Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Is there a problem with running a tyre that is too narrow for the rim?

I'm looking for new boots and realise that my current tyre size recommends a 6" rim but I have 7" rims. I went from factory tyres to narrower profile A/Ts and haven't had a problem yet. I've just broken the bead after 2 yrs as I had to clean mud out of the rim/bead.

There is quite a bit of exposed rim which is subject to scratches but not really a problem as the rims are steel.

What would the problems be with too narrow a tyre for the rim?

Don't know if it helps, but the brother had 35x12.5x15 ET2's on 15x10's and keeps losing the bead with aired under 25psi.

He is going to 15x8's even know the tyres say to run a 10 inch rim.

What you're doing is straightening the sidewalls, reducing flex and exposing them to more possibility of damage.

Back in the days before wide, low profile tyres became readily available for our hotrods & street machines, it was common to widen the rims to reduce the amount of give in the sidewalls for better handling.

Eddy wrote:What you're doing is straightening the sidewalls, reducing flex and exposing them to more possibility of damage.

Back in the days before wide, low profile tyres became readily available for our hotrods & street machines, it was common to widen the rims to reduce the amount of give in the sidewalls for better handling.

So what you're saying is that it would handle better on the road but worse off the road?

It could also leave you in a legal bind if you had an accident and the tyres were fitted to rims that were narrower than than the recommended range for that brand/size.

TheOtherLeft wrote:

Eddy wrote:What you're doing is straightening the sidewalls, reducing flex and exposing them to more possibility of damage.

Back in the days before wide, low profile tyres became readily available for our hotrods & street machines, it was common to widen the rims to reduce the amount of give in the sidewalls for better handling.

So what you're saying is that it would handle better on the road but worse off the road?

Back in the days when suspension technology was dodgy at best, yes.
Now, well I guess it would. Not something I'd want to do for too long though ... as said previously - legals etc etc

My little bro runs 165's or 175's from memory on 14 x 9" rims. They look fat as and handle sweet. He uses a wheelbarrow tube to start the bead seating then releases the air in it as he inflates the tyre. You can get half a finger in the gap between the bead and the rim edge. Drift car though

Bru has your bro tried using a ratchet strap around the circumference to pull the tread into the rim forcing the sidewalls out to seat his tyres? Would save having a tube in there.

nastytroll wrote:Bru has your bro tried using a ratchet strap around the circumference to pull the tread into the rim forcing the sidewalls out to seat his tyres? Would save having a tube in there.

You use the tube on the outside of the tyre to help provide a seal while seating it. Bike tubes work too.

never heared of that 1.

Needs good lubing to help the tube pop out as the bead seats. You also need to twist the tube a bit so that the valve doesn't get in the way. I don't know if you can still get them but there used to be rubber rings for re-seating truck tyres which is the principle used with the bike tube.

I'd say 6inch rims would be dime a dozen on ebay.
Just grab a set.

bru21 wrote:My little bro runs 165's or 175's from memory on 14 x 9" rims. They look fat as

I know style is a personal thing but that is one of the stupidist looks I've seen, but then most of the drift style seems that way inclined.