What Do You Guys Think?

[NDL]

I have a newer Ford Ranger, with the stock steel wheels. A friend of mine just pulled off new five spoke aluminum wheels, off his new Jeep Wrangler. I can get the wheels/tires cheap. Thing is, do you think Jeep wheels would look stupid on my truck? Would you take them?

[ocnblu]

You decide if they'll look good, but first you have to make sure the bolt circle is the same. Will they fit your hubs? Will they rub your bodywork anywhere, over bumps, in turns?

[NDL]

Thanks for the tips blu! Actually the wheels are identical in size, while the tires are the same width, although the aspect ratio is 75, versus the 70's on the truck right now. They should only knock the speedometer a mile or two off, right? (which wouldn't usually be a problem - although the speedometer is already 3-4 mph off).

Thing is, they're Jeep wheels. Maybe I am taking this overboard, but I think Jeep accessories might look stupid on my Ford. That's the main issue. (Then again, I am anal about these types of things...I always like to keep things stock)

[ocnblu]

If you're not sure, you can go online and compare the bolt circle measurements between the Jeep and your Ford.

[NDL]

Thanks blu, for your helpful suggestions! After giving it thought, I am leaning towards sticking with what I have.

33 views, and only two replies...hmm

[Sixty8panther]

Right. If the bolt pattern is not the same (moer than likely)

than you're wasting your time weighing the variables.

If they bolt up take a short drive and have a buddy spot

you in a parking lot, check for rub & the overall look. For

all you know they're not going to fit anyway.

If ALL these varaibles work out then do as you wish, it's

not for anyone else to decide. maybe they'll look great and

maybe they'll look lame, who knows?

A few years ago I almost bought a 1986 Pontiac G/P with

rims off of a S10 eXtreme, for some reason I loved the way

it looked, the car was two tone burgundy and the rims were

aluminum w/ the gold detailing. Even though on paper that

sounds like a horrble idea I liked it. Too bad it was a 305

powered car with high milage & he wantd too much $.

(are T-tops rare on late-80s G-body G/Ps?)

[aaaantoine]

Thanks for the tips blu! Actually the wheels are identical in size, while the tires are the same width, although the aspect ratio is 75, versus the 70's on the truck right now. They should only knock the speedometer a mile or two off, right? (which wouldn't usually be a problem - although the speedometer is already 3-4 mph off).

On that note, what has to be done to recalibrate the speedometer when the wheel size changes? This is something that's irked me for as long as I've been driving.

[NDL]

Thanks to all, for your input...After weighing it out, it doesn't seem like it's worth the hassle. I'll probably still pick up the tires/wheels, but I might see if a local junkie wants to do a swap (for Ford wheels).

Thanks again for your help, for you all brought up things I wouldn't have considered!

[Satty]

Or do what a guy I used to work with did when he had to replace the 15inch wheels on his Avenger with 14inchers off of a Celica, keep driving by mobile radar units, see what your speedo says and see what the radar says. From that you can get a decent idea of how far off you are. Or not.

Edited February 7, 2007 by Satty

[Sixty8panther]

When I was a kid I assumed that the rims from my mom's Achieva would swap out

with the steelies w/hubcaps on my Cutlass Cierra. NOT the case. Both cars came

with 3.1 liter V6s, both had five lugs etc... but that's got nothing to do with the lug

pattern as I quickly found out.

Try finding rims that fit my Datsun. I got a full size spare off an old Datsun from the

junkyard but it's not the generic bolt patern that fits Corollas & escorts.

[NDL]

I appreciate the education ...Good thing that I posted this up, otherwise I would've made the mistake of ignoring the differences between wheels (until *after* the fact). Thanks

[Camino LS6]

A change in overall wheel/tire diameter can also cross-up your car's computer if you don't get it re-programed/chipped to deal with the change. With a computer-controlled car you have to be careful about this.

[NDL]

A change in overall wheel/tire diameter can also cross-up your car's computer if you don't get it re-programed/chipped to deal with the change. With a computer-controlled car you have to be careful about this.

Thanks Camino...didn't know about that either. Actually, the speedometer is a good 4 mph off as it is. The speedometer is electronic; any idea about how to correct the difference?

[aaaantoine]

When I was a kid I assumed that the rims from my mom's Achieva would swap out

with the steelies w/hubcaps on my Cutlass Cierra. NOT the case. Both cars came

with 3.1 liter V6s, both had five lugs etc... but that's got nothing to do with the lug

pattern as I quickly found out.

Try finding rims that fit my Datsun. I got a full size spare off an old Datsun from the

junkyard but it's not the generic bolt patern that fits Corollas & escorts.

Yeah, at one point I blew out a tire on my old Achieva in the middle of one of my cross-state road trips, and the donut spare was pure, useless crap.

Fortunately, I had the fantastic luck of being near one of my cousins (in fact, it was a surprise to me at the time). And -- what greater luck -- her husband's a mechanic.

He took me down to the repair shop (pretty late at night so it was locked up) and browsed through the tire yard for a wheel with a matching bolt pattern. He found a Subaru with the same bolt pattern, but the center hole was too small (meanwhile this is the first time I really noticed the existence of such a mechanical feature. And I'm still not quite sure what it's called).

So... We took another trip, back to his house, where he had access to tools. He bored out the center hole until it would fit on the Achieva. After finding a wheel with the right bolt pattern and boring out the hole so that it could be used on the car, I had a wheel that I could drive the rest of the way home on.

In other words, it's a pain in the ass to match wheels to a car. You'd think there'd be a stricter standard for that sort of thing.