Wheels

[jojobafanzi]

I am looking to replace the tires and wheels on my 2017 Roadtrek 170V. Tires are aging out and I am looking at rims that may be easier to clean. I really don't know much about wheels so I'm here for advice. I'm fine with keeping the factory size tire 245/75 r16. My bolt pattern is 8 x 6.5" and current RT wheel is 16 x 7. As far as style , I like the look and cleanability of the American Racing AR 172 Baja. Any suggestions on brands I should choose or avoid would be appreciated. Any feedback on Width of rim and offset, ect would be greatly appreciated. Joe

[booster]

Originally Posted by jojobafanzi

I am looking to replace the tires and wheels on my 2017 Roadtrek 170V. Tires are aging out and I am looking at rims that may be easier to clean. I really don't know much about wheels so I'm here for advice. I'm fine with keeping the factory size tire 245/75 r16. My bolt pattern is 8 x 6.5" and current RT wheel is 16 x 7. As far as style , I like the look and cleanability of the American Racing AR 172 Baja. Any suggestions on brands I should choose or avoid would be appreciated. Any feedback on Width of rim and offset, ect would be greatly appreciated. Joe

The easiest is to just buy the Chevy stock steel wheels for the Chevy. You can get them used and lot of places or in junk yards. They will not be very expensive if you find the right place to get them, probably under $50 each. You need the Chevy center covers also, and those can be found on ebay for reasonable pricing for a full set. That is all you need unless you want more bling the the stock silver painted wheel gives.


If you want even easier cleaning, you can get some "wheelskins" chrome wheel covers and use them with the same hub covers as on the plain wheels. Cleaning is very easy as you can just pop them off and soak them in the laundry tub. We have had them for years, and will miss them now that we are changing wheels to get into different tire diameter.


The major advantage of the steel wheels is that you will be back to the stock wheel offset of +28 mm instead of the AR wheel -6mm that moves them outboard nearly 1 3/8" and can affect handling and bearing life.

[jojobafanzi]

Originally Posted by booster

The easiest is to just buy the Chevy stock steel wheels for the Chevy. You can get them used and lot of places or in junk yards. They will not be very expensive if you find the right place to get them, probably under $50 each. You need the Chevy center covers also, and those can be found on ebay for reasonable pricing for a full set. That is all you need unless you want more bling the the stock silver painted wheel gives.


If you want even easier cleaning, you can get some "wheelskins" chrome wheel covers and use them with the same hub covers as on the plain wheels. Cleaning is very easy as you can just pop them off and soak them in the laundry tub. We have had them for years, and will miss them now that we are changing wheels to get into different tire diameter.


The major advantage of the steel wheels is that you will be back to the stock wheel offset of +28 mm instead of the AR wheel -6mm that moves them outboard nearly 1 3/8" and can affect handling and bearing life.

I do like Bling

[booster]

Originally Posted by jojobafanzi

I do like Bling

In that case, steel wheels with the Wheelskins may suit you best, especially if you get the chrome hub covers to go with them. Very blingy.



You can see what they look like in the older Roadtrek brochures on their website as that is what Roadtrek used on those wheels in the early Chevy years.

[pasusan]

Originally Posted by booster

In that case, steel wheels with the Wheelskins may suit you best, especially if you get the chrome hub covers to go with them. Very blingy.



You can see what they look like in the older Roadtrek brochures on their website as that is what Roadtrek used on those wheels in the early Chevy years.

Yeah - I was going to say those look just like our wheel covers! Our 2004 Roadtrek wheels still look like new and now I know they're "blingy".

[booster]

Originally Posted by pasusan

Yeah - I was going to say those look just like our wheel covers! Our 2004 Roadtrek wheels still look like new and now I know they're "blingy".

Just for reference, here is a pic of the wheel covers in question.


What are the opinions? Blingy or not blingy?

[AZ ADVenturist]

I have a set (4) of AR aluminum wheels w/ center caps. FREE in Arizona to anyone who wants `em. Come get them - in the Prescott area! Took off our 2002 RT CHEV.190. They are good condition & 'blingy'!

[booster]

Hopefully, the OP will get back and lets us know what he decided to do. The main goal was easier cleaning so it probably could be anything from using will inside blocking adapters to wheelcovers to new wheels.

[jojobafanzi]

I went with American Racing AR172 Baja Wheels polished with Michelin Agilis Cross Climate. Got them yesterday. Have not road tested yet.

[booster]

Originally Posted by jojobafanzi

I went with American Racing AR172 Baja Wheels polished with Michelin Agilis Cross Climate. Got them yesterday. Have not road tested yet.

