weld wheels?

[adiabatic]

Anyone seen the new Weld F1 wheels on a Dodge yet? And are they 18,19. 5 or 20 inch?

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1997 4x4 CC 5spd, CPL1553 pump, Horton fan, Sport headlamps, Optima RedTops, 98 shift levers and console, RS5000 shocks, Toyo 235/85 tires... but going back to Michelin.

 

[WOT]

See www.weldracing.com

 

[JB @ C and L Machine]

whats the bolt circle on our trucks??? (2500's)... and factory back spacing?... JB

 

[Cooker]

I think factory backspacing is 4 3/4". Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Remember if you go with a wider wheel it is best to split the difference in with and add it to the backspacing, if possible (ie 6. 5 wheel with 4. 75 backspacing to a 7. 5 wheel with 5. 25 backspacing). This will help with the stress on the steering components and bearings.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I think the F1 Renegade is a cool wheel and it is one I have my eye on-- the 18x8. 5" wheel:

pn 154-8851510
size 18x8. 5
bolt pattern 8x6. 5
offset 4. 93"
Capacity 3500 lbs

When I talked to Weld recently the tech looked up the Ram 2500 specs and told me the listed 4. 93" was the correct backspacing for our trucks.

20" is probably overkill, and there is almost nothing in 17" sizes other than 265/70/17 which is no wider than the OEM 265/75/15. I am looking to get 285/60/18" which is within 0. 3" of stock wheel diameter and gives the nice 285 tire width. Tire choices in 285/60/18 are:

Yokohama AVS S/T
Michelin Pilot LTX
Pirelli Scorpion Zero
Bridgestone Dueler HTS
Bridgestone Dueler HP

OR if you want to go with a real bad tire:
Nitto 305/55/18" !

all these are approx 2750 lb per tire load rating. This setup is spendy and the fear of short tire life is the main thing keeping me from pulling the trigger on any of the above tire setups.

Vaughn

[This message has been edited by Vaughn MacKenzie (edited 01-18-2001). ]

 

[adiabatic]

Don't know about the 98-up trucks but my 97 will not take any wheel with more than 4. 625 inch backspacing because the drums are too big. I have heard that 98 and 99s have a similar problem at the front end with steering parts.

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1997 4x4 CC 5spd, CPL1553 pump, Horton fan, Sport headlamps, Optima RedTops, 98 shift levers and console, RS5000 shocks, Yaesu VHF radio, and BCT7 scanner in the overhead console... N7DAL.

 

[adiabatic]

Vaughn, are any of those 18 inch tires you listed actually 10 ply (LR E)?


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1997 4x4 CC 5spd, CPL1553 pump, Horton fan, Sport headlamps, Optima RedTops, 98 shift levers and console, RS5000 shocks, Yaesu VHF radio, and BCT7 scanner in the overhead console... N7DAL.

 

[SRT-6]

Quad,
I think the bolt circle is 8 on 6. 5"

 

[Mule]

I have a 2000 2500 with the factory alum. wheels and the backspacing is 6. 250 I had tried to put a set of American Racing wheels on with the 4. 750 backspacing they fit but about half of the brake drum was showing and i thought it would be hard on the bearings with the wheel hanging out that far have not found anyone that has a aftermarket wheel with the backspacing I need, does anyone know of one?

 

[TORQUED]

I have a set of Welds on my truck. A couple of months ago I had a wheel crack do to a flaw in the forging die and in the weld. It cracked between the two. I called Weld and they said because the wheel was 3. 5 yrs old I was out of luck I had to buy a new one. I asked them what would happen if someone would get killed because of the flaw and they said they would deal with it then.
POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE !!!!!!!!!

 

[blampright]

See pics of my RAM with 18" Nittos/American Eagle wheels

You've got to see the pictures of my RAM with 18x9" American Eagle Series 178 wheels and 325/60R18 Nitto Terra Grapplers. I love the way it looks and fits my truck. These Nittos are wide, 13", so they stick out about 2". With Xenon fender flares it'll be perfect. <br>

The American Eagle wheels are rated for 3450lbs. The size Nittos I bought are rated 3000lbs. Nitto makes other sizes rated up to 3500lbs. <br>

So far I love these wheels. Hopefully they'll perform and wear well. I think they will.

 

[Un-Hemi]

Vaughn, although I haven't measured them, that 4. 93" backspace must be for the 6. 5" steel wheels. The backspacing on the 16 by 8" factory alloys is 6 & 1/4" as Mule says. I just measured them the other night for another thread.



Adiabatic, I think the '98s and '99s are the same as the 97s, but the factory alloys allegedly can be made to fit by judicious grinding of the interfering suspension/brake parts. I'll post my results after I try to fit them on my '99.



FWIW, years ago some aftermarket wheels could be special ordered with any backspacing you wanted. I don't know if it's still possible, but when I was in a local tire store some months ago, the sales guy said it was so. Betcha it's not cheap, being special order and all! Guys in southern Kalifornia probably have it easy getting this stuff.



Tom

 

[JR2]

blampright - Do they rub?? I really like the looks of them and would like to something similar. I see you are going to put a 2. 5 skyjacker on it... is that just on the front for the tires or all around??



Thanks



PS Cool vids on your site... those guys riding wheelies on the bikes are insane.

 

[PRout]

Heres what ended up fitting pretty good on mine.



American Eagle 59 wheels. 0599-7888, 16x8, 8 on 6. 5, +14mm offset, 5" backspace, 3420lb, 24lb.



#ad




With 285/75r16 Mud tires, they fit in the wheelwells pretty decent. They barely stick out, and no rubbing whatsoever.



I had some other wheels that stuck out about 3" and the handling was terrible!



These are good, IMO.



Also check out the alcoas, as they are top notch.

 

[Beast2B]

I don't know what styles are available, but Stockton Wheel (www.stocktonwheel.com) can build a bunch of custom widths and offsets.

I have the Weld 17x8 Typhoons with a 4 7/8 backspacing on my truck with 12. 50 width BFG mudders and they do stick out a couple of inches. I would love to find a 10" wheel with 6 1/2 or so inches of backspacing... it's only money!!

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

blampright:



SWEEEEEEET ! Your truck looks





TommyT: As you probably noticed this thread was started well over a year ago and I didn't know the proper backspacing back then (notice I incorrectly called it "offset"?).



I bought a set of 18" Weld Typhoons off the Classifieds and they will be here Friday. I had him measure the backspacing and it was 5-3/8 which is about 3/4" less than what I measured on my stock wheels (around 6"). While I wish it was right on with stock, I think it will be acceptible. I called Weld and that is what is spec'd for the 3/4T Ram, 2 and 4 wheel drive. The tires will stick out a skosh but I plan on adding fender flares.



I will have to wait for the Terra Grappler 285/60/18" to come out since their website said they are not available yet. I want to stay close to the diameter of the stock 265/75/16s I have now. If they stay with their specs it will be the only tire in that size I have seen rated over 3000lbs.



Vaughn

 

[Un-Hemi]

Vaughn, I didn't notice the starting date. Thanks for bringing it to my attention! Things were sooooo much simpler back in the good ol' racin' days, when there was only diameter, width and backspacing! Now there's 'offset', which is probably reeeeal impotent to the ricemobile herders.



One caution I offer to others reading this thread is that: if the 16 X 8" factory alloys with 6 1/4" *backspacing* require fiddling to install on the earlier trucks, then in all probability, aftermarket wheels with that much or more backspacing will require fiddling also. IMHO, FWIW, YMMV, etc. etc. :;



I must now save up for a set of 265/75/16 LTX A/Ss so I can install my shiny new wheelz!



Tom