R50/QX4 winter rim choices

[brickbox]

Fall's here and winter will follow soon. I am planning on getting winter tires for my R50/QX4 since my all seasons have about 25K miles on them and probably won't cut it for my super long commute.

I believe our rims are 6x5.5 or 6x139.7mm. Pathfinder rims of the era seem to be really beat up at the local JYs. Anyone use the 17" rims off the Isuzu Axiom?
Off sets seem to be different though. Will this be an issue?

QX4 center bore: 106mm
Axiom center bore: 110mm
QX4 offset: +ve 20mm
Axiom offset: +ve 38mm

I can't seem to find Xterra/Frontier rims that are reasonably priced and in decent condition either. Any other suggestions?

[04pathse]

what is the most you are willing to spend on them

[brickbox]

Given that they are going to be winter rims, probably no more than $200.

[Mike W.]

If I was going to use winter wheels I'd probably take an opposite tack, and use the original, if you have the same 3 spoke as I do, as the winter wheels and find some nicer ones for summer. Which does nothing to solve your problem except maybe open up the budget slightly. Then again you may like the wheels far more than I do as we all have different tastes.

[brickbox]

That's what my plan was. If the Isuzu rims fit the QX4, then my current 3 spoke rims (which I dislike and are scaling) will be relegated to winter duties.
Would the larger bore and offset of the Axiom rims be an issue?

[Mike W.]

That's what my plan was. If the Isuzu rims fit the QX4, then my current 3 spoke rims (which I dislike and are scaling) will be relegated to winter duties.
Would the larger bore and offset of the Axiom rims be an issue?

I'm guessing the bolt pattern is correct even though you didn't specifically say it was.

The bore being so much larger could create a shimmy, though slow and careful torquing can reduce or eliminate it, but still it's less than ideal, the bore is generally supposed to be what centers and aligns the wheel, not the bolts like many people think. The offset is problematic too, 18MM more means it's 18MM further inset. You might have clearance, but again, a less than ideal situation. BTW, offset is counter intuitive, at least for me, it means the centerline of the wheel is offset further out, not the wheel itself. All of which says to me you should keep looking for wheels and not try to use the Isuzu ones.

[brickbox]

I'm still struggling to find some decent rims. I found a bunch of X-Terra's around me. But they all have a bore of 100mm vs. the 106mm on the QX4/Pathy.
Anyone else know what other rims are a direct swap for our R50s?

[brickbox]

Think I found a vehicle that has similar bolt pattern?

Here's from a 2007 Tacoma: https://www.wheel-size.com/size/toyota/tacoma/2007/
And here's the 2002 QX4: https://www.wheel-size.com/size/infiniti/qx4/2002/

Is the 10mm offset going to be an issue? Outside, I believe everything else matches up - correct?

[Mike W.]

Which way is the 10MM on offset? 10MM doesn't sound like much, and I'm sure manufacturers have done more in the name of styling, but then again years ago now Ford got in a ton of trouble for people rolling Explorers after running low tire pressure. But 10MM is 3/8" to us english measurement users so do some digging. Crawl underneath and take a peek, is there 5/8"+ of clearance? You want at least 1/4" to account for flexing and even that may result in occasional rubbing but it shouldn't be a problem. Or is it the other way, 10MM further out? Again, move the wheels lock to lock and look. I think you're less likely to run into problems if they have less offset, which means further out, but I don't know these chassis that well.

Be aware with ~1" less width on track stability may be affected. Actually will be, but perhaps by a negligible amount.

[Rockwood]

I am not sure the Toyo lugnuts are the same - you may need the Toyo lugnuts as well. I think the shoulder of the bolt where it contacts the rim is different. You just need to be sure they mount as far into the hub as the Infiniti lugnuts do.

Those wheels are 1/2 inch narrower with a little more offset ( 4/10 inches ). I think they will work fine. If you have a tire shop in mind I would ask them what they think - most of them do quite a bit of custom wheel mounting.

[brickbox]

The QX4 rims are +20mm while the Tacoma is +30mm offet. Finding used lug nuts for the Tacoma seems to be a challenge around here.
Based on what you guys are telling me, looks like it probably makes sense to buy the factory 16" rims for the winter set.

Didn't realize the wheels on our vehicles were so unique.

[brickbox]

So I ended up getting 16” rims of a ‘98 QX4 that popped up on CL for a decent price.

The tire size sticker calls out 245/70/R16 as the OE size but tire rack called out 225/75/16 as an acceptable alternate. I found 225/75/R16 tires for decent price on CL, any thoughts if these are acceptable?

[Rockwood]

They would work fine. 1010tire has a tire size calculator. If you compare the two sizes, it tells you the speedometer error. They would be very close I think.

I have 17 inch wheels on my Q - I thought yours were the same?

[brickbox]

You are correct - I do have 17" stock wheels with the all weather tires.
For the winters though, I didn't want another set of flaky 17 inchers So the 16" factory rims actually worked out and makes the tires slightly cheaper too.
The speedometer error going from the stock 245/65/17 to the 225/75/16 is about 0.3-0.4mph until 90mph. So I think that should be good.

That being said though, Blizzaks are insanely expensive and my previous go-to snow tires, the General Altimax Arctic has creeped up in price significantly. Does anyone here have any experience with the Firestone Winterforce 2 tires? I know the original Winterforce tires were average, but the few reviews I read indicate that the Winterforce 2 are a significant upgrade?

[brickbox]

So I ended up getting a really good deal on the FIrestone Winterforce UV tires (the original version) in 225/75/R16. Outside of the fact that they seem to be loud, reviews on Tire Rack point to them being good winter tires. Fingers crossed they will last 3 winter seasons/years for me.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.js ... interforce

[Rockwood]

I like the tread pattern - pretty aggressive. It might be nice to have a similar tread pattern on an all season tire for summer off roading. Looks good!