I am looking to get rid of the 16x7 factory steel wheels and get some aluminum wheels. I know the OEM may be the best but I am not made of gold. Even used oem alum wheels are about 3 times what I can get an American Racing new wheel for. So, are these Amer. Racing, the AR23 a decent wheel and the right fit? While I am at it, how about tires? Size is LT245/75R16E. I run about 7500lbs and general get 40k on whatever tire I buy, even the top rated Michelins. Any other good fitting aftermarket wheel that wont make me remortgage the house?

 

I went with American Racing's black wagon wheels, the center caps aren't SS anymore, mine rusted fast after the tire shop scratched them mounting the wheels with the impact wrench.

 

Can't help with the wheel issue but I'm running an E250 weighing 7,800 on Michelin LTX 245/75-R15 E's as well---can get 60K without an issue.

I do run 70psi on all four, rotate them semi-regularly, newly refreshed front suspension and alignment---I'd think 40K miles on a good set of E-rated tires would be minimum life expectancy.

 

I've had 2 sets of Coopers, different tread designed, don't look for more than 34,000 miles before they start to separate, after talking it over with a friend of dads, he deals tires with businesses running fleets of vans, it is common with Cooper's. Anything less than 80 psi, you start seeing wear.

 

why is everyone talking about tire life expectancy? He's asking about wheel options.

I too am interested in different wheels. I lost a hubcap last fall and spent about $40 new at the dealer. Then I lost another one about 3 months later and haven't replace it yet. Then I lost another (3rd) two weeks ago.

So now I have one new, one old, and two missing. Something just feels wrong about spending $80 on two hubcaps; much less knowing the 4th one will be bad soon- that'll make $120 on hubcaps. And with my van at 240,000 miles; gremlins are inevitable. technically; 8 year old hubcaps ARE gremlins.

All that to say; I have been weighing the option of new wheels, or simply cleaning and spray painting the stock wheels/hubs/lug nuts..

 

Because:

See it now?

 

If you live in the rust belt where salt is used on snow, aftermarket wheels like American Racing will corrode within 2 years (been there, done that with American and other brand wheels). Factory wheels seem to do far better with the clearcoat on aluminum wheels. There may be some high end brands like Enkei that will last longer. If you are looking for short term, or if you live down south, something like American wheels may be decent. They are likely cast Chinese wheels, and I would check the weight capacity on the wheels for an E350--it may be disappointing as well.

Even white or black painted steel aftermarket wheels will start rusting at the weld between rim and center within a couple years. I've bought a number of sets of aftermarket wheels and they have always disappointed me in terms of longevity. I know some people in Detroit have taken factory or aftermarket wheels and taken them in for powder coating and that seems to last longer.

Sorry to not be of more help. My '02 E150 has the factory aluminum wheels and they are doing quite well in terms of corrosion (little bit on the rim area where wheel weights trashed the finish).

Good luck,
George

 

I also like the Factory " Turbine" style wheels they offered in the 2000's as a factory option...There are some Aluminium Baja Wheels that I liked, But I forget were I saw them...Summit Racing Maybe ? Not too many options for us....we are like the red Headed Step- Child of he Ford trucks .... Good Luck

 

Yes I see how you and the other guy addressed the minority point while ignoring the majority point of the OP.

See my point now?

 

I have like 10 15- 20 year old Centre Hub caps ....some more dented than others but they all fit...we are talking about the steel wheel Factory Caps correct ?
IF I paid $10 each , that was a lot they were in a big Bin at the entrance to the Junkyard.....I would never pay $ 40 for one of those ....

 

Aluminum also corrodes, care to see my aluminum fuel door that was once shiny, BTW the steel where my van was hit, creasing it, removing all paint, it has light surface rust, not pitted, been this way for 8 years. My wheels haven't rusted, the center caps on the other hand, beating on them with the impact wrench while installing the tires, they look horrible, my trip to Florida, having the salt air on them caused rust immediately. I have had aluminum wheels in the past, they either went dull, requiring polishing, or turning milky.
I see, answer the questions, give NO extra information, let them figure it out on their own, forget the times people are helped with the "extra" information that was not part of the question!

 

If you are talking about moon type, they are great, so long as when you paint your wheel, tape off and do Not paint the portion where they latch on, it causes issues when trying to attach them, and reproduction moon caps are thin Chinese made crap that will dent when pushing on by hand, "never" hit one.

 

I've often wondered how a 265/70-17, 0r there bouts, would fit in the wheel wells.
That would open up a good selection of different style/stock available rims.

 

I don't think any of this is the case. Vans use an 8x6.5" bolt pattern which was used on Ford pickups before 1997 only. Current Ford 8-lug pickups use a 6.69" (170 mm) bolt circle. What stock wheels are you talking about? And the OP is looking at low-buck aftermarket wheels; otherwise he would be best off just using stock aluminum Ford van wheels.

A 31.5" tire will not fit on a van without hitting sheet metal unless the front wheel wells are cut, even with something of a lift.

George

 

Just might fit, barely, just be sure to drive straight, no turns. LoL