Lightweight Rim 17 or 18s

[SGaynor]

Spoiler Alert
Most Toyota owners who drive offroad are usually concerned with the following:

• Range/MPG
• CV axle longevity
• Transmission, Transfer Case, Engine Temps
• Power/Torque

Hence the reason for properly setting up their vehicles with light weight wheels

Let's work through your logic here.

First, you are talking about spending at least $3k in new wheels/tires (x5).

Now, in your OFFROAD situation, what exactly is lighter wheels (and heavier tires) going to get you in MPG when doing 20-30mph (max)? An extra 1mpg? Great...you just bought yourself 20 miles. I'll even give you 3mpg - 60 miles. Better Solution: Buy a gas can. 2.5gal rotopax gets you ~40 miles. A 5gal jerry can - 80 miles.

CV axels? Really? Spend $800 and upgrade your axels. A much better solution.

Temps? What exactly is a lighter wheel going to do at 20 (or less) mph? Absolutely nothing. On a highway, maybe, but again - you said OFFROAD.

Power/Torque? That's the motor/transmission/diff gear ratio, not (necessarily) the wheel weight. But lets say you gain 10% (a wildly high number) vs stock by using a lighter wheel. You really need 510ftlbs of torque (and you are worried about the CVs?)? I'm pretty sure that 465 is just fine. Even 420 is more than enough.

So, you have two situations where for OFFROADING, the lighter wheels are basically meaningless, one where you can mitigate the situation with a $30 gas can ($100 if you want to overpay for rotopax) and $20-$30 worth of gas, and the other where spending $800 would be the real solution....vs $3k+ and still doesn't solve your first two problems.

If you want different wheels, there are logical reasons - different diameter (esp 17"), different pattern (looks). But making claims that a lighter wheel is somehow going to make offroading much better is a stretch.

 

[Semiihcircle]

what kind of MPG numbers you getting
City/Highway

ive only put on 100-200 miles since putting them on. but i have not noticed a difference in MPG in my daily routes, i still got 24.7mpg last night on my way home (my driving habbits remaining the same). its predominantly city driving and some highway.

 

[D-mac]

Now, in your OFFROAD situation, what exactly is lighter wheels (and heavier tires) going to get you in MPG when doing 20-30mph (max)? An extra 1mpg? Great...you just bought yourself 20 miles. I'll even give you 3mpg - 60 miles. Better Solution: Buy a gas can. 2.5gal rotopax gets you ~40 miles. A 5gal jerry can - 80 miles.

Judging by the forum threads on where to properly mount a jerry can and the extended range fuel tanks, there are plenty of LC250 drivers who would rather extend the range of their LC250 on and off road instead of finding ways to accommodate lower gas mileage.

 

[RideWithYanu]

It’s a valid point that if range is the goal nothing will have a bigger impact than just increasing the amount of fuel available. Wheel weights have much less impact.

 

[Calokie]

Let's work through your logic here.

First, you are talking about spending at least $3k in new wheels/tires (x5).

Now, in your OFFROAD situation, what exactly is lighter wheels (and heavier tires) going to get you in MPG when doing 20-30mph (max)? An extra 1mpg? Great...you just bought yourself 20 miles. I'll even give you 3mpg - 60 miles. Better Solution: Buy a gas can. 2.5gal rotopax gets you ~40 miles. A 5gal jerry can - 80 miles.

CV axels? Really? Spend $800 and upgrade your axels. A much better solution.

Temps? What exactly is a lighter wheel going to do at 20 (or less) mph? Absolutely nothing. On a highway, maybe, but again - you said OFFROAD.

Power/Torque? That's the motor/transmission/diff gear ratio, not (necessarily) the wheel weight. But lets say you gain 10% (a wildly high number) vs stock by using a lighter wheel. You really need 510ftlbs of torque (and you are worried about the CVs?)? I'm pretty sure that 465 is just fine. Even 420 is more than enough.

So, you have two situations where for OFFROADING, the lighter wheels are basically meaningless, one where you can mitigate the situation with a $30 gas can ($100 if you want to overpay for rotopax) and $20-$30 worth of gas, and the other where spending $800 would be the real solution....vs $3k+ and still doesn't solve your first two problems.

If you want different wheels, there are logical reasons - different diameter (esp 17"), different pattern (looks). But making claims that a lighter wheel is somehow going to make offroading much better is a stretch.

I’m not saying people should upgrade their stock 18” OEM wheels (@ 26lbs each), just to go lighter
I’m saying if you upgrade your wheels, go with a “light-er” set rather than a cheap fugly / heavy set of wheels (like most dealers install and add to the finance charges)

But a lighter wheelset will help mitigate the previously mentioned items, if you can't acknowledge that i'm not here to convince anyone otherwise .
I personally think the stock 18” wheels look great and are a great lightweight wheel

Premium 20” wheels = 42lbs

 

[Matthew@LC250Mods]

TE37XT in 17x8.5” weighed in at around 19 pounds, 18” around 21 according to Showstoppers USA measurements;

Ah you're right! I've only ever sold the 18" Volks. 19 lbs is crazy light!

 

[jpto]

TE37SB's are IMO a great wheel for the LC250, I have 18's on mine and they come in just under 19-20 pounds a wheel, no drop in fuel economy with AT tires.

My goal wasn't fuel economy it was to keep the overall weight of the AT tires and wheel around the same as stock to keep similar handling/performance and not put extra stress on the suspension/axles

 

[ultane]

ive only put on 100-200 miles since putting them on. but i have not noticed a difference in MPG in my daily routes, i still got 24.7mpg last night on my way home (my driving habbits remaining the same). its predominantly city driving and some highway.

Welcome to the asylum.