After having three of my factory aluminium rims crack (all at different times) I am going to purchase aftermarket 15" rims. If anybody can guide me to some nice looking rims with pics Id appreciate it. BTW I do tow heavy so the stronger the better. Thanks.

 

Better go with 16" rims in steele then add simulators. That is the stronger.

 

15"s will not fit, my 16"s just fit my 01...

01 with the 6 spd you should have rear discs also...

There is NO aftermarket wheel manufacturer that makes a 16" or 17" wheel that i have found with the correct backspacing to keep the tires in the "stock" location you will end up with fender flares or just let them stick out of the wheel wells a little...

 

the mickey thompson classic II's have a darn good wieght rating and look good too, oh and they are aluminum.

 

You will have to look long and hard to find ANYTHING in 15" and 8 bolt. I believe Stockton wheel in California used to make a steel 15x8 bolt. I doubt that you will find anything that will fit.

If you are cracking aluminum rims - steel is the way to go. The OE rims are forged and are pretty tough.

http://www.americanracing.com/wheels...ed&section=ORT

 

Aluminum rims are strong and light and the only way to go. Why did yours crack? Are you slaming curbs?
I have bent aluminum rims hitting big rocks offroading. You have to smack something real hard to crack them and a steel rim is going to get bent too if you hit them that hard.

I worked for a Readymix concrete co. and steel rims are not even legal on new Peterbuilts,KWs and Mack trucks sold here. All new Big trucks come with aluminum rims.

I have 16x8 Eagle alloys with the Round holes , They look like big rig truck rims . The back of the rim and in the slots are painted light gray so black brake dust will wash off easyhttp://www.aewheel.com/images/categories/ACF106F.jpg

I dont care for the werd ,funky,busy looking, doily,new styles that I see that are all polished like chrome.
I like the simple look.

DR Evil ,,, **** ,,, Those rims are ugly..LOL

 

If you want the strongest wheels, go with Bart. They have incredible weight ratings for a stock size wheel. They are pretty inexpensive, also if I remember right.

 

Better stick with 16's. I've got some pic's of my wheels in my photo gallery. I went with 16x8 centerlines. Which are rated for I beleive 3200 lbs. a wheel.

 

weld wheels brag they are the strongest wheel made because they are forged not cast, but you will also pay for the strength and how did you crack wheels heres a pick of a wheel hit at 45mph by a jetta and it didn't even crack it that bad he said it still held air pressure.

 

what offset are you guys running on your aftermarket wheels...I went on a search for 16"s with the factory offset and couldn't find anything that had the factory offset...

the off set on the 2000-2002 2500 16"x8" Factoy Forged Aluminum Wheels is 6.25"...

I couldn't find anything on a 16"x8" for our bolt pattern ( 8 on 6.5") with any more than a 4.75"-5" offset...

guess I'll deal with the tires sticking out of the fenders a little or start looking for fender flares...

the only ones that seemed to have the 6 or bigger offset were 18" or bigger wheels...and I don't want bling blings....

 

What is stock backspacing on a '97 4WD? I have the factory chrome steel 16"x6.5" wheels. I'd like to at least go with 7.5" wheels so I could safely run 265's. I do not want to run flares, nor do I want the tires hanging out the side of the truck.

Thanks.

 

go to www.4wheelparts.com they have 16x8 and can probably get you whatever bolt pattern you want

 

What backspacing though?

 

1994-2002 2500 2WD/4WD factory 16x6.5" Steel Wheels: Offset - 4.75"

so if you go with a 16"x8" you will need an offset of 6.25" to keep the stock location.....as I said above, there are none with our bolt pattern and 6 or bigger offset....

 

Yes, 6.25" of backspacing would be necessary if you wanted the stock outside location. However, you'd be putting 100% of the extra width on the inside, which means more rub, and less turning radius because of the rub. I don't think that is an ideal situation. Perhaps a 5.5" backspace would be the ideal, as you'd be splitting the difference.

When I was a few years younger, I was into Jeeps and rockcrawling. With the Cherokee, backspacing was a serious issue. If you had too little, the tires stuck out too far and you were limited on how far you could stuff the tires in the wheel well when flexing. The tires would hit the fenders instead. Too much, and the front tires would rub the lower control arms when turning. The tires would also hit the inner wheel wheels when flexing.