Replacing J20 16.5" wheels

[HOOT]

I have a 1981 J20..Will a 15" or16" wheel work? Or does it need a 17" to clear disc brakes?I'm about ready for new tires and want to get away from the slim selection of 16.5" tires..Besides i want alloy wheels..Which is another question... If I go to alum how much does this affect the load carrying capabilities?. It's a 8600 gvwr..

[ August 22, 2003, 04:07 PM: Message edited by: HOOT ]

[Glenn_tx]

I've got 16x10's on my J20 front axle, clears fine, don't know about 15's though.

You can get aluminum rims that are rated to carry as much as you need upwards of 3k lbs. Alot of them though are rated lower so check the fine print. I have a set of 16.5x9.75 rims with 33/12.50's on my F350 that are rated around 3k lbs. per wheel/tire, I think the same rim in 16x10 though is only rated at 2200 or something. It's been about 2 years since I bought them so my memory is fading.

I realize 16.5's aren't as good when running at lower psi offroad, but they are sure a lot cheaper than 16's of the same size, something to think about.

[HOOT]

How wide of a tire can go on a stock 16.5" rim?Without a lift and no rubbing? This is not a trail rig but more of a tow rig that gets muddy once in a while..I want to fill up the wheel well but not really hang out past the flares..

[Cecil14]

You should be able to get an aluminum rim rated for whatever you need. You need to get FORGED rims though and NOT cast. Cast aluminum is not that strong for a rim.

Anthony

[HOOT]

OK , How about any info on web sites to do some rim shopping at..Know what back spacing works well with a J20 offhand?
Thanks, HOOT

[ August 23, 2003, 12:03 AM: Message edited by: HOOT ]

[Glenn_tx]

www.4wheelparts.com (http://www.4wheelparts.com)

[Cecil14]

Not sure what backspacing you would need. Depends on what size tires you wanna run. Go to my webpage and look at my truck (link in sig, second picture down on first page). That's a J-10 with 31x10.50s. A J-20 will probably sit a bit higher than that so I would guess 32x11.50s would fill the wheel wells pretty nicely. Get a rim close to stock and you would probably be happy. Maybe one with just a bit less backspacing than stock.

Anthony

[HOOT]

Thanks for the link Glenn..Looks like some good stuff and some good deals on tires.. Looks like i'm gonna stick with the 16.5 steel for now.. Maybe get some show wheels this spring for it..
Cecil, thanks also.. I was out comparing my J10 with 31x10.5's to the J20 with what i think is a 31x9.50..the only numbers on the tire is 9.50x16.5 goodyear wrangler AT.. Load range E.. How much difference is a load range D? HOOT

[Glenn_tx]

Load range D will be fine for a J20. That's what I've run on my last 3 one ton trucks and have overloaded all three at one point or another. The 33" Procomp Mud Terrains on my Ford are D's and are rated at 2910 lbs. per tire. Seems like the E's that came on it new were rated at around 3200 lbs. per tire. D's ride better to boot!

[Cecil14]

Load range E tires will be pretty stiff and like mentioned will not ride as nice as a slightly ligher duty tire. Just make sure that whatever tire you get is rated for the amount of weight you're gonna be hauling. At 2900#/tire that's almost 6000# at each end of the truck, that's far more than the front axle is rated for and I'm pretty sure more than the D60 in the back as well.

Good luck,
Anthony

[HOOT]

Thanks alot.. I've lined up a couple of sets of rims and tires..Gonna get them all and have 2 set ups for the truck.. One for when i do long haul trailering and one for the mud and snow...
Now one more question... How wide can you go with a 6.75" wide rim?? I'd like to find a 33x10.5x16.5 M/T tire for it...