Need Input on 16x8 M/T Challenger Wheels

[HEMI®Dart]

I am probably going to buy the M/T Challenger.



Question:



About how far does the wheel stick out from the wheel well? I like them under the truck... . where they belong.



The 4 9/16 backspacing is close to the OEM steel wheel. But the MT Challenger has 0 offset where the OEM Dodge wheel has +24mm (. 945) meaning at least another 1" will stick out even before the added width of the rim is taken into account.



4 9/16" backspace and 4 9/16" that will come off the wheel mounting surface.



A forged Aluminum 16x8 wheel with 5" backspace and + 25mm offset is non-exsistant. This would be the ideal wheel.



Post any pics if you can.



More on Offset if interested: http://www.usacomp.com/Offset.htm



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[ET]

WHEELS

I HAVE THE M/T CLASICS IN 16X8 AND THEY FIT JUST LIKE FACTORY. I HAVE 285/75/16 TIRES AND THE TIRE FITS INSIDE THE FENDERS. I HAVE SOME PICS IN MY SIG. LINK IT IS HARD TO SEE EXACTLY HOW THEY FIT BUT IT MIGHT HELP. E. T.

 

[LBTRS]

I have the M/T Challenger's and like the looks of them. They are very hard to keep clean for some reason as they stain very easily. They do stick out about a inch more than the stock rims did. Other than them being hard to keep clean I'm happy with them.

 

[Rob Thomas]

Ray,



The wheels arent clear coated, hence they stain easily, you may want to polish them, and have 'em coated, just a suggestion.





Later, Rob

 

[Task125]

I have the classics. with 295s,should have gone with 315s.

no clear coat so you need to clean them diff. alcola makes a cleaning kit that works well.

 

[nwinters]

I have the M/T Classic 16x8 as well. I had 275/85-16 and they stuck out a bit more than the 255/85-16 I have on it now.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Ray,



I found this from an old thread:



"Alcoa makes a three part cleaner, polish, and preserver kit that really works well on aluminum rims. It lasts longer than any other method I have ever tried. One application keeps the rims looking like brand new for a year or more (and my dog pees on them whenever I go somewhere and don't take him). The rims are over 3 years old and look like I just bought them. I have only had to use the kit one time so far, although I am about ready to use it for the second time. "



Here is the link to Alcoa's Polish: http://www.southwestwheel.com/wheels/alcoa/alcoacleaningkit.htm

 

[John]

Hemi, as you know, I have M/T Alcoa Challengers (16 x 8) along with 295/85R16s BFG A-Ts. I also have a set of Mopar fender flares installed. Actually the wheel/tire combination doesn't stick out all that much, the flares are more for additional protection while on gravel roads.



I have been experimenting with different cleaners etc. for my Challengers:



1) Mother's Mag and Wheel Cleaner - pretty darn good



2) Griot's Garage Mag and Wheel Cleaner - not as good as Mother's (plus, the stuff separates too easily!)



3) Hollywoods1 (liquid) - also pretty good shine (with slightly less effort than the other two)



4) Hollywoods1 (pre-treated strips) - again, pretty good shine (with even less effort!)



5) I'm still looking for the Holy Grail of aluminum cleaners... ... maybe the stuff offered by Alcoa will be it. I think I'll order some.



Thanks for the link!

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Long lead times for M/T Challenger

National Tire & Wheel sez early November for the M/T #268481 Challenger ($169. 00). Desert Rat about 4 weeks($169. 00). Summit about 3 weeks ($195. 00). I can find them locally, but add about $70+ per rim + Tax.



I searched the web 'till I was blue-in-the-face for better prices than above. Not alot of places to buy them.



I guess I'll wait.



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[curatchko]

I was a Engineer for Alcoa Wheels here in Livonia Michigan up until Jan of this year, and from what I recall, Alcoa is dropping the M/T line of wheels, or has already. This is why you will now see M/T wheels that are squeeze cast, and not forged in catalogs like Summit or Jegs. Because they are no longer made by Alcoa.



You might find them in stock at retailers, but if they say 'Back Order' that is probably perminant.



Contact M/T directly if you need more info.



