New American Racing wheels!

[babblefish]

Just got my new American Racing Torque Thrust II wheels from JEGS today. They're 16x7 with a 4" backspacing, 0.50" more than stock. The offset is "0" and the center bore starts out at 83.06mm for 14mm and then 77mm the rest of the way though. One of the nice things about these wheels is that the center cap is polished aluminum, and not cheap plastic.
Also got McGard wheel locks and metal air valves. Just waiting for the lug nuts.

As for tires, I want Michelin, but can't really afford them right now so will settle on a set of BFG Advantage T/A Sport in a 235/65R16. These have the same outer diameter (28") as the stock tires on the van now, 235/70R15. I did a GPS speed check and with this diameter tire, the speedo is spot on.

I don't know what it is, but getting new wheels and tires is always an exciting thing for me.

Anyone in the San Francisco Bay Area that needs a set of stock 15x6.5" wheels, PM me. They're in good shape with no curb rash and just have some brake dust staining.

[1lowcab]

Awesome, good choice on rims.

Getting new rims is always exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dramey]

Those are some of the better looking wheels I have seen in a while.

[babblefish]

They're patterned after the original American Racing Torque Thrust wheel that was first introduced in 1963. Since I grew up in the 60s and 70s muscle car era, I have a great fondness for the clean simplicity of this wheel.

[chevymaher]

Never let anyone but you put those locks on. I just went through that on a lexus. Somebody over tightened them. It was eating the lock keys trying to get them off. Stripped it off. I had her get a new key it stripped off first wheel. They are a pain to get off without a key to.

[Astrofarian]

Absolutely LOVE the "old school" look of a classic 5-spoke mag wheel. And, EVERYTHING Randy said above about the locking nuts is advice to be heeded but I get the impression that you've been at the car/van thing long enough to already have thought along those lines anyway.
You used the term "stock" tires in reference to 235's; I thought 215 was the "factory-stock" tire size on these things?
I bet you can't WAIT to see these on the van! I know I want to see them! lol...
-M!ke-

[WoodButcher]

What size is the center bore?

[babblefish]

What size is the center bore?

The center bore is stepped. It starts out (from the back side) at 83.06mm(3.27") for 14mm(0.55") deep then becomes 77mm(3.03") the rest of the way through to the front.

[babblefish]

Absolutely LOVE the "old school" look of a classic 5-spoke mag wheel. And, EVERYTHING Randy said above about the locking nuts is advice to be heeded but I get the impression that you've been at the car/van thing long enough to already have thought along those lines anyway.
You used the term "stock" tires in reference to 235's; I thought 215 was the "factory-stock" tire size on these things?
I bet you can't WAIT to see these on the van! I know I want to see them! lol...
-M!ke-

I probably shouldn't have used the term "stock" for the tire size - 235's were a factory (dealer?) option back in 1997 and that's what was on my van when I bought it. It does come up as a "factory option" when looking up tires on TireRack though. Unfortunately, 235/70R15 are no longer available, at least not through TireRack, hence the switch to 16" wheels.

And thanks for the warning about the wheel locks, I'll be sure to remind the installer to use a torque wrench on them rather than an impact driver. Yes, I have tried removing these things without the proper key. Can't remember if I was successful or not, it's been awhile...

Oh yes! I am anxious to see them on my van and will definitely post pictures once on. I need to premount them first to make sure they fit and clear what they need to clear before getting the tires.

[ironhead79]

Awesome, good choice on rims.

Getting new rims is always exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Agreed, your gonna have some smiles per gallon!!!

[WoodButcher]

I'll be sure to remind the installer to use a torque wrench on them rather than an impact driver.

Unless you have a mom n' pop shop you won't likely find an "installer" that knows what a torque wrench is,,,
never mind how to use it.

You go to a big box store where the manager whose qualifications are sleeping at a Holiday Inn one night and the guy changing tires is working his was through school, English as a second language.
And this is what they will use on your new rims,
https://www.amazon.com/Capri-Tools-3008 ... +extension

Who'da thunk it, your installer has been going to night school for three years and he's still colorblind and can't understand English when you ask about the crushed rocker panels and all the lugs being torqued to 140 lbs.

[markmitch]

Nice wheels just curious why you prefer michelin tires? I used to work for a tire shop years back and michelins were known for ripping side walls when removed for flat repairs due to there super soft sidewalls that were originally designed to ride nicer but was a trade off for reliability. Of course that was 20 years ago but personally I would not buy because of that. I like Hercules tires myself. Mark

[AstroWill]

I'll be sure to remind the installer to use a torque wrench on them rather than an impact driver.

