LanceK

I am looking for a basic looking and affordable black wheel for my truck.

I like the look of the basic black steel wheels that a lot of the off-road crowd uses. I definately like something more industrial and purposeful. Sometimes I see govt. trucks that have that look. Never saw up close but I think they're black with a chrome or silver center cap of some kind.

Some questions:

1. How much heavier are the steels vs. stock?

2. If significantly heavier, how much difference and where will I see?

3. What other "basic" looking black wheels are available?

P.S. I have already considered the Teflon Mojave and Hummer H2 wheels. Looking for other options.

TIA

TexasCTD

Have you considered just powdercoating your stockers black? I had mine sandblasted and powdercoated for $45 a wheel. No worries about backspacing either, by going to aftermarket.

Nate-03 D

I've never comapred stock wheels to aftermarket wheels(on the second truck in my sig) But I know the stockers are heavy(if their steel).

Follow this link and go to page "20" of the brochure, look at the Allied Type 54 Mock Locks. I just removed a set from my truck and they are sitting in my shed. http://www.lesschwab.com/wheels/2006...6_brochure.asp They are for sale, if interested send me a PM.

I took off the Mock Locks and put on a set of American Racing Teflon wheels, so far I have nothing but good things to say about them. Realy easy to clean, not very heavy, they run out good. And the teflon just looks and feels cool.

LanceK

TexasCTD...

Yes I actually considered doing the stockers after seeing your pics a while back. However I'm 50/50 on the looks. They have the look I like from a distance, but close up they look a little odd to me. Can't put my finger on it but they sorta look like they're made up of two or three different wheel parts...?

I love the fact that they're stock, free (sorta), and have the perfect spacing.

What type paint did you use...i.e. gloss black, semi-gloss, or flat black?

My stockers are the chrome ones that come on the Laramie, any problems sandblasting/powdercoating those?

Townsend600

I never weighed mine but my 315's on 17" alum. didn't feel any heavier then my 265's on steel wheels. Sure looks and rides a heck of a lot better though.

RamWheelsBy4

The Dodge chrome clad steel wheels weigh about 41lbs and the Dodge alloy wheels all weigh about 26lbs. So there is a difference, but on a 7000+lbs truck it seems rather minor. Of course I did switch from chrome clad steel to alloy wheels and one reason was weight.

jmccart

Hey TexasCTD, I like that look. What color were they before you painted them, flat black?
Thanx.

TexasCTD

I was just throwing out another idea for you. Some people like the look and others don't and I understand completely. Sometimes I even question it myself... I can look at various pictures of my own truck and say...Wow that looks awesome! and in other pics....I think what the hell have I done? But, I have looked at various aftermarket wheels too and I just cannot stand the wheels that stick out from under the truck. Also, I don't like "bling".

My goal with my truck was to make it stand out without screaming "LOOK AT ME" or turning it into a pimp mobile.

As far as the paint........honestly I don't know. I guess it is Gloss Black. I just took a set of stock satin finish wheels (actually off of an 03 3rd gen) and took them to the powdercoater and told him what I wanted. My original wheels were still on my truck until I got these back from the powdercoater and made the tire switch. Then I gave my original wheels which were the Polished Aluminum to my friend that I got the 03 wheels from. He put them on a 2nd gen. I kept the chrome center caps though.

If you decide to do it, there should be no problem sandblasting the polished Laramie wheels, but you might make a swap with somebody that wants them.........because once you sandblast it is all coming off. Plus your truck won't be down while the wheels are at the powdercoater.

TexasCTD

They were the stock satin finish 17'' wheels. (my original wheels which came on the Lone Star package were the polished aluminum wheels) Anyway, I swapped the original ones to a buddy who wanted the polished wheels. I kept the chrome center caps.

Once they are sandblasted.......it really didn't make any difference....they are just aluminum color I guess. Then the Gloss Black powdercoat was applied and baked on.

Almond Pale Ale

Your wheels look great. I had some stock R/T wheels powdercoated for my old Durango - the shop used "Sherwin Williams Wheel Black", probably very close to what was used on yours. Same process, media blasted to bare aluminum and coated, cost me $70 per wheel.