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Confusion About Rims...

ETMegabyte

By ETMegabyte
in Tires, Wheels & TPMS

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ETMegabyte Enthusiast

ETMegabyte

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I have a 2003 GMC Sierra 2500HD truck. Right now, it has the stock chromed steel rims on it with LT245/75R-16 tires on it. During the summer it's a secondary car used for towing a small camper, dump runs, and the like. It's all on-road travel, with the occasional dirt road or dirt campground.

 

In the winter, this truck also serves me as a plow truck for myself (and a couple of my neighbors - all non commercial work). I'd like to put a nice set of studded tires on it for winter, but am trying to avoid remounting tires twice a year, so my solution is to purchase another set of rims for it, and mount studded tires on them...

 

Now my question...

 

Looking around at used rims, and reading online, I can't seem to find a straight answer on what will actually FIT my truck. Some (many) people say that all 8 lug rims except those that come off of newer Ford trucks will fit, and that even the Ford rims will fit but the backspacing is wrong so it looks stupid. I have also heard mention (with very limited other information about it) that the center hole on the rim needs to be bigger or smaller depending on what truck it's going on...

 

I don't want to spend a bunch of money just to find out they won't fit... So I guess my question is for those who know GM trucks... What (if any) limitations do I have for purchasing rims for my truck? Can I put rims off a Dodge, older or newer Ford, older Chevy, brand new Chevy? etc... Are there any special measurements I should be sure of when looking at the rims?

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

-Ericf

rgv Enthusiast

rgv

Posted
Posted
I have a 2003 GMC Sierra 2500HD truck. Right now, it has the stock chromed steel rims on it with LT245/75R-16 tires on it. During the summer it's a secondary car used for towing a small camper, dump runs, and the like. It's all on-road travel, with the occasional dirt road or dirt campground.

 

In the winter, this truck also serves me as a plow truck for myself (and a couple of my neighbors - all non commercial work). I'd like to put a nice set of studded tires on it for winter, but am trying to avoid remounting tires twice a year, so my solution is to purchase another set of rims for it, and mount studded tires on them...

 

Now my question...

 

Looking around at used rims, and reading online, I can't seem to find a straight answer on what will actually FIT my truck. Some (many) people say that all 8 lug rims except those that come off of newer Ford trucks will fit, and that even the Ford rims will fit but the backspacing is wrong so it looks stupid. I have also heard mention (with very limited other information about it) that the center hole on the rim needs to be bigger or smaller depending on what truck it's going on...

 

I don't want to spend a bunch of money just to find out they won't fit... So I guess my question is for those who know GM trucks... What (if any) limitations do I have for purchasing rims for my truck? Can I put rims off a Dodge, older or newer Ford, older Chevy, brand new Chevy? etc... Are there any special measurements I should be sure of when looking at the rims?

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

-Ericf

 

 

GM 8 lug wheels from 1999 to 2010 will have the correct hub diameter and backspacing. Actually I'm pretty sure 1988-1998 will fit as well.

 

It's not like they are rare, heck if I wasn;t on the other side of the continent I'd give you some.

 

Dodge up to current will fit but the hub is too big and won't be supported, same with Ford up to 1999. The manufacturers all design the wheel and hub to ride and center on the hub, not the lugs. Stick with wheels made for the GM small hub.

ETMegabyte Enthusiast

ETMegabyte

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Posted
GM 8 lug wheels from 1999 to 2010 will have the correct hub diameter and backspacing. Actually I'm pretty sure 1988-1998 will fit as well.

 

It's not like they are rare, heck if I wasn;t on the other side of the continent I'd give you some.

 

Dodge up to current will fit but the hub is too big and won't be supported, same with Ford up to 1999. The manufacturers all design the wheel and hub to ride and center on the hub, not the lugs. Stick with wheels made for the GM small hub.

 

I found a guy that has a set off of a '99 Suburban 2500... Now if I could just get him to get back to me!

 

Shame on the center hub size. I was afraid of that... Found a set of Dodge rims that are in nice shape, and the price is right... Ah well...

 

It is too bad you're on the other side of the continent... They seem fairly rare here... And I think it's because lots of people swap rims/tires for summer/winter, so a lot of people with 8 lug axles keep two full sets of rims... Or more... *sigh*

 

Anyway, thank you for getting back to me. Saved me the aggravation of buying a set of rims that would have caused me problems later...

 

-Eric

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