2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 16" vs 17" wheel

[CharlieFoxtrot]

I put a 17" as a spare on my '98 2wd and it was abit of a tight fit with the Mag Hytek, if the tire is new you might have a little clearance issue.

Absolutely true about the spare. I have a 96 2wd with Mag Hytec and 265/70/17s (BFG spec is 31. 5" tall) on 3rdgen wheels. My spare has about 25% tread depth and just barely clears the diff. I doubt a new spare would fit at all. Running a 245/16 spare with a 265/17 on the other side will tear up a limited slip diff in short order, so heads-up.



Contemplating a Dana 80 upgrade with discs; wild guess is it'll be even worse. On a 4x4, ride height probably makes this a moot point. I don't see an elegant and secure solution to pulling the tire 1/2" towards the bumper, but I'm all ears if someone has one...



My truck had 16x8" aftermarket wheels when I bought it, and they were flush with - or a hair outside - the plane of the fender. I didn't like it. If the 3rdgen wheels actually tuck in farther than stock as mentioned above, it's not noticeable at all, IMHO. Since I never had stock wheels, I can't compare. Anyway, they look like they belong there. See the photo of Vaughn's sharp-looking green truck above.



I'm putting 3 chrome and 4 clearcoated 3rdgen aluminum wheels on ebay right now, user ID = car. magazine. guy The chrome ones are pretty nice and the cleared ones need refinishing, probably due to offroading scratches/peeling.



One thing to watch out for with the chrome-clad 3rdgen wheels (both aluminum and steel) is the chrome finish on factory Dodge wheels is not plated on the actual wheel like you might expect; it is a thin piece of chromed steel that is permanently glued onto the aluminum wheel. This chromed steel cover is easy to dent with tools if the center caps or wheel weights are not removed carefully during service.



If you get factory chrome wheels, I recommend that you carefully remove the center caps yourself before taking your truck in for service, unless you get it serviced at the Dodge dealer or by a mechanic who owns a truck with these wheels.



A final note - (I said some of this in a thread here somewhere, hopefully not this one ) - AFAIK, stock chrome 3rdgen caps are not available in the aftermarket. A used one sold for $50 on eBay the other day. I don't know what they cost at the dealer; probably a lot. Check before you buy a set of wheels with missing or damaged caps like I did. #@$%! Since I only got 3 good wheels out of that purchase, I solved the problem by buying another set of wheels that included caps. Kept one wheel, 4 caps, and selling the rest!



Aftermarket silver caps can be gotten easily. I'm also selling a set of those... Sorry, I'm really not here trying to pump up my auctions.



hth

kevin

 

[HerbW]

On Craigslist is the place to look for cheap 17" wheels and tires. I bought a complete set of polished 17" aluminum alloys with new Michelin factory tires for $300. A real bargain! Two tires would cost more than that. Oh, It included four new factory chrome hubcaps and all the nuts. They were new take offs on a new truck that the owner had to upgrade it quickly for bling appeal. I see still some deals close to this fairly often. You just have to jump on it if for sale. They sell quickly when priced cheaply. Then you sell your old 16" hubcaps on Ebay to recap some of the costs and your 16" rims on Craigslist for $100. 00 to somebody for snow wheels. I really like the 17" wheels. They drive better than the stock. enjoy, Herb

 

[HerbW]

Oh, I'm just keeping my original spare tire to keep things away from the rearend. If the rear has a flat, there will be some tire moving. I'll install the spare on a front and use the front on the posi track rear. Flats are rare.

 

[JMcCoy]

Oh, I'm just keeping my original spare tire to keep things away from the rearend. If the rear has a flat, there will be some tire moving. I'll install the spare on a front and use the front on the posi track rear. Flats are rare.

That is a very important point. If your spare tire is a different size, don't put it on a limited slip rear. You will burn up thoughs clutched fast. Just wanted to elaborate on what HerbW already stated.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I am finding 3rd Gen takeoffs are much harder to find compared to 4-5 years ago, at least around here. The sets I've found are either pretty worn out or people want $800-1000 for newer ones.

 

[seafish]

That is a very important point. If your spare tire is a different size, don't put it on a limited slip rear. You will burn up thoughs clutched fast. Just wanted to elaborate on what HerbW already stated.

Just wondering if that is still true with the newer 3rd gen AAM LS differentials that are clutchless ??

 

[JMcCoy]

I cannot say for sure. I cannot imagine it being good to spin the AAM LS that hard.

 

[HerbW]

I think you'll make your taller tire shorter rather quickly as you wear off the tread on it. I did this years ago with an import 4x4 with a smaller spare and posi rearend.

 

[MRoberts]

Agreed Vaughn! BUT, I just replaced my tires and they are much more expensive then the 16" diameter.

 

[S Ski]

Hey guys just wondering when you put on the 3rd gen wheels on a second gen,what lugs are you using to bolt the rims on. are the 2nd and 3rd gen wheel studs the same size the same ? plus does any one know if 285/75/17 mounted on stock 3rd gen rims fit on a 02 with out any problems?

 

[HerbW]

I used the lugs that came with my new 17" alloy rims. Both 16" and 17" rims are for the same stud/nut size but I was told that the alloy aluminum rims should use the factory nuts that they came with. I know that 285s on 16" will barely fit without the 2" spacers installed in the front coils. Remember that the newer rims have a little bit more positive offset which brings them in closer to your truck slightly more than the old rims.

 

[surfbeetle]

I used my original 2nd gen lugnuts and my tire size is whatever the stock 2005 third gen Michelins were. I think they are 285s.

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Ski-- I didn't have stock nuts when I switched to 17s, so I got new 3rdgen nuts. NAPA had the best deal - about $1. 50 ea.



If you have a 2wd, 285s will probably rub. My 265/70/17s are close to the back of the inner fender splash shield at full lock.



good luck

kevin

 

[S Ski]

Ahhh cool thanks guys, now to find a set, that are not refurbished wheels,which seem to be all over the place.

 

[S Ski]

Forgot to mention it is 4 wheel drive,I would like to order a kore suspension kit but just did not want to do that til spring time,no room in the driveway to install it with all the snow we have had,so it might be pushing it a bit with that tire size and no lift. Thanks again... . Steve

 

[Rattler]

Lug size is the same on steel wheels, i don't know about the aluminum ones. I even used third gen wheels and second gen center caps. This worked wekk and i did not have to cut the third gen centers this way. Randy

 

[S Ski]

Anyone have a set of 3rd gen polished wheels or power wagon wheels for sale now ? I keep searching ebay,but nothing yet and other places have refurbished which im sure is a bad idea, anybody ever use a refurbished wheel before?

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Ebay prices tend to be a little steep. I know, I just sold 7 3rdgen wheels on eBay! I just missed a set here on craigslist - $200 for 4 chrome aluminium wheels, caps & nuts. I'd have sold them on eBay for $500 easy!



ANyway, watch CL.



later

kevin

 

[S Ski]

damm thanks for the heads up Kevin.

 

[seafish]

Anyone have a set of 3rd gen polished wheels or power wagon wheels for sale now ? I keep searching ebay,but nothing yet and other places have refurbished which im sure is a bad idea, anybody ever use a refurbished wheel before?

There is a set of oem steel wheels from a 2003 CTD listed in TDR classifieds right now . Don't know if they are polished or not, but they are a good price with some 2/3 worn Coopers located in North Carolina.

I'd buy em, but too far to ship.



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