Alcoa Wheel info and questions (offset, valve stems, etc.)
Posted: March 26th, 2021, 12:22 pm
Hi folks,
It's time for new tires on my Chinook and I'm considering moving to Alcoa aluminum rims.
The Alcoa rims that matched our original Ford wheels are no longer made (they stopped around 2016 or so), and the newer Alcoa rims that are available have a larger offset than the matching ones did. I run stock on everything (wheel and tire wise anyway). 2WD, 16" stock sized tires, etc. [Edited to add: But I do have a complete 2014 front end with the bigger brakes and improved suspension components]
I understand offset by the book, but it seems like with vehicles there can be things that show up when actually installing that aren't obvious just by book numbers. Since I will need to have the valve stem holes drilled out to fit my extended stems, there won't be any "returning" them once I try them out. So...
The stock offset (which was the same on the discontinued Alcoa rims) was 5.15"
The offset on the currently available Alcoa rims is 5.40"
If I'm envisioning this correctly, the front wheel/tire would thus sit about 1/4" inward of where they are now, and the rear (outer) ones would sit about 1/4" outward of where they are now (inner rim stays steelie).
A note: I have the 2014 front end with the bigger brakes and other larger components. I'm not sure if that means that a front wheel with more offset could be more problematic than with the earlier front end?
More offset wouldn't be my choice on the rear as the stock offset is already kind of "sticky outy" as compared to the fiberglass body, but what can you do.
Has anyone installed these? Any issues? Anyone with the 2009-up front end?
Also, for anyone who had the rims drilled out to fit the Tireman/Borg extended valve stems, where did you have that done. Machine shop? Tips?
Thanks,
BG
PS: For reference.
Original size Alcoa rims for our E-350 21-ers were part numbers 160241 (front) and 160242 (rear) These were 5.15" offset.
Currently available Alcoa rims for our E-350 are part numbers 160281 (front) and 160282 (rear). These have 5.40" offset.
It's time for new tires on my Chinook and I'm considering moving to Alcoa aluminum rims.
The Alcoa rims that matched our original Ford wheels are no longer made (they stopped around 2016 or so), and the newer Alcoa rims that are available have a larger offset than the matching ones did. I run stock on everything (wheel and tire wise anyway). 2WD, 16" stock sized tires, etc. [Edited to add: But I do have a complete 2014 front end with the bigger brakes and improved suspension components]
I understand offset by the book, but it seems like with vehicles there can be things that show up when actually installing that aren't obvious just by book numbers. Since I will need to have the valve stem holes drilled out to fit my extended stems, there won't be any "returning" them once I try them out. So...
The stock offset (which was the same on the discontinued Alcoa rims) was 5.15"
The offset on the currently available Alcoa rims is 5.40"
If I'm envisioning this correctly, the front wheel/tire would thus sit about 1/4" inward of where they are now, and the rear (outer) ones would sit about 1/4" outward of where they are now (inner rim stays steelie).
A note: I have the 2014 front end with the bigger brakes and other larger components. I'm not sure if that means that a front wheel with more offset could be more problematic than with the earlier front end?
More offset wouldn't be my choice on the rear as the stock offset is already kind of "sticky outy" as compared to the fiberglass body, but what can you do.
Has anyone installed these? Any issues? Anyone with the 2009-up front end?
Also, for anyone who had the rims drilled out to fit the Tireman/Borg extended valve stems, where did you have that done. Machine shop? Tips?
Thanks,
BG
PS: For reference.
Original size Alcoa rims for our E-350 21-ers were part numbers 160241 (front) and 160242 (rear) These were 5.15" offset.
Currently available Alcoa rims for our E-350 are part numbers 160281 (front) and 160282 (rear). These have 5.40" offset.