Those appear to be zero offset wheels which is probably close to what you have if you have the Roadtrek aluminum wheels. Both should be marked with offset on the back to compare.


That said, neither of them would be the correct offset for the Chevies which would be +28mm.


If that is the case you will have same handling feel you had with the old wheels and might, or might not, have felt an improvement with the correct offset, where there are very few wheels to choose from.


In the stock tire size of 245/75/16, if you want Michelin, Agilis Cross Climate is about your only choice except for the Mercedes specific LTX version, or the old school ATX.


I hope if it all works out well for you.

[jojobafanzi]

Originally Posted by booster

Those appear to be zero offset wheels which is probably close to what you have if you have the Roadtrek aluminum wheels. Both should be marked with offset on the back to compare.


That said, neither of them would be the correct offset for the Chevies which would be +28mm.


If that is the case you will have same handling feel you had with the old wheels and might, or might not, have felt an improvement with the correct offset, where there are very few wheels to choose from.


In the stock tire size of 245/75/16, if you want Michelin, Agilis Cross Climate is about your only choice except for the Mercedes specific LTX version, or the old school ATX.


I hope if it all works out well for you.

Yes, 0mm offset. The new rims are 16 x 8 as compared to the roadtrek 16 x 7 wheels that were on the vehicle. Not as much bling as the high polished finish of the original roadtrek wheels but as you mentioned there are not many choices. I have only driven local roads thus far up to 40 mph but will post again when I get up over 70mph. I used the offset calculator to see where the tires would be in the wheel wells as compared to the old wheels. The tire tread is the same width but the offset puts the tire about 1/4" inward which looks about right. The RT170 has the fender flares so the current offset makes the vehicle look right. I'm wondering if the new wheels and moving the generator rearward 2" will require another front end alignment? Also I noticed that the Roadtrek wheels are cast, made in China and required many many lead weights to balance them.

[booster]

Originally Posted by jojobafanzi

Yes, 0mm offset. The new rims are 16 x 8 as compared to the roadtrek 16 x 7 wheels that were on the vehicle. Not as much bling as the high polished finish of the original roadtrek wheels but as you mentioned there are not many choices. I have only driven local roads thus far up to 40 mph but will post again when I get up over 70mph. I used the offset calculator to see where the tires would be in the wheel wells as compared to the old wheels. The tire tread is the same width but the offset puts the tire about 1/4" inward which looks about right. The RT170 has the fender flares so the current offset makes the vehicle look right. I'm wondering if the new wheels and moving the generator rearward 2" will require another front end alignment? Also I noticed that the Roadtrek wheels are cast, made in China and required many many lead weights to balance them.

Your wheels are still a bit over and inch outboard of the stock Chevy wheels, but better than the old wheels which must have been -6mm. I doubt you will have any handling change from that, but may from the tires.

The generator weighs about 150# IIRC and two inches isn't much at all, so I doubt that you would need a new alignment, but driving for a while to check how it drives will tell you more about that.

I would guess that the American Racing wheels also came from China, which is endemic in the aftermarket wheel market. Did you see the wheels before they were mounted? I ask because they make that wheel in two different load capacities and it is always good to check to see if they are the right one and the specs are also correct. I am very in tune that right now as I had bought a "replica" 3500 GMC pickup wheel that should have a rating of at least 3042#, and it showed up with 1150kg rating which is only about 2500#. Looks just like the OEM wheels but obviously lower quality aluminum alloy or process. No way it is really a stock replacement if you want safe.

[jojobafanzi]

Originally Posted by booster

Your wheels are still a bit over and inch outboard of the stock Chevy wheels, but better than the old wheels which must have been -6mm. I doubt you will have any handling change from that, but may from the tires.

The generator weighs about 150# IIRC and two inches isn't much at all, so I doubt that you would need a new alignment, but driving for a while to check how it drives will tell you more about that.

I would guess that the American Racing wheels also came from China, which is endemic in the aftermarket wheel market. Did you see the wheels before they were mounted? I ask because they make that wheel in two different load capacities and it is always good to check to see if they are the right one and the specs are also correct. I am very in tune that right now as I had bought a "replica" 3500 GMC pickup wheel that should have a rating of at least 3042#, and it showed up with 1150kg rating which is only about 2500#. Looks just like the OEM wheels but obviously lower quality aluminum alloy or process. No way it is really a stock replacement if you want safe.

I don't remember looking at the markings on the wheel when I got it. I remember it is supposed to have a rating of 3100 lbs.