New Rims & Suspension Lift Kit

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

I've just bought myself a GX 150 series and I'm contemplating upgrading the existing rims to a 17 x 7.5/8 with some BFG or Cooper ATs.

Does anyone know how I can work out whether I also need the 2in lift kit installed?

[Heath74 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Heath74]

libba,

welcome to the site. Im not sure I quite follow your question, but the need to create more guard clearance is going to be more dependant on the tyre profile you want, than the rim size. You could probably go up to an 20 and put rubber bands on them without issue. But if you're wanting an AT then you probably want a reasonable profile.

http://www.alloywheels.com/Tyre_Calculator

http://www.rimsntires.com/specs.jsp

heres a couple of links that might help you do some calculations. Also have a chat with your tyre shop to get the skinny here.

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

Thanks for the links Heath.

Planning on visiting some of the local tyre dealers over the weekend.

Any suggestions around rims would be greatly appreciated. Most decent rims don't seem to fit the GX offset.

[Guest Close Guest]

There should be plenty of rims that fit the GX if you want to go 7.5". Just go for ET25 offset which is the one on the GXL rims. You can then go 265/70R17 with no issues.

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

Thanks Amts.

[discoveraus Member Find all posts View Profile Close discoveraus]

hello Libba,

I have a 2010 150 gx with standard suspension. No lift yet.

I fitted 17 * 8 Dynamic steel rims with +10mm offset ( 1400kg rated ) and have 265 / 70 - 17 Cooper ST maxx tyres. They do not rub anywhere from lock to lock and as far as I can determine are OK with the suspension flexed also. Only 6000 km so far on and off road. They do lift the Prado 25 mm due to the diameter increase and the speedo is about 3.5% changed due to the diameter increase. The speedo was about 3 km low at 100 kmh so I am happy.

The only time they rubbed anywhere was when I had the mudguards full of mud which dried and they rubbed on the mud when I turned a sharpish corner. The mud fell out quickly.

I can pass my hand around the tyres between the tread and all bodywork / suspension at any point of steering lock and at any flex. The tread is fully contained within the mudguards but the side biters ( side nibblers really ) are exposed so I think they are legal but only just.

The rear tyre cover definately does not fit anymore.

The standard alloy wheel and dunlop tyre combination weighed 30.2 kg. The Dynamic steel wheel / Cooper tyre combo weighs 40.3 kg. As the spare wheel cover weighs 8.9 kg and the tool set in the rear door is 2 kg if you take the cover off and the tools out the weight on the rear door is similar to standard so the rear door should last as long as standard.

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

Thanks for the detailed summary of your set-up. Time for me to offload the GX rims and go shopping.

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

Just watch the offsets and local regulations if you want to stay strictly within the letter of the law. No idea whether you guys have the NCOP or Victorian legistlation or a bit of both like we have up here. Maximum increase in track is +25mm which equates to no less than +12.5mm offset. If you are interested.

[discoveraus Member Find all posts View Profile Close discoveraus]

Hello mjrandom,

The 150 gx has +15mm offset standard, +10 mm is only 5 mm extra and is therefore legal. A 150 gxl would also be legal as the +12.5 allowable change relates to the widest offset offered by the manufacturer which is +15 mm.

regards

Ross

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

Correct, the 150 series can legally be fitted with offsets from +2.5 to +25 in those states that limit track increase to a total of 25mm as long as the tyres don't protrude from the guard or rub on bodywork or suspension components.

[criek Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close criek]

Wouldn't the minimum be +12.5?

When a tyre information placard is changed would it include the offset of the rims as well?

Just asking because my placard only has the tyre listed for an 18" rim. The other day a guy at Bob Jane told me that any downsize in rim size was illegal, so I walked away and after checking on the RMS website I could only find that the RTA 'recommends' not downsizing a rim.

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

Wouldn't the minimum be +12.5?

The GX offset is +15 with a track of 1605mm. Increasing the track by 25mm to 1630mm equates to an offset of +2.5

When a tyre information placard is changed would it include the offset of the rims as well?

Tyre placards don't list the offset, only rim and tyre sizes. Offset is often stamped on the rims. The owners manual should state track as 1605mm (GX) and 1585mm (GXL, VX & Kakadu).

Just asking because my placard only has the tyre listed for an 18" rim. The other day a guy at Bob Jane told me that any downsize in rim size was illegal, so I walked away and after checking on the RMS website I could only find that the RTA 'recommends' not downsizing a rim.

AFAIK, you are allowed to increase track up to 25mm over the widest track, which is the GX at 1605mm. Bob Jane has mislead you. For the NSW rules, check VSI9: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati...vsi09_rev4.pdf

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

That's a very old document (rev 4 Nov 2003) is it still current? I only ask because Qld went away from prescribing maximum wheel widths some time ago and only references the change to overall diameter, that the wheels and tyres cannot rub or foul suspension or bodywork and the maximum increase in track of 25mm. And then the load rating has to be at least as per manufacturer specification. I am not sure if that is compared to the maximum specified or what the vehicle came as standard. All of this too is affected by NCOP if adopted and here QCOP. Again if you have ESC or VSC you aren't supposed to change anything. I will have to get back in and read it all again.

As for the smaller wheels being illegal I would think that is absolute crap.

I exected the different offsets for the GX were to compensate for the narrower rims and tyres and meant to put the outside of the tyre at the same width across the range but when you work it out the GX is still 15mm wider or thereabouts (off the top of my head). It would be good if the track change is measured against the maximum for the vehicle and for QCOP/NCOP to leave it alone. Like I said time for some more reading...

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

VSI9 rev 4 Nov 2003 is the current NSW document. All are listed here: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati...i/vsi_dl1.html

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

Thanks guys. Found some GXL rims and now need to decide on tyres.