Rims & tires question

4590 Views 18 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Hamish, Mar 29, 2007

gravytrain

Discussion Starter · Feb 22, 2007

Hi! I just got my black slt last week and I want to add some 20" rims on it. I think I'm going with aftermarket since the R/T wheels are hard to find. I've decided on the Boss 328 black chrome rims (after seeing someone else on this site with them--gatorplaya). I have a few questions for you guys since I know practically nothing about rims and tires besides what I've researched tonight.

The available sizes are at: http://www.bossmotorsports.com/custom_chrome_wheels.cfm?id=333

1) Which one (if any) will fit my nitro slt? My dodge dealer told me they were having problems and couldn't guarantee anything with rims other than the R/T ones. I don't want any problems...

2) I'm having a hard time visualizing these black chrome rims on a black slt. Do you think these would look good? Still maintain a professional look? Here's a picture that gatorplaya posted of his with the rims

3) What size tires do I need?

4) Anything else I need to be aware of?

Thanks so much!! I love this site.

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1 - 19 of 19 Posts

NitroWill

· #2 · Feb 22, 2007

gravytrain said:
http://www.bossmotorsports.com/custom_chrome_wheels.cfm?id=333Im having a hard time visualizing these black chrome rims on a black slt. Do you think these would look good? Still maintain a professional look?

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gravytrain

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 22, 2007

Nice! Looks good.

Anyone know the answers to my other questions?

Quiet Lunatic

· #4 · Feb 23, 2007

If you go aftermarket 20" rims they'll probably be 8.5" wide. You have to buy a (some call front wheel drive) high positve offset rim. With wide tires your probably looking for something close to the 25mm to 35mm positive offset range. The more positive offset the more the wheel goes into the car. So you don't want your tires rubbing on the inner wells at a hard full turn. Factory is around 40mm offset but factory rims are only 6" to 7.5" wide. Tire selection would be 255/45/20........ 265/45/20........ 275/45/20.
Let me know if you need something more specific.

gravytrain

Discussion Starter · #5 · Feb 23, 2007

Thanks top gun that helps a lot

Quiet Lunatic

· #6 · Feb 25, 2007

I put 20" Millani Ambrossia's on mine. Put Falken 255/45/20 same size as orginal to keep speed same.

rbnsal

· #7 · Feb 25, 2007

For the black chrome that your interested in, I believe you would need the 5x4.5 bolt pattern. It doesn't look like you would have any other choices. All the off-sets are listed the same (+38 mm).

As far as tire size, 255/45-20's are a nice comfortable ride. You could go up to 265 but I think 275 is pushing the rub threshold.

NitroBilly

· #8 · Feb 26, 2007

rbnsal said:
For the black chrome that your interested in, I believe you would need the 5x4.5 bolt pattern. It doesn't look like you would have any other choices. All the off-sets are listed the same (+38 mm).

As far as tire size, 255/45-20's are a nice comfortable ride. You could go up to 265 but I think 275 is pushing the rub threshold.

I agree just a teeny weeny bit rbnsal, I have 275/40/20 on mine. I live in New York City, and the ride is as smooth as can be. My wheels don't rub at all, but if one gets 275/45/20, THAT would be pushing the threshold.

jgoody

· #9 · Feb 26, 2007

how did you get your photo of your car that big on here

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NitroWill

· #10 · Feb 26, 2007

jgoody said:
how did you get your photo of your car that big on here

If your image is hosted in the gallery here, use the "BB Code" link found below the image.

If you are "attaching" it, it will be that big if the image isnt resized to small - once the viewer clicks on the thumbnail

640x480 is a good size for images for this forum

gatorplaya

· #11 · Feb 26, 2007 (Edited)

2

Wassup, yeah that is my Nitro on the first post, I went with 275/20/45 if I did it in the right order. It's a real smooth ride, hey but I wouldn't do the black chrome with the black....It doesn't set right on my stomach, black chrome is more for like silver... Here are some examples, here's my car and Nitro

With the Black, I'd go all chrome, or the Black and Chrome color rims, not the BLack Chrome. The blackchrome on a black vehicle tends to give the rim a more of a dirty look, rather the clean smooth look. But I did do a lot of research before I got my rims, make sure you pay a lot of attention to the offset and things like that aight.

