Why are truck wheels so fucking awful?

[Nick M3]

It’s approaching tire time, and the steelies that came on my truck are about done. So… Starting to hunt around for wheels. Holy crap the aftermarket is hideous.

This search is complicated by the fact that GM changed from 8x6.5 to 8x180 in 2011, so my choices are a lot more limited. If I’m switching wheels, I’d really like to go to 17” as the 16” tire choices are meaningfully worse and not improving.

So… If anyone sees a set of takeoffs from a 2009-2010 HD truck let me know.

[JST]

Those forged Fuchs don’t fit your truck?

https://www.fuchsfelge.com/en/wheel-...wheel-336.html

[Nick M3]

Originally Posted by JST

Those forged Fuchs don’t fit your truck?

https://www.fuchsfelge.com/en/wheel-...wheel-336.html

I like them, and that was the factory alloy, but they are 16s. Tire choices in 16 are way worse.

In particular, notwithstanding my positive comments about the way that the Michelins currently on the truck drive, the weirdness of the current offerings, combined with how hideously the tires have rotted out in only 5 years, makes me want to go to Continental. But Conti doesn’t offer an all season in 16. They only have it in 17. And I do NOT want an AT tire. BTDT, had to get rid of them due to the noise.

[lip277]

I am looking here for wheels for the Escalade. The OE wheels are chrome and are failing... The chrome is delaminating. So - I get two gifts from that. The wheels look like a mess as well as allow the air to slowly escape out.

So - I am in the market as well. I have been looking at this website and... looking... Not pulled the trigger yet on anything. I am interested in how your search plays out as I am in the truck wheel market also. Or should I say

[Nick M3]

I think these are the best 17” wheels out there: https://www.ebay.com/itm/2007-2010-C...-127632-2357-0

Not as good looking as the Fuchs, but I doubt anything will be.

[JST]

Originally Posted by Nick M3

I think these are the best 17” wheels out there: https://www.ebay.com/itm/2007-2010-C...-127632-2357-0

Not as good looking as the Fuchs, but I doubt anything will be.

Those are nice, but I think TireRack has some decent options, too. Not sure how high quality any of these are.

The Ultra Type 164 is an honest truck wheel. Looks OK in black, has sort of a big rig feel in chrome.

The American Racing AR172 Baja is basically the same look, but maybe a little nicer build quality.

The Method MR704 is pretty simple looking.

But I also like these, as OEM wheels go.

https://www.detroitwheelandtire.com/...293-msm-a.html

[Nick M3]

So the problem is that none of those wheels is really what I’d call acceptable looking to me.

But it’s not just how they look. The offsets and widths are not great either.

The AR172 is almost OK, but I’m not spending a thousand bucks on that.

[Terri Kennedy]

Originally Posted by Nick M3

So the problem is that none of those wheels is really what I’d call acceptable looking to me.

Take a look at what Wheel Collision has in stock for used wheels. They're more expensive than eBay / Craigslist / etc. but you get a guarantee that they're straight and a lifetime guarantee against defects.

You can also buy un-drilled wheels from them and have them drill any bolt pattern you want, but that gets expensive fast.

[John V]

I did a quick car-part.com search and the P25-option wheels aren't bad looking. They're 17x7.5 so they will fit good LRE tires.



The hard part, I suspect, will be finding four that are in decent condition. The coating / paint that GM puts on their aluminum wheels seems to be shit quality.

[Nick M3]

Originally Posted by John V

I did a quick car-part.com search and the P25-option wheels aren't bad looking. They're 17x7.5 so they will fit good LRE tires.



The hard part, I suspect, will be finding four that are in decent condition. The coating / paint that GM puts on their aluminum wheels seems to be shit quality.

I think that it's basically impossible for polished and cleared wheels to have a durable finish. I'm not averse blasting and spray bombing silver if it makes sense (aka the wheels are cheap enough).

Edit: (Also, those are what I linked to on eBay above.)