheels with 215/75s. Unfortunately I couldn't find a good picture with the wide wheels and 215s.

The 7.5" wheels definitely look a bit wider, but I personally don't think the stocks look too narrow/need spacers. Hopefully that helps a bit.

Something I tend to consider is that I like plenty of sidewall on my tyres so that the rubber contacts the kerb before the alloy. With a wider rim then it is important for me to get a really wider tyre and this can be too wide for the arches/clearances. On a road going car (not 4x4) I would prefer less bulging sidewall and a wider rim to give a more stable and steady base to the tyre to reduce flexing but on a fourbie it is the other way round. That is why this time I stuck to the stock (narrower) rim with a maxed out wide and tall tyre on my Junior.



I did have 16" rims on this at one time.