New Tires, What should I do for wheels?

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scrap--metal

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So I bought a new set of 265/75R16 BFGs for my K20, now I need to decide what to mount them on. The picture below shows what the truck is currently sitting on (aftermarket wagon wheels with ancient 235/85R16 tires). I also have a set of stock steel wheels. No matter which set I go with, they will need to be painted or powder coated. White or black? Black will hide dirt (and eventual rust) better, but I think either wheel in white would look good with the red/white paint that's left on the truck. I don't like cleaning wheels though...

What do you guys think I should go with? Pictures to sway my opinion would be appreciated as well.


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SirRobyn0

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I like both the stock and the wagon wheel. Those are actually my 2 favorite wheels for these trucks. What I don't like is when someone sticks some modern looking wheel or an aluminum on, those wheels just look out of place to me, and they don't look like good work wheels.

If you go with the stock wheels I would want to have the factory hub caps to go with it. If you keep the wagon wheels I'd paint them white. I think either would look really, really good on your truck. Which BTW I like your truck quite a bit. I think your canopy goes along nicely with it. That's the one big downfall to me with the softopper I have I can't strap oversized things to the top of it.

I like your truck quite a bit, it has that ready for work or recreation look and I think either wheel fits that look. I think if it were me, if both sets of wheels have some rust, is that I'd take a close look at the bead area of the wheel. A lot of rust and especially pitting can cause a slow leak. If either set have a lot of pitting in the bead area and you can't fix the pitting then I'd use the set with less of that. The set you currently have look to be chrome. As you know you'll need to get the chrome off the wheel in order to paint it. So that's my take anyway.
 

Grit dog

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Well I may be biased….
But definitely white IMO. Although either white or black looks good but gotta have the OE hubcaps imo.


There are other options out there too for steel wheels. US Wheel has a huge selection of 8 lug steel wheels. Albeit far more ‘spensive than if you have a straight clean set that aren’t dented or pitted.
 

Hunter79764

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I think the wagon wheels in White would look best on that truck. If you go with white stock, they need the dog dish. If you go black stock, they can be coverless. You could do black on the wagon wheels, but I think white looks better IMO.
 

TotalyHucked

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I could go either way, I love both stock steelies/caps and wagon wheels. Definitely stick with white. They won't be too hard to clean with the powercoat
 

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My Burb has 265/75R16 on factory steel wheels.
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Shorty81

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White definitely. I like my spokes. But I'm going to buy a set of wide steel rims from Wheel Vintiques, they have hub cap lugs.
 

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scrap--metal

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If you go with the stock wheels I would want to have the factory hub caps to go with it.

but gotta have the OE hubcaps imo.

If you go with white stock, they need the dog dish.

I love both stock steelies/caps

My Burb has 265/75R16 on factory steel wheels.
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I see the consensus is hubcaps if stock steelies are used. Unfortunately I aint got a set of hubcaps. I suppose that steers me towards redoing the wagon wheels. Thanks for the input!
 

scrap--metal

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If you keep the wagon wheels I'd paint them white.

But definitely white IMO

I think the wagon wheels in White would look best on that truck.

Definitely stick with white.

White definitely.
White wagon wheels it is!

I've thought about painting them, but this truck may see Minnesota winter at some point and I'm afraid of some rust working through painted compared to powder coated wheels. They're not bad as far as rust goes, but they're spray painted silver over white and very poorly finished.

I was quoted $125 a wheel to blast and powder coat them white, so $500 plus some tax for the set. That seems pretty reasonable to me. Right???
 

SirRobyn0

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I see the consensus is hubcaps if stock steelies are used. Unfortunately I aint got a set of hubcaps. I suppose that steers me towards redoing the wagon wheels. Thanks for the input!
My truck was missing three of the caps when I got it. I bought a set of 4 well used caps from someone on the forum in 2020 I think and they were cheap and tarnished. All I did was popped the worst of the dents out and polished them up. They now look work truck quality, as in good but not new.
 

SirRobyn0

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White wagon wheels it is!

I've thought about painting them, but this truck may see Minnesota winter at some point and I'm afraid of some rust working through painted compared to powder coated wheels. They're not bad as far as rust goes, but they're spray painted silver over white and very poorly finished.

I was quoted $125 a wheel to blast and powder coat them white, so $500 plus some tax for the set. That seems pretty reasonable to me. Right???
WOW The price of wagon wheels must have gone up a lot in the last 20 years. The last set I bought cost about that much new. But ya, powder coating would sure be the way to go! Gotta share pics once they are done.
 

Old Guy Bill

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I just got the Vision brand from Summit. 17x9 at $92 each.
I went with a tire slightly taller than 33”.
They also offer the Blackrock brand but they’re more expensive.
Both are available in many sizes and offsets.
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Grit dog

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White wagon wheels it is!

I've thought about painting them, but this truck may see Minnesota winter at some point and I'm afraid of some rust working through painted compared to powder coated wheels. They're not bad as far as rust goes, but they're spray painted silver over white and very poorly finished.

I was quoted $125 a wheel to blast and powder coat them white, so $500 plus some tax for the set. That seems pretty reasonable to me. Right???
No, that sounds horrible. You can buy new ones for $125/ea.
 

jjester6000

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So I bought a new set of 265/75R16 BFGs for my K20, now I need to decide what to mount them on. The picture below shows what the truck is currently sitting on (aftermarket wagon wheels with ancient 235/85R16 tires). I also have a set of stock steel wheels. No matter which set I go with, they will need to be painted or powder coated. White or black? Black will hide dirt (and eventual rust) better, but I think either wheel in white would look good with the red/white paint that's left on the truck. I don't like cleaning wheels though...

What do you guys think I should go with? Pictures to sway my opinion would be appreciated as well.


You must be registered for see images attach
Oh man, I need a change of underwear after seeing that picture. The canoe, the topper, the faded paint what's not to love?

I vote white, and if you're going through the trouble of having them power coated, I'd also pay and have them sandblasted beforehand, then you probably won't have to deal with rust any time soon.
(Get some hubcaps too).
 

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