more cost effective wheel solution?
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte, NC
more cost effective wheel solution?
Hey Everyone
I was wondering what was more cost effective getting a set of 17x8 Cragar Soft 8's or keeping my stock Sahara Wheels, getting them powder coated black and having to get spacers for it?
I honestly just dont even have a clue how much it cost to powder coat a wheel.
Any help would be appreciated, any opinions also will be much appreciated.
Thanks
I was wondering what was more cost effective getting a set of 17x8 Cragar Soft 8's or keeping my stock Sahara Wheels, getting them powder coated black and having to get spacers for it?
I honestly just dont even have a clue how much it cost to powder coat a wheel.
Any help would be appreciated, any opinions also will be much appreciated.
Thanks
JK Super Freak
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,884
Likes: 0
From: Odenville, AL
I'm almost positive that it's gonna cost you about the same to get the wheels powdercoated as it would to buy the Soft 8's...plus the cost of spacers. I say just get the Cragar's, then you've got two sets of wheels...save the stockers for on-road, use Cragar's off-road or just sell the stock wheels...you'd probably make enough to cover the cost of the new Cragar's.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 260
Likes: 0
From: San Juan Islands
Yep, it will run you about the same.
200 bucks for spacers
40-50 x 5 for powdercoating (plus there will be down time during powdercoating)
I don't know if you bought your tires or not yet... but if you go to discounttiredirect you can get free mounting and balancing which is about $125
125 for mounting new tires on your old rims.
so add it up.... looks like it could be anywheres from $525-$575
oh yeah, add to that cleaning up the sparkle silver paint off your sahara rims. I am prett sure you are gonna have to have them blasted clean before powdercoating will stick. I always bring things to the powder coater and he blasts the part clean before he powdercoats... if I have blasted it clean it is cheaper. I was quoted about 40 to 50 a wheel for clean rubi wheels, which are machined aluminum... no paint, the sahara wheel is painted.
Now... are you gonna go to a bigger tire? If you are going go as wide as a 12.50 you might want a wider rim. Most people on this forum will tell you that you can run a 12.50 on a stock rim, and you will see it done as well.. but BFG said the minimum for a 12.50 tire is a 8.5 and that any less would sacrifice safety on the highway and shorten the life of the tire, as it will wear prematurely in the center before the edges. So... with that being said... you might want to consider the size tire you will run in your decision to swap wheels or not.
Hope that helps a bit! I have been going through similar issues.
Best,
livin
200 bucks for spacers
40-50 x 5 for powdercoating (plus there will be down time during powdercoating)
I don't know if you bought your tires or not yet... but if you go to discounttiredirect you can get free mounting and balancing which is about $125
125 for mounting new tires on your old rims.
so add it up.... looks like it could be anywheres from $525-$575
oh yeah, add to that cleaning up the sparkle silver paint off your sahara rims. I am prett sure you are gonna have to have them blasted clean before powdercoating will stick. I always bring things to the powder coater and he blasts the part clean before he powdercoats... if I have blasted it clean it is cheaper. I was quoted about 40 to 50 a wheel for clean rubi wheels, which are machined aluminum... no paint, the sahara wheel is painted.
Now... are you gonna go to a bigger tire? If you are going go as wide as a 12.50 you might want a wider rim. Most people on this forum will tell you that you can run a 12.50 on a stock rim, and you will see it done as well.. but BFG said the minimum for a 12.50 tire is a 8.5 and that any less would sacrifice safety on the highway and shorten the life of the tire, as it will wear prematurely in the center before the edges. So... with that being said... you might want to consider the size tire you will run in your decision to swap wheels or not.
Hope that helps a bit! I have been going through similar issues.
Best,
livin