:lol:
:poke:
:rofl:
Unless you have a mom n' pop shop you won't likely find an "installer" that knows what a torque wrench is,,,
never mind how to use it.

Even Walmart uses a torque wrench every time when installing wheels.

And this is what they will use on your new rims,
https://www.amazon.com/Capri-Tools-3008 ... 015NI2NP8/

When accurate torque is not applied to bolts and nuts, they wear out quickly and can cause failure. This means losing a wheel or your engine falling apart on the way to work, which can result in devastating consequences.

ROFL, gotta love 'scare tactics', oh nooooz my engine is going to fall apart on the way to work.

[chevymaher]

No actually over tightening stretches the bolt. Past its yield point and into the plastic range. At this point the fastener will no longer return to its original size. It looses its clamping force and continues to stretch. Until it breaks eventually.

That is why rods break in engines they pass the point of return due to the piston changing directions and momentum at high RPM. Then they are fatigued crack and break. The proverbial rod knock that is going to be a thrown rod soon.

That is why on the instructions assembling things it is to a torque range. Where the bolt has maximum clamping force. Not tighten till it strips and back it off a half turn.

I have worked in many garages. Clowns who run their mouth and know it all. Always use the impact to put on tires. Nobody is torquing them unless they are being watched.

Engines don't blow up and wheels never fall off no matter how you do it is the argument here. Think about that.

Now everybody google it and prove this wrong. Because you sure haven't dealt with this stuff with experience if your saying it.

[AstroWill]

No actually over tightening stretches the bolt. Past its yield point and into the plastic range. At this point the fastener will no longer return to its original size. It looses its clamping force and continues to stretch. Until it breaks eventually.

That is why rods break in engines they pass the point of return due to the piston changing directions and momentum at high RPM. Then they are fatigued crack and break. The proverbial rod knock that is going to be a thrown rod soon.

That is why on the instructions assembling things it is to a torque range. Where the bolt has maximum clamping force. Not tighten till it strips and back it off a half turn.

I have worked in many garages. Clowns who run their mouth and know it all. Always use the impact to put on tires. Nobody is torquing them unless they are being watched.

Engines don't blow up and wheels never fall off no matter how you do it is the argument here. Think about that.

Now everybody google it and prove this wrong. Because you sure haven't dealt with this stuff with experience if your saying it.

Was there an argument here?

[chevymaher]

Never know. Always seems to be.

[WoodButcher]

Hey! hey! NO arguments!!!
I'll call a mod

Mom...


I would hope the box stores have gotten better but I don't know.
I saw the guy at sears lift my '97 by the rockers on camera but by the time I could get to him the damage was done.
I would have demanded the tires for free but they were already mine. I was getting tires balanced and swapped onto the truck, asshats.

[AstroWill]

Never know. Always seems to be.

I guess I missed the part where someone disagreed with torquing lug nuts.

Hey! hey! NO arguments!!!
I'll call a mod

Mom...

I would hope the box stores have gotten better but I don't know.
I saw the guy at sears lift my '97 by the rockers on camera but by the time I could get to him the damage was done.
I would have demanded the tires for free but they were already mine. I was getting tires balanced and swapped onto the truck, asshats.

WM uses a torque wrench on my wheels every time I go. Every ~7,000 miles they do it twice, once when they put them on the vehicle after balancing/rotating, and then again after they go do some figure 8s in the lot.

But that is just my personal experience, and one of the reasons I always get my tires mounted at WM even if I buy them elsewhere. The other reason is because they have locations virtually everywhere I travel.

[1lowcab]

Don't use the walmart around here...they will put you rims on with a crescent wrench.
I wouldn't trust a walmart, they tend not to hire the cream of the crop.

[babblefish]

Nice wheels just curious why you prefer michelin tires? I used to work for a tire shop years back and michelins were known for ripping side walls when removed for flat repairs due to there super soft sidewalls that were originally designed to ride nicer but was a trade off for reliability. Of course that was 20 years ago but personally I would not buy because of that. I like Hercules tires myself. Mark

I've been using Michelin for many years and never had a problem with them. I like how quiet they are, their wet and dry weather handling, and the amount of life I get out of them. I've tried Firestone, Goodyear, BFG, and others I can't remember, but prefer the Michelins for all the above reasons. Though not as important for my van, the most important thing for me is how does a tire handle in fast corners and quick transitions under all conditions. I value handling more than tire life, and Michelin is the best out of any other tire I've used. There are different models of Michelin, so maybe some are better than others, I don't know. For my Jeep though, I like BFG All Terrains and their Mud & Snow tires for their durable sidewalls (6-ply) and off-road performance.
I've never heard of Hercules tires before, maybe they're not sold around these parts.