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Random thought I had, but does anyone else feel it's time for Ford to update the design of its dual wheels? On the F-350 they've used the same design since about 2005. The F-450 pickup has always used the same 8 hole design except the few years they went to the same wheels as the F-350 from 2011-2014. The SRW trucks get new designs every year. I actually don't have a problem with the look of the F-450 wheels, but a change to 20" wheels from 19.5 on the pickup version would be welcomed by most.
I realize there are way more SRW trucks sold so the cost of re-tooling is more justifiable, but 20 years seems like long enough to change it up a little. Thoughts?
Well the 19.5 vs 20" wheel is a much bigger conversation than cosmetic design. I think the benefits and drawbacks have been beat to death.
as for the cosmetic appearance of the wheels, well, they don't want to be too polarizing. Since aftermarket wheels are pretty popular, the number of customers who would be happy with a design change and who would be pissed off about it are probably equal, so really not much to be gained from a change.
Even on the aftermarket side, there just isn't a wide variety of options for dually wheels. A steel wheel, an Alcoa style, or thick spokes seem to be the only options.
Random thought I had, but does anyone else feel it's time for Ford to update the design of its dual wheels? On the F-350 they've used the same design since about 2005. The F-450 pickup has always used the same 8 hole design except the few years they went to the same wheels as the F-350 from 2011-2014. The SRW trucks get new designs every year. I realize there are way more SRW trucks sold so the cost of re-tooling is more justifiable, but 20 years seems like long enough to change it up a little. Thoughts?
Ford DID change it up a little 25 years ago, with hand holes in the shape of triangles instead of circles or ovals in the aluminum wheels for the F-350 dually.
However those triangular hand hole wheels cracked. Right in the corners of the triangles, where it is presumed that stresses were concentrated. The supplier actually issued a stop sale on this wheel design offered in the aftermarket wheel replacement segment, collecting them from distribution and scrapping them. But Ford did not recall the same wheels sold as OEM. Ford just quietly stopped using them.
Round holes are better at distributing stress. Class 8 semi's all have round holes.
Ford also changed it up a little in the F-450, about 15 years ago, by briefly offering 19.5" aluminum wheels with 10 oval hand holes in the 2009-2010 F-450 pickup with the Harley Davidson package.
Ford's brief dalliance with these wheels was also quickly discontinued, and although I have not read of any cracking occurring with these 10 oval hole wheels, it would seem that having more holes, that are not round, are two physical factors that suggest by appearance a potentially weaker design than a wheel of equivalent material having fewer holes, that are perfectly round.
You can always go after market for different wheels
For sure. Same can be said for the SRW models though and they get frequent re-designs. DRW crowd can't get a black appearance package which wouldn't even require a re-design.
Originally Posted by redford
Even on the aftermarket side, there just isn't a wide variety of options for dually wheels. A steel wheel, an Alcoa style, or thick spokes seem to be the only options.
Ford DID change it up a little 25 years ago, with hand holes in the shape of triangles instead of circles or ovals in the aluminum wheels for the F-350 dually.
However those triangular hand hole wheels cracked. Right in the corners of the triangles, where it is presumed that stresses were concentrated. The supplier actually issued a stop sale on this wheel design offered in the aftermarket wheel replacement segment, collecting them from distribution and scrapping them. But Ford did not recall the same wheels sold as OEM. Ford just quietly stopped using them.
Round holes are better at distributing stress. Class 8 semi's all have round holes.
Ford also changed it up a little in the F-450, about 15 years ago, by briefly offering 19.5" aluminum wheels with 10 oval hand holes in the 2009-2010 F-450 pickup with the Harley Davidson package.
Ford's brief dalliance with these wheels was also quickly discontinued, and although I have not read of any cracking occurring with these 10 oval hole wheels, it would seem that having more holes, that are not round, are two physical factors that suggest by appearance a potentially weaker design than a wheel of equivalent material having fewer holes, that are perfectly round.
I didn't realize there was the cracking issue with the triangle holes. Sharp corners definitely serve as a stress riser compared to a "well rounded" corner or circular hole. My uncle had one of those 2010 HD edition F-450s and I thought those were a nice, tasteful wheel option. Looked really similar to these. 95 HD DBO | American Force Wheels
GM has had a couple different iterations of triangular holes over the last couple years, but with more rounded corners. Now they have rectangles with heavily radius corners. It's not that it can't be done, I just feel like Ford is doing the minimum in this department.
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