Hi guys -
I will officially be an H3 owner in 30 days! I'm completely new to offroading, and any auto-mods, so I am a total rookie/newbie here in every sense. Any help you can provide is greatly appreicated.

Have been reading this forum, along with Hummer X Forum for the last few months, and love all the great info and photos that you all provide. Some awesome rigs out there!!

After a lot of research, I am beginning to feel somewhat comfortable with what I want to do to start customizing my H3 to truly make it my own - and yes, I love the search feature on here! This will be my daily driver, so want to ensure it is a comforntable ride, but also plan to take the wife and kids off-roading on a lot of the mountain/forest roads that are here in Washington state - can't wait to get that thing dirty!!

Having said that, I am about to hit the ORDER button on a new set of 5 (can't forget the spare!) tires and wheels, so that they'll be here & ready to install the day my H3 arrives. I want to make 100% sure what I am buying makes sense and will fit on my 2009 H3 (that will pretty much be 100% stock when arrives).



Here is what I am looking at buying:

• 35/12.5/17 Nitto Trail Grappler M/T's (http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/findTireDetail.do?pc=40573&counter=2&ar=1250&rd=17 &sw=false&cs=35)
• XD Spy 17x8 with 6x5.5 bolt pattern (http://www.tirepackage.com/Wheels/XD...PXD79778068318)
• Note: Am planning to level it out with t-bar crank to ~24 inches.

Can anyone confirm that all of the above will work on my H3?

Based on what I've read, seems there may be some slight rubbing at full turn. However, I have not read anywhere that this will cause damage to the vehicle.

Again, thank you for any help you can provide!

DAVE (future H3 owner & forum contributor)

~ As I said, I love the search feature on the forums, and realize there are tons of wheels and tires threads already out there - trust me, I have read a ton of them! So thanks for letting me add one more to the list ~

 

Welcome! Congrats on your "soon to have" H3. Honestly, I would keep the OEM wheels but buy 315/75/16 tires and put the money saved from the wheels towards under carriage protection, or rock sliders, or PCM tune if your H3 has a I5 (you might be able to get all three with the money saved). Crank the torsion bars, get an alignment and you're ready to go. But, it's your ride Make sure you post some pics when it arrives

 

Thanks for the feedback Airborne -Yes, will definitely post pics when it gets here!

Question: Outside of the obvious $800-$1,000 I'd spend on wheels, are there any other benefits from a performance perspective to staying with OEM wheels?

I do have somewhat of a wishlist I've beenpulling together, that includes the sliders and protection you mentioned - Any thoughts on these?
Sliders (was looking at this one): http://www.rocky-road.com/H3rockrail.html
Spide Diff cover: http://purplecranium.com/i-124589-h3...num-cover.html

Some other stuff I'm looking into:
WeatherTech Floor Mats: http://www.weathertech.com/store/mvp...ustomerVehId=0
Locking Fuel door: http://www.h3hummeraccessories.com/....%20Fuel%20Door
GOBI Stealth Roof rack and ladder: http://www.gobihummer.com/H3.htm

 

Benefits, no. Just not as painful if damaged on the trail I'm not sure how bad you'll rub with that wheel/tire combo. You might post on another forum too, I'm sure you'll find someone that is running them..I do like those wheels you picked out though.
Your wishlist looks pretty good, just know that it NEVER stops I would add this to the list though, it's an open shot to the tranny without them and the skid for the transfer case won't stop much. Look on ebay too, you might find them cheaper
http://www.adv4x4.com/h3unshpa.html

 

Again great advice - thanks Airborne!

 

Excellent advice. If you plan to go offroad at all, protection should be your top priority. Looks can come later.
A lot of guys have painted or powdercoated the OEM wheels black and it looks good.

 

Thanks Bunger -

Yep, I'm actually thinking of investing in both tires/wheels and some protective elements. I've got about $6k to drop into it once I get it - so would like to put some of that into looks and about abou $1,200 into protection.

I liked the advice above and am looking at this as a potential list of (almost immeditate) add-ons:

- Rock sliders (was looking at this one): http://www.rocky-road.com/H3rockrail.html
- Spider Diff cover: http://purplecranium.com/i-124589-h3...num-cover.html
- Hunner Xtreme skids: http://www.clubhummeroffroad.com/for...=10556&page=12
- Underbody shield (that airborne references above): http://www.adv4x4.com/h3unshpa.html

Still exploring the skid plate options for the front - I like the ones with the H3 on there, but from what I can tell, won't work on a 2009. Per this thread: http://www.clubhummeroffroad.com/for...d.php?p=230077

Any feedback on the items above? Am I over/under investing, or overlooking something important? Thanks guys!
DAVE