Increasing track width - is it worth it?

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

For those that have changed their rims for the purpose of increasing their track width, how obvious was the change? Is it worth spending $1000 on new rims just to gain a couple CM's each side?

Note that I'm not after the looks, I just want better stability and cornering. Apparently the original alloys are +15 offset (16x7), so if I get zero offset 16x8, I'll have a total increase of 30mm. That doesn't sound like much to me - it'd still be ~70mm narrower than a patrol (for example).

[Taresk Member Find all posts View Profile Close Taresk]

Re: Increasing track width - is it worth it?

Ignoring the legalities for the moment, I believe the old-school rule of thumb was for every inch taller you should go half an inch wider to maintain stability.

Having heard that since before I had my own fourby to modify, on both the Prado and my old 4Runner I used -25 rims to increase the track after their lifts. With the Prado being such a top-heavy rig I couldn't bring myself to fit a 3" lift without making it wider.

As for it being worth it, I say yes as it helps on side slopes, it assists in muddy ruts as the tyre sidebiters are usually against the rut wall, not just in the middle, and in sand I can follow in the compacted tracks of the bigger fourbies I normally go with.

Although it has it's downsides, such as more work to clear a 33" tyre, and more strain on the wheel bearings.

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

Re: Increasing track width - is it worth it?

Thanks Taresk,
There's no doubt that the track increase you have would improve offroad (st)ability. I'd love to do the same, but I'm trying not to stand out too much (if you know what I mean).

I'm starting to consider -13 as an option, but even zero is a stretch.

Does anyone have feedback on zero or -13 offsets?

[xlr8_87 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close xlr8_87]

Re: Increasing track width - is it worth it?

I've got 0 offset on my 16x8's. What size tyre do you have? The further you go out, the more your tyre will scrub on the guard. my 265/75/16's scrub a little bit with the 0 offset, but only on hard lock. Nothing too much to worry about.

[teza h Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close teza h]

Re: Increasing track width - is it worth it?

Yeh I went with 8"suny's steelo rims and 265-75-16 BFG mudy's. The ofset is about +20,I like the extra width weel track,but they do scrape on the rear of the front guards. If I did it again I'd go with 0 ofset I recon.

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

Re: Increasing track width - is it worth it?

For what my opinion its worth I wouldn`t bother, puts extra stress on your wheel bearings and doesn`t improve handling that much. Wider tyres use more fuel, more rolling resistance.
If you are looking at improving handling, fit firmer springs and decent shocks. But just my 2 bob`s worth.

[g.t Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close g.t]

Re: Increasing track width - is it worth it?

Yeh I went with 8"suny's steelo rims and 265-75-16 BFG mudy's. The ofset is about +20,I like the extra width weel track,but they do scrape on the rear of the front guards. If I did it again I'd go with 0 ofset I recon.

+20 would be narrower than stock, offset works in the oppisite way to what your explaining, 0 offset would stick out futher.
The lower the number the more the rim will stick out

The rear end on the prados doesnt look too bad but I think the front needs a lower offset to bring them out a bit,
Ill be going a 16x8 0 offset

[teza h Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close teza h]

Re: Increasing track width - is it worth it?

Must be the opposit then cause they stick out more than o ofset.

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

Re: Increasing track width - is it worth it?

I've got 0 offset on my 16x8's. What size tyre do you have? The further you go out, the more your tyre will scrub on the guard. my 265/75/16's scrub a little bit with the 0 offset, but only on hard lock. Nothing too much to worry about.

Thanks mate. I'm surprised you have scrubbing with 0 offset. When I measured mine I figured 30mm (-15) would be the contact point.
I currently have 265/75/16's on the original 16x7 alloy rims (+15 apparently). I haven't had any scrubbing with these.

Yeh I went with 8"suny's steelo rims and 265-75-16 BFG mudy's. The ofset is about +20,I like the extra width weel track,but they do scrape on the rear of the front guards. If I did it again I'd go with 0 ofset I recon.

+20 would be narrower than stock, offset works in the oppisite way to what your explaining, 0 offset would stick out futher.
The lower the number the more the rim will stick out

The rear end on the prados doesnt look too bad but I think the front needs a lower offset to bring them out a bit,
Ill be going a 16x8 0 offset

g.t, you're right about neg being wider than pos, but I suspect Teza has the RV. I've been led to believe those had steel rims with +30 offset. If that's correct, a +20 would have been wider for him.

[g.t Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close g.t]

Re: Increasing track width - is it worth it?

Ive just gone 16x8 -13 on mine.
Looks heaps better and should be more stable as well

[teza h Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close teza h]

Re: Increasing track width - is it worth it?

Ive just gone 16x8 -13 on mine.
Looks heaps better and should be more stable as well

Same as that,I went for the 8x16 steelies,they told me that the offset would be too wide,but that was the only way i could get 8"steelies on it.They do scrub a bit on a compresed lock,front only but it's not bad.You say yours are -13,do they scrub at all ?
A pic of mine.

[g.t Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close g.t]

Re: Increasing track width - is it worth it?

Mine rubs a bit under about half turn on the inside wheel, ive removed front mudflaps but still rubs a bit on that plastic cover where the mudflaps were. Ill just take it off this week but its not a drama.

[teza h Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close teza h]

Re: Increasing track width - is it worth it?

Yeh! I found that i had to cut that plastic away,and also did some grinding to take off the sharp edges from the metal seem under it to get the 32's on,that extra bit of ground clearance from the taller tyers was worth it though.

[HeathNZ Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close HeathNZ]

Re: Increasing track width - is it worth it?

Could get an alignment and have the wheels moved slightly forward in the wheel wells which will get them away from the firewall. Just done mine (too soon to know if it made any difference though) and they moved about 1cm forwards. Not a lot I know but it might be enough and if not its better then before. :mrgreen:

[teza h Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close teza h]

Re: Increasing track width - is it worth it?

Yeh! I been told about moving the carster forward to the front for more clearance,let us know how it go's when you test it.I recon 1cm would do the trick.