Chris

 

[HEMI®Dart]

curatchko





I believe you. The 2 big mail order companies are not giving a date when the Alcoa Challangers will be in or if they ever will . Texas Rat put an order in May 1st. Tyres International back in June. The salesman @ National Tire & Wheel said Alcoa is busy making aircraft wheels? They put the M/T's on the back burner for now. On eBay I have seen used M/T Challengers with the seller stating "M/T does not make them anymore"?



Chromewheel had 4 in stock. I grabbed them. Paid a couple of bucks more, but I don't care at this point. The Owner wanted them for his own truck, but let me buy them.



I'll keep my back-ordered order for 4 M/T Challengers @ Texas Rat. If they eventally come in I'll sell them on eBay and make a little profit.

 

[Bob Horrell]

I wrote the above comment about the Alcoa 3 part cleaner some time ago. It is still working good, although they are again overdue for a cleaning. It has been over 2 years and although they don't quite look new, they still look very good.

I bought the Challengers because I was at a testing facility getting a piece of equipment tested when these rims first came out. The testing facility did destructive tests for rim manufacturers. They were testing the 16X8 Challenger rim and said it was the toughest 16 inch rim they had ever tested, steel or aluminum. They had it loaded up to 4400lbs and were beating the crud out of it and couldn't do any damage. After seeing that I thought it was odd that it was only rated at 3000lbs - huge safety margin.

Don't know if the new ones that aren't hot forged will be as strong.

 

[icarus33]

Hemi,



Great rims. Not having the clearcoat on the rim was one of my wheel criteria. At a mile high and lots of sun, I've seen my share of crudded rims where the clearcoat is just peeling off. May be a lack of owner maint. too.



ic

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Desert Rat shipped the wheels Wednesday. Of course I ordered from another dealer. Chrome wheel shipped the Classics instead of the Challenger today

 

[Hutchew]

I like mine, too.....

but the high dollar M/T aluminum center caps are worthless. You can't even slide 'em into the wheel without scratching them, and they dent just looking hard at them. On top of that, the cheesy little M/T emblems blew off within a 100 miles. I can replace all 4 with chrome cheapos for less than replacing one of the M/T's.

Ok, guess you all can tell I wasn't very happy with them, eh?

 

[LBTRS]

Hutchew,



Which did you use as replacements? I've already replaced my center caps for $100 and don't want to have to keep doing that. Is there a cheaper center cap that looks good?



Thanks.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

I wonder if the Alcoa center cap are the exact same thing as the M/T. The sizes are slightly different.



More info: http://www.alcoawheelaccessories.com/store/control/categorytoproducts?category_id=lthcovers



I think I am going to try this short cap on the front axle. You really don't need the long one.



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[Hutchew]

I haven't yet........

But my buddy at Discount tire in Abq says the chrome ones from just about any manufacturer will fit... ...

I have had problems on other wheels in the past with the cheapos rattling, but it's an easy fix if you bend the little 'ring' out just a tad so it will crush it 'tween the wheel and brake drum/disk.

Let me know if you try it, and I will do the same. I may be doing it here in the next week, cuz I gotta take my passenger side front apart. Went shooting clays this afternoon, and was climbing a fairly nasty hill to get to a good spot, and blew up a hub. Bummer, hafta keep fixing broken stuff cuz a that wimpy old cummins

 

[icarus33]

I went with the M/T steel caps. They were considerably cheaper than the all aluminum caps. Have all 4 the same size just for consistency. They still retain the M/T labeling.



ic



<img src=http://img. ranchoweb.com/images/icarus33/pa280198.jpg>

 

[D. Showan]

HEMI®Dart,



I'm looking at the M/T classic II wheels and they have the same 4 9/16 backspace and 0 offset. I measured my stock 6 1/2 " wheels and I came up with about the same numbers you used. My numbers were 4 13/16" backspace and 15/16" (+. 9375") offset). I don't think they will stick out as much as you think. If you use the same tire with the new wheels, the tread will move out exactly as much as the offset moved, in our case about . 9375". The wheel will move out about 1 3/4" farther out because of the wider wheel but the tread will only move out about half that distance. The sidewall may look farther out, but the tread is what will throw the water etc. past the fender. I hope this is correct and makes sense. I'm hoping that I don't have to put on fender flairs.