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Old 01-27-2011, 05:51 PM   #41
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Re: Largest Tire Size for Stock 4X2 2002 Ford E250 Van

Thanks Mike. I had no idea wheels had a weight rating. Now if I can just find a bathroom scale large enough to drive my van onto. Do I just go to a truck scale somewhere and have it weighed?

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Old 01-27-2011, 07:07 PM   #42
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Re: Largest Tire Size for Stock 4X2 2002 Ford E250 Van

Yes, wheels have a weight rating. Makes sense, you want stronger wheels on a 10,000# van than you need on 5000# sedan.

Here's a thread with some ideas of where to get a weight:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1134

Even paying a commercial scale to weigh (if possible each corner) isn't too bad.

Mike
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Old 02-10-2011, 02:55 AM   #43
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Re: Largest Tire Size for Stock 4X2 2002 Ford E250 Van

I would like to get the largest tires possible but with wheels that would be compatible with whatever 4x4 conversion I choose to do later. That most likely means 17" or larger, 8 lug x 170mm bolt pattern, i.e. compatible with the F-350 front axle most conversions are based on, as opposed to the stock 16"x7", 8 lug x 6.5" bolt pattern, +6mm offset (offset from Discount Tire data, all data should apply to at least 92-08 E-250, E-350 vans). I realize the tires for those wheels would have to be compatible with the stock 4x2, no-lift configuration but might be worn out anyway by the time I go (if ever) with 4x4.

The main question I have is about wheel adapters. On the rear this should be no problem since, for example, SteveInLA's Quad Van conversion (on this thread) uses 18"x8.5, 8 lug x 170mm bolt pattern, +12mm offset wheels with wheel adapters on the rear. Somewhere I think I read these adapters are 3". But does anyone know if wheel adapters, which have to be at least 2" thick, will work on the front? It's all about offset. If I would have to go to a larger offset to make up for the wheel adapters thickness (2" = 51mm!) to bring the front wheels back inboard, and I wanted all five wheels the same, it seems like a nightmare of unknowns is created. Has anyone done something like this?
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Old 02-10-2011, 09:35 AM   #44
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Re: Largest Tire Size for Stock 4X2 2002 Ford E250 Van

You can go with adapters as narrow as 1" on the front, if you take a cut-off wheel or Dremmel to the studs.
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Old 02-10-2011, 02:00 PM   #45
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Re: Largest Tire Size for Stock 4X2 2002 Ford E250 Van

Quote:
Originally Posted by carringb
You can go with adapters as narrow as 1" on the front, if you take a cut-off wheel or Dremmel to the studs.
Here is a quote from a place that makes custom adapters (http://www.skulte.com):
Quote:
We custom machine 2 piece wheel adapters to change the number of studs. The first half will bolt to your hub, and is thick enough that the studs are entirely inside the adapter. The second half is precision machined, pinned, and bolted to mate exactly to the first half, so there are no high-speed vibrations, and has the wheel's number of bolts. We usually machine these adapters 1.75-2" thick, but they can be machined as thin as 1.375". They would then have a 3/4" thick inner piece with a 5/8" thick outer piece, and require cutting the wheel studs flush with the inner piece.
When you think of how thin each half of the adapter would have to be to end up 1" total thickness, it seems questionable. Spacers, yeah, but adapters? Have you done this?
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Old 02-10-2011, 02:15 PM   #46
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Re: Largest Tire Size for Stock 4X2 2002 Ford E250 Van

Not to get too far off topic regarding wheel adapters, but I have been doing some research and I have only been able to find aluminum adapters. I'm a little concerned about aluminum on such heavy vehicles. Are these concerns valid? Has anyone sourced steel wheel adapters?

Thanks,
Brent
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Old 02-10-2011, 04:14 PM   #47
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Re: Largest Tire Size for Stock 4X2 2002 Ford E250 Van

I understand your concern about aluminum, but consider they are thicker and stronger than the aluminum wheels most of us run with.

I've had aluminum spacer/adapters on the back of my van for about 70,000 miles. Never even had to tighten them up.

Mike
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Old 02-12-2011, 01:20 PM   #48
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Re: Largest Tire Size for Stock 4X2 2002 Ford E250 Van

Quote:
Originally Posted by vwteleman
Not to get too far off topic regarding wheel adapters, but I have been doing some research and I have only been able to find aluminum adapters. I'm a little concerned about aluminum on such heavy vehicles. Are these concerns valid? Has anyone sourced steel wheel adapters?

Thanks,
Brent
Large trucks and trailers usually have alumminum hubs, the material is up to the job as long as it is the correct grade. I've always thought that steel and aluminum should not be placed together because of electrolicis, but those hubs have steel studs and bearing races pressed into them as well as steel brake drums touching them and the alumminun seems to hold up fine.

Lead Doggy has steel adapters on his van.
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