Help with safe wheels swap - have kids

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Winchweight
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Re: Help with safe wheels swap - have kids

Post by Winchweight »

If your van is stock, the Mefros will just bolt straight on. Nothing more required provided you have the right profile wheel nuts. Thats all you need.
And why would you thread lock them.... I'm confused?

As for the tyres, many "Offroad" tyres are noisy, the ride is awful and they don't handle well on wet tarmac (you said the safety of your kids was a priority), so something like the General Grabber AT2s will give the best of both worlds. They are superb in the wet and have never let us down off road - and theyre not too expensive.
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Middle29
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Re: Help with safe wheels swap - have kids

Post by Middle29 »

I think the thread lock and adaptors are just to extend the bolts so getting the wheels off and on becomes easier - nought more.

I may go the AT2 route & I do have that on my list - it was just the write up about the KO2 bfgs looked very good - I thought they were off and On road tyres / all season so seemed a good compromise but I may need to read up on them again to mke sureor just get the AT2s as I haven't had much time of late (3 month old) so have been researching when I can :D
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Re: Help with safe wheels swap - have kids

Post by silverbullet »

I do not like the sound of "bolt extensions" one bit.

Can you put up a pic or a link to them please?

The correct way to fit wheels with spacers is to fit conversion studs up front (replacing the bolts) and to replace the rear studs with longer ones.
That way you have studs and nuts all round.

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Winchweight
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Re: Help with safe wheels swap - have kids

Post by Winchweight »

But if the van is stock then you dont need spacers or extensions to fit 15" Mefros?
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Middle29
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Re: Help with safe wheels swap - have kids

Post by Middle29 »

silverbullet wrote:I do not like the sound of "bolt extensions" one bit.

Can you put up a pic or a link to them please?

The correct way to fit wheels with spacers is to fit conversion studs up front (replacing the bolts) and to replace the rear studs with longer ones.
That way you have studs and nuts all round.

Bolt extensions is me not remembering the name - they are conversion studs from Brickwerks - correct me if I'm wrong but- the van is stock so the 15" mefros will go straight on but tte conversion studs will make it easier - is that correct?? I don't need to use spacers so I'm assuming I don't need the conversion studs but they will help with lining up the wheels etc when I change them
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Re: Help with safe wheels swap - have kids

Post by silverbullet »

OK. Conversion studs for standard offset steel wheels IS what you require, along with a full set of wheel nuts. It's a common improvement for 2wd vans.

Forget the comment about spacers.

Middle29
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Re: Help with safe wheels swap - have kids

Post by Middle29 »

It's good to know someone is looking out for me fitting bolt extensions :D which certainly sound fragile!!
Thanks for all the help
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Middle29
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Re: Help with safe wheels swap - have kids

Post by Middle29 »

AT2s
Link
All season
Roll resistance F
Wet grip E
Noise emissions 72 dB

BFGs
Link
Summer only
Roll resistance G
Wet grip C
Noise emissions 77 dB

Then there are these Hankook dynapro ones which seem to P*ss all over the others - am I missing something - is it just trend?? The others look better?

It says they don't have EU tyre labels but they appear to be listed underneath?!?
Hankook
Link
Summer only
Roll resistance C
Wet grip B
Noise emissions 70 dB

I am leaning towards the AT2s but curious about the Hankooks

Thoughts??
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Re: Help with safe wheels swap - have kids

Post by multisi »

Dont use tyres with low load rating, always check this. And tighten wheel nuts with long bar, did mine with short wheel brace in original jack bag once and the wheel came undone a week later. Get one that extends so you can put it in jack bag.And when you get a tyre fitted and they refit wheel YOU MUST re tighten wheel nuts after 30 miles, it says this on the receipt from tyre fitters . I have seen 2 front wheels on my mates land rover starting to fall off after a couple of weeks since he went to get new front tyres fitted !
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Middle29
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Re: Help with safe wheels swap - have kids

Post by Middle29 »

image.jpeg
image.jpeg (141.43 KiB) Viewed 4996 times
So I've added my wheels and tyres!! Got bfgs in the end KO2s as they are rated better than the ko's and the grabbers for stopping in wet and noise..

BUT.... When going over speed bumps or any large dip or pothole I'm getting a crunching sound from both fronts. Sounds like metal on metal on the down of the suspension. I've added conversion studs. The rears already had them but I removed retaining bolts on both sides.

At first I wondered if it was kind of bedding in of the bolts. Doesn't sound good.

Any ideas???
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Middle29
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Re: Help with safe wheels swap - have kids

Post by Middle29 »

Had new wishbone bushes fitted few weeks back if that relevant?!?!
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Re: Help with safe wheels swap - have kids

Post by silverbullet »

The sound that a tyre makes when it rubs on the body can be quite dramatic. Been there myself.
Take a front wheel off and carefull inspect the tyre shoulders and inner sidewall for any signs of contact.

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Re: Help with safe wheels swap - have kids

Post by marlinowner »

Putting the old wheels back on (front only is fine for testing) would tell you if it is a wheel/tyre clearance issue.
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Middle29
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Re: Help with safe wheels swap - have kids

Post by Middle29 »

Ok I'll try that - I did inspect the wheel arches and couldn't see any signs of rubbing. I'll inspect tyres and maybe swap back the fronts for a test.

Thanks chaps
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Re: Help with safe wheels swap - have kids

Post by jasd1978 »

Is it lowered? It looks lowered in the picture, maybe those big ass tyres you've put on create the illusion of looking lowered? Could you be bottoming out when you go over a bump?
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