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NITRO818

· #12 · Feb 27, 2007

I have Concept Neeper Neunzig chrome N188 20x8.5's on mine. The bolt pattern is 5-4.5 / 5-114. I am using 245/50/20 goodyear wranglers. Not sure wich offset I have since I found them from a private party on Recycler.com but the offset was very close to not fitting. The rear was really close to rubbing on the rear suspension arm but it cleared it and they fit great with no rubbing. I also had to have the center of the rims machined out a little in order to fit over the hubs. It was a relief when i found out the tire pressure scensors fit. almost wish I would have gotten 22's but then I think about how the ride would be then I'm happy with my choice again. The 20's look nice and still ride as smooth as the stock 17's in my opinion. If anyone looks into purchasing any concept neepers make sure they fit over your hubs if not you will have to send them to a machining shop. Good luck!

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Hamish

· #13 · Mar 27, 2007

What you guys are saying is if you stick to "stock" 16-17 -or 20 inch tires there are no worries with the speedo or gear changes, am I right? My problem is M&S tires don't cut it in the great white north ,and I don't think there are any true "snow "tires made for the 20 inch wheels "yet" and as I have a set of 16inch off my escape I should be able to use them?

HighVoltageNITRO

· #14 · Mar 27, 2007

Hamish said:
What you guys are saying is if you stick to "stock" 16-17 -or 20 inch tires there are no worries with the speedo or gear changes, am I right? My problem is M&S tires don't cut it in the great white north ,and I don't think there are any true "snow "tires made for the 20 inch wheels "yet" and as I have a set of 16inch off my escape I should be able to use them?

Hamish, you have a SLT with 17" wheels, correct? Why do you want to use Ford wheels on your Nitro? You can get the same width A/T tire in a 17" as you can in a 16". I guess I am missing something. Are the 16" from your escape aftermarket wide wheels, I am trying to understand how this can benefit you?

Hamish

· #15 · Mar 28, 2007

HighVoltageNITRO said:
Hamish, you have a SLT with 17" wheels, correct? Why do you want to use Ford wheels on your Nitro? You can get the same width A/T tire in a 17" as you can in a 16". I guess I am missing something. Are the 16" from your escape aftermarket wide wheels, I am trying to understand how this can benefit you?

No I have a SLT with 20inch tires,but I cannot get "true" snow tires in that size, I have aftermarket 16in(snow tires) tires and wheels off my Escape what I am asking is there any problem with speedo error, or gearing if I install them on the Nitro

HighVoltageNITRO

· #16 · Mar 28, 2007

Got ya! What is the size of your tires from your Escape?

Hamish

· #17 · Mar 28, 2007

HighVoltageNITRO said:
Got ya! What is the size of your tires from your Escape?

Greetings again.sorry for the delay but my steam driven tripe setter is acting up. The tires off the Escape are 235x70x16

HighVoltageNITRO

· #18 · Mar 28, 2007

Hamish said:
Greetings again.sorry for the delay but my steam driven tripe setter is acting up. The tires off the Escape are 235x70x16

Stock 16" wheels for the Nitro are P245/70R16. Your tires equal -1% of that size tire. That is a very small error. If you wanted, you could get your Dodge dealership to change the tire size on your Nitro and it would be perfect. I think the bolt pattern is the same. This last thing you need to check is to make sure your 16s will fit over the center hubs on the Nitro. There are several owners on here that have said the hubs on the Nitro are larger than standard, which may require you to machine out a small amount of the back center of your 16's. Otherwise, go for it. Take pics and show us what it looks like.

Hamish

· #19 · Mar 29, 2007

HighVoltageNITRO said:
Stock 16" wheels for the Nitro are P245/70R16. Your tires equal -1% of that size tire. That is a very small error. If you wanted, you could get your Dodge dealership to change the tire size on your Nitro and it would be perfect. I think the bolt pattern is the same. This last thing you need to check is to make sure your 16s will fit over the center hubs on the Nitro. There are several owners on here that have said the hubs on the Nitro are larger than standard, which may require you to machine out a small amount of the back center of your 16's. Otherwise, go for it. Take pics and show us what it looks like.

Thanks for the input! Will let you know how it works,cheers Hamish

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