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Old 01-07-2015, 07:17 PM   #1
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Wheels and Tires

I have a 2003 E250 2WD Sportsmobile with stock 17 inch wheels and tires. I need to replace the tires and would like to change the look by purchasing all black wheels. Nothing fancy, just plain/yet rugged looking. I don't want to lift the van or anything, just change the look up.

I already read one long thread with many different suggestions on tires, but nothing much on wheels. If anyone has any pics of their wheels and rims and what size you went with, I would appreciate hearing from you.

Thanks!

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Old 01-07-2015, 07:47 PM   #2
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Re: Wheels and Tires

Well, if you don't want to change tire size, you can choose almast every wheel design in the same size/offset of your original ones. But if you buy new wheels, you may consider to install a little larger tires, so you could drive with a lower inflation pressure and get more comfort and traction...
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Old 01-08-2015, 04:11 AM   #3
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Re: Wheels and Tires

Is lower tire pressure advisable?

OneWagon have you considered just painting the stock steel wheels black? That would greatly simplify things and there'd be no fitment issues?!
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Old 01-08-2015, 07:08 AM   #4
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Re: Wheels and Tires

You sure you have 17"? My '03 is "16
Anyway-
viewtopic.php?t=15065
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Old 01-08-2015, 08:47 AM   #5
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Re: Wheels and Tires

Quote:
Originally Posted by REF
You sure you have 17"? My '03 is "16
Anyway-
viewtopic.php?t=15065
Thats what I was thinking..
My 2002 has 16's as well.
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Old 01-09-2015, 07:39 AM   #6
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Re: Wheels and Tires

Stock would have been 16 inch.
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Old 01-09-2015, 10:03 AM   #7
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Re: Wheels and Tires

2 cents on wheel size.

I had to sell two sets of OEM 16" steel wheels with pretty new tires (one set Summer other set Winter) on craigslist for a pretty good loss when I had my van converted to 4x4 because they increase the size of the front brake disc rotors and must correspondingly increase the wheel size to 17" to accomodate the larger rotors when adding the 4x4 front axle.

So, if you do in fact currently have 16" wheels, and if there is any possibility that you may want to convert to 4x4 in the future, you may want to increase your wheel size to 17" now. Michelin is one of the few companies which makes a good tire - LTX M/2 - in the rather odd 17" wheel size. Hercules (Cooper) also makes a studable tire - Trail Digger MT - in 17" wheel size which I run in heavy Winters.

REF's link, however, refers to fitment issues with the stock van height and 17" wheels. So check into that if you are thinking increasing wheel size.

JWA has a point about painting your existing wheels black. There are good paints out there which will likely hold up nearly as well as a factory painted wheel.

My wheels are Ultra Wheel Type 164 polished in 17" (See spec sheet) I have 9 of them. I guess they are good wheels, it was the wheel type chosen by the 4x4 converter. Pick the wheel company first based on others recommendations and then look for a wheel in black.

I would like to hear what BajaSportsmobile and Ujoint recommend for wheels for their respective 4x4 conversions...
Attached Files
File Type: pdf Ultra Wheel Type 164 - specifications.pdf (335.0 KB, 10 views)
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Old 01-09-2015, 10:30 AM   #8
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Re: Wheels and Tires

Quote:
Originally Posted by E350
I would like to hear what BajaSportsmobile and Ujoint recommend for wheels for their respective 4x4 conversions...
Agile's conversion does not require a wheel change.. Stock 16" rims still fit.
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Old 01-09-2015, 08:26 PM   #9
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Wheels and Tires

You can also either Plastidip or powder coat your wheels for pretty cheap if you want to save some $$
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Old 01-10-2015, 03:13 AM   #10
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Re: Wheels and Tires

I found buying new wheels was less hassle and more cost effective than powder coating the wheels on my van. Went through that dilemma last month.
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