17" wheel options

[85_Ranger4x4]

Eventually I want to run something like a 32-33" tire on my Ranger. Right now I have a like new set of BFG MT KM1's with the Jeep Rubicon pattern in 255/75-17 on my 2002 F-150. They are a great tire but don't get around the greatest in snow, so I was thinking rather than buy a brand new set of 15" tires for a truck that only gets driven a couple months out of the year (and never street driven in snow), I would get better tires for my '150 and put the BFG's on the Ranger.

The snag is new rims are not much if any cheaper than a new set of tires.

What OEM wheels fit a '85 4x4 Ranger with few to no mods? I see the Explorer has a couple different wheels that are 17", Rubi's do too but they seem to think they are worth a small fortune and for some reason always have new tires on them. I dunno how any of them fit for backspace though.

I still have the 16's with "ok" tires for the '150, so I could just get adaptors for the '150 17's and drill holes in two hubcaps too...

 

[backroad101]

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/wheel_fitment.html

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/wheel_fitment.html

I already looked at that, it shows the 17" Explorer wheels but says nothing about backspace or how they fit on an older Ranger.

I am trying to stay with a truckier wheel so the Mustang ones are out.

 

[backroad101]

I bought some 17" Lincoln Aviator wheels and the offset was way off (+44 compared to the Rangers +12) With a tire, they rubbed the upper control arms. Would definatly have to run a spacer, which i was not comfortable with. Would assume the 02 and up Explorers would be the same. So decided to go with 17" Mustang wheels

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I bought some 17" Lincoln Aviator wheels and the offset was way off (+44 compared to the Rangers +12) With a tire, they rubbed the upper control arms. Would definatly have to run a spacer, which i was not comfortable with. Would assume the 02 and up Explorers would be the same. So decided to go with 17" Mustang wheels

That is what I was afraid of with them. If I am going to do that I might as well skip buying rims and just get adaptors for my F-150 rims... and I am not really big on that either.

I can't even get the boring black rims with a respectable backspacing. After looking at that article some more, the 'Stang ones on Zmans truck could grow on me. Kinda wonder how they will fit on a 4x4 with lockouts though...

Anybody tried late model Jeep or Escape 17's?

 

[backroad101]

The 17's Zman has are the exact wheels I got. They were also machine finished but the clearcoat was not that great so I stripped then and painted them silver. Just have to cut holes for the front 2 centercaps, do any touch up necessary, clearcoat them and buy/mount tires. Prob going with either a 245/65R17 (have one mounted for test fit purposes) or a 255/60R17 (what TireRack recommends) This will be prob in April but i will post pics.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The 17's Zman has are the exact wheels I got. They were also machine finished but the clearcoat was not that great so I stripped then and painted them silver. Just have to cut holes for the front 2 centercaps, do any touch up necessary, clearcoat them and buy/mount tires. Prob going with either a 245/65R17 (have one mounted for test fit purposes) or a 255/60R17 (what TireRack recommends) This will be prob in April but i will post pics.

I kinda wonder how the rims themselves will interact with my '85's manual lockouts though. The 98+ trucks came with some wheels from the factory that wouldn't fit on the 83-97 4x4's.

You don't have a big tube sticking out of the center of your wheel with a knob on it...

 

[Diesel Ranger]

Thats what i was going to say, be careful of that diameter of the whole in the center........

You don't want to drop money into some nice wheels and find out that they won't fit over your hubs.............

 

[backroad101]

I have a 99 so mine fit perfectly over the 4wd hubs (other than putting a hole in the front centercaps)

Before I drove out to get both the Aviator and Mustang wheels I had the people measure the center hole for me. 2-3/4s I believe.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Another option is Charger rims. I despise black rims with a vengance, sandblast and grey paint and they might work.

Trying work out the color scheme though... my truck kinda favors shiny things.

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=96675&highlight=backspacing