Interchanging alloys with steel?

[Tracam Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Tracam]

In an emergency is it ok to swap an alloy with a steel wheel? I have 17" alloys on the Prado and am looking to fit 17" steel prado wheels to the camper trailer. Tyres would be same size. Any dramas about using the CT spare as a 2nd spare for the Prado?

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Just make sure you use the right wheel nuts, steel and alloy are different.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Just make sure you use the right wheel nuts, steel and alloy are different.

You would get away with the alloy nuts on the steel wheel but not the other way round, they alloy nuts have a small taper on the end so they should seat OK on the steelies.

Any particular reason you are not going for alloys on the trailer as well? Speedy make a wheel that is almost identical to the Prado alloy Grande II would be the one for a trailer, thats what I run on my CT.

Cheers Andrew

[Tracam Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Tracam]

Thanks D4D, would never have thought of that!

[Tracam Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Tracam]

AJ120, I'm considering steel because of the $. I don't need anything flash or new, would rather put my money into the rubber. Some reasonable deals on ebay for steel, but alloys are $$$.
Sounds like a spare set of nuts for each would be a worthwhile investment. Thanks for the reply.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Andrew I thought the Speedies also used the chamfered nut? I run steel GX alloys on the trailer and as spares when going bush and haven't had an issue to date. I have the 'Toyota' phoenix alloys and the wheelnuts are the same for both alloy and steel as they have the shoulder for the alloy and a chamfer for the steel wheels.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Yes the speedy rims use tapered nuts. I was thinking about alloys instead of steelies from weight and looks point of view. If you priced Toyota alloys and didn't know about the speedys you would never go the OE.

Cheers Andrew

[Peterpilot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Peterpilot]

I emailed Speedy and they told me that they do use a tapered nut on their alloy wheels. I have a spare alloy that I bought second hand off eBay that I assumed was a Speedy. It isn't genuine (no Toyota stamp at the back), but looks identical otherwise and uses a shanked nut. These are good for second spares or trailer and use the original alloy nuts. Unfortunately, I don't know who made it or if they are still available.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Weight with the steelies is a factor. I will get around to weighing one with the BFG 275/65s on. I think I am in for a shock...

[Guest Close Guest]

I emailed Speedy and they told me that they do use a tapered nut on their alloy wheels. I have a spare alloy that I bought second hand off eBay that I assumed was a Speedy. It isn't genuine (no Toyota stamp at the back), but looks identical otherwise and uses a shanked nut. These are good for second spares or trailer and use the original alloy nuts. Unfortunately, I don't know who made it or if they are still available.

Speedy used to make the Speedy Grande rim with shanked nuts. Then they switched over to using tapered nuts.

[Guest Close Guest]

Weight with the steelies is a factor. I will get around to weighing one with the BFG 275/65s on. I think I am in for a shock...

The alloy rims are much thicker than the steelies. I think that there will only be a small difference between the weights. Let us know how you go so that this thread can be updated.
http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...tyres-and-rims

[mkh Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mkh]

Why not? Don't see how it could be a problem PROVIDING the overall diameter is close to the same (so you don't load up the diff) and you use the correct type of wheel nuts. Should work just fine.

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

There can also be issues with balance of the wheels on the hub, alloys being hub centred while steelies usually centre around the studs?

[MDS69 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MDS69]

A benefit of a steel wheel is being able to bury it in the sand to use as an anchor to winch from. You may damage a alloy trying that.

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

A benefit of a steel wheel is being able to bury it in the sand to use as an anchor to winch from. You may damage a alloy trying that.

I can't imagine you'd do any more damage to an alloy than a steelie in that scenario.