Reconditioned wheels?

[sbradley]

I need to pick up a single OEM wheel so I can do a 5 tire rotation (dang space saver spare).
I am running across a lot of "reconditioned" OEM wheels. Anyone tried these out? Good match and durability? If so, where have you purchased from?

Thanks!

[theluckyone17]

Last I knew, weren't five tire rotations bad for us? Subaru seems to bend over backwards making sure that our tires are close to the same diameter (and thus, circumference), so it doesn't toast the AWD.

Having one tire with less wear might just do that.

[sbradley]

You have to rotate frequently to make it work. The magic number you need to maintain is 1/32" difference or less.
So getting 50,000 mile tires, with 11/32 tread depth, we subtract the 3/32 minimum tread depth, leaving 8/32 to wear.
If we rotate at every oil change, 3750 miles, we should have a difference at each change of 8/32 / 13 = .0192, 1/32 = .0313 so we are well under. Bottom line, to make this work you MUST rotate tires with every oil change, or very close to that.

Last I knew, weren't five tire rotations bad for us? Subaru seems to bend over backwards making sure that our tires are close to the same diameter (and thus, circumference), so it doesn't toast the AWD.

Having one tire with less wear might just do that.

[sbradley]

As a follow-up, I found an internet Subaru parts supplier who sold me a factory original wheel for $200. The reconditioned suppliers were charging $160-170 so the difference wasn't worth it, I just bought a brand new wheel.

I need to pick up a single OEM wheel so I can do a 5 tire rotation (dang space saver spare).
I am running across a lot of "reconditioned" OEM wheels. Anyone tried these out? Good match and durability? If so, where have you purchased from?

Thanks!

[Zooom]

just be careful if you are going to put it in the cradle where the spare is as the cable and winding mechanism supposedly isn't rated for long term hauling of the heavier OEM wheel...hence why they tell you after a flat to carry the flattened wheel IN the bed as apposed to under it....

[sbradley]

Definitely won't use the stock spare carrier, from what I have read this is a firm no-go. I may put it in a cloth bag and keep it in the bed.

Thanks

just be careful if you are going to put it in the cradle where the spare is as the cable and winding mechanism supposedly isn't rated for long term hauling of the heavier OEM wheel...hence why they tell you after a flat to carry the flattened wheel IN the bed as apposed to under it....

[sbradley]

For what it's worth my tire dealer says that 2/32 difference is the limit they are required to adhere to.

[Ti Pit]

As a follow-up, I found an internet Subaru parts supplier who sold me a factory original wheel for $200. The reconditioned suppliers were charging $160-170 so the difference wasn't worth it, I just bought a brand new wheel.

I need to pick up a single OEM wheel so I can do a 5 tire rotation (dang space saver spare).
I am running across a lot of "reconditioned" OEM wheels. Anyone tried these out? Good match and durability? If so, where have you purchased from?

Thanks!

would you mind sharing who the dealer is, I'm in need of 1 wheel for my Baja!

Thanks!

[Kev M]

Definitely won't use the stock spare carrier, from what I have read this is a firm no-go. I may put it in a cloth bag and keep it in the bed.

Thanks

just be careful if you are going to put it in the cradle where the spare is as the cable and winding mechanism supposedly isn't rated for long term hauling of the heavier OEM wheel...hence why they tell you after a flat to carry the flattened wheel IN the bed as apposed to under it....

FYI - 2 years now I've run a heavier than stock steel wheel and full size spare hanging from that carrier.

I cannot see that cable breaking under load (remember engineering standards are for 3x predicted stresses). Also, the weight isn't even fully carried by the cable when you stick a full size spare under there - turns out the full size spare is an interference fit with the brackets.

So one time when I lowered the cable fully my spare remained wedged into the bracket, I had to carefully pry it free.

[sbradley]

There are lots of dealers selling online, and I doubt if these guys are the lowest price, but this is the one I used:
http://www.xtremevwparts.com/