Okay, somebody called me last week and got me thinkin'... the new Goodyears and BFG's (and just about everything else) is coming out in 17" sizes.

There's no 17" steel wheels. And not everybody wants to spend $800 apiece for nice aluminum wheels to bash on the rocks.

I can get 17" aluminum wheels all day, in low-rider styles, and in big-truck (8 lug only) styles. But I can't seem to find 'em to fit normal stuff like five-lug Jeep and Ford, or six-lug Chevy and Toyota.

Anybody got a source on 17" steel wheels? I'm thinking about having shells and centers custom made so that we can beadlock 'em up, but so far, I can't even find shells pre-made.

As for the "Go 60 or go home" type of comments, yes, I know 60's are 8-lug--this isn't necessarily for 60's. But even if I can find 17" steel 8-lug wheels, that's a start. So far, no go. And I'm starting to understand why the only guys who have the new 37-whatever-17 tires, are the big-money guys, 'cause they're the only ones who can afford the $800 apiece wheels to go with 'em.

Seems like if you can source the shells that the 8 lug rims use, you will have the hardest part out of the way.

But you know, seems a lot easier to TireLoc a set of 16.5" wheels and you already have a wide assortment of tires already available for them anyway...

Originally posted by DRM
But you know, seems a lot easier to TireLoc a set of 16.5" wheels and you already have a wide assortment of tires already available for them anyway...

Agreed... but this isn't for me personally, it's for my customers. I don't care to run 17" wheels at all; I don't see a need. But the tires are out there (Goodyear and BFG both are making large-ish rockcrawler tires in 17" wheel sizes, as is Mickey T) but the wheel selection, sucks. For my own uses, 15's work just fine. Even neglecting TireLoc setups as an option (spendy!) just tubing a set of 16.5's would work fairly well on an off-road-only rig, too.

I did find that Stockton Wheel will do 17's custom, but they're spendy and long-time-wait items. Looking for something in the sub-$100 range. Already found some sub-$200 US Wheel alloys, but I'm more than a little leery of beating aluminum wheels on the rocks. Seen too many broken.

The new fords come with 17 inch chrome steel wheels, not sure what lug count or pattern but someone is making them. Here's a brochure:
http://billcurrie.com/2001%20Ford%20Brochures/expedition/#group10

The new Rams do also. But they are silver painted.
http://www.daimlerchrysler.ca/CA/02/EN/DODGE/1,,CA-02-EN-DODGE-RAM_PICKUPS-RAM_PICKUP_1500-EXTERIOR-WHEELS,.html

Go here: http://www.wheelvintiques.com/ click on truck wheels and scroll down. They are making chevy rally's in 17 inch. Maybe they could get you their supplier.

Another: http://www.wheelspecialist.co.uk/Products.htm

check thomas register online to find wheel center and wheel shell manufacturers there are a ton of them. Or how about using a 16.5 with inner and outer rockstomper style beadlocksand some sort of ring to center the tire. I know those shells and centers exist as early as 97 ford put 17" steel wheels on F150's but with the 5 on metric bolt pattern.

There are some 140.00 apiece higher quality cast aluminum MT Classic II's running around.

17 x 9 5 on 5.5 with 5" of BS.

Not a bad looking wheel if you like the oversized classic look.

Currie ran a set beadlocked by Champion all last season and never hurt them.

Originally posted by Gordon
Or how about using a 16.5 with inner and outer rockstomper style beadlocksand some sort of ring to center the tire.

Hmmmm... now you're thinking :)

Originally posted by mrblaine
There are some 140.00 apiece higher quality cast aluminum MT Classic II's running around.

17 x 9 5 on 5.5 with 5" of BS.

Not a bad looking wheel if you like the oversized classic look.

Currie ran a set beadlocked by Champion all last season and never hurt them.

I thought they ran Centerline Hellcats???:confused:

Originally posted by Gordon
Or how about using a 16.5 with inner and outer rockstomper style beadlocksand some sort of ring to center the tire. .


that'd be an expensive and heavy solution. outer rockstompers ADD 15 lbs to the wheel(if i remember correctly). both beads locked would add 30 lbs to a wheel(maybe more than that on a 17 in) and cost "lots" at that point i'd buy trailreadys, who already make a 17 inch beadlock.....but when the time comes fior 15 in locks, i'm going with rockstompers......brad