[Caddylack]

As new cars continue to get older and old cars continue to get newer, it's about time we have a fresh discussion on wheels.

We should establish fitment and some general specs for wheels that can be easily acquired for cheap.

Many here on the forum are aware that the 3rd gen Grand Cherokee uses the 5x5 or 5 x 127 pattern. What do we know about offset, backspacing, etc.?

The 3rd gen Durango (2011+) also uses a 5x5 pattern, with several wheel options in the 18-20 inch range.

Some of the Chrysler Pacificas also used 5x5 and had 19" wheels.

Late model Mopar mini-vans used 5x5, but those wheels are very narrow and only built for soccer-momming.

To get us started, here are a couple of Durango wheels that are cheap on Rock Auto:

18" x 8": More Information for VARIOUS MFR 136570001

20" x 8": More Information for VARIOUS MFR 188320001

 

[Z09B4U]

We should establish fitment and some general specs for wheels that can be easily acquired for cheap.

You are suggesting FWD rims that require spacers up to 2 inch in width.

How does this make them cheap?

In many places it is not legal to use spacers for on road use.

 

[Caddylack]

You are suggesting FWD rims that require spacers up to 2 inch in width.

How does this make them cheap?

In many places it is not legal to use spacers for on road use.

I didn't suggest anything. The point of the thread is to figure this stuff out.

The Caravan rims are too small. I haven't checked specs on the Pacifica besides the bolt pattern.

The Durango and Grand Cherokee are my main targets, hence the thread title.

 

[1slow96]

In many places it is not legal to use spacers for on road use.

In the United States, wheel spacers are not currently regulated under the Department of Transportation's current legislation. There are no existing federal laws ...

 

[Marky Dissod]

Spacers or no ...
Even if some ChrysCo wheels use a 5" / 127mm bolt circle, that alone may not equal compatibility.
The wheels' hub register size is the other major design consideration.
There's at least one reason why there are not more Chrysler & GM vehicles sharing wheels.
Wouldn't mind finding out the whys ...

 

[shakenfake]

8 lug trucks have no problem swapping wheels GM and Chrysler.

 

[Z09B4U]

In the United States, wheel spacers are not currently regulated under the Department of Transportation's current legislation. There are no existing federal laws ...

A good cut and paste from a page one google search.

Spacers are not allowed under several states legislation. Easy to search.
States and municipalities in the US are allowed to legislate on motor vehicles.
Same thing in Canada it is provincial authority.

To be clear the legality of wheel adapters at the state and municipality level is harder to research.

8 lug trucks have no problem swapping wheels GM and Chrysler.

That may be linked to the axle supplier. In the "good old days" any eight bolt rim would fit any of the big three. I ran ford ones on my dodge.

 

[Z09B4U]

Back to the original post. One would have to really like the durango wheels to want to pay for a quality solution to their 56mm offset.

Most rims went "deep dish" a long time ago.

 

[1slow96]

Probably more than a few things on my vehicles that may be illegal somewhere. Spacers are common ,and never heard/seen any spacer police. How would they possibly enforce such a silly law ,or justify the reasoning behind it.

 

[shakenfake]

Oh I could see the justification and how they would enforce it. But it is one of those things that is just an inspection point come time for registration or when a cop is just fishing. So stupid.
Some wheel spacers are not safe but mostly they are fine.

@Z09B4U That is a good point.

 

[Caddylack]

I'm sure a few states have made laws against spacers due to local issues. It seems like a pretty difficult thing to get busted for, unless your wheels were sticking out excessively.

With that said, we are car guys. Breaking car laws is what we do.

My car should have emissions equipment and ABS, but they went missing.

 

[Caddylack]

Back to the original post. One would have to really like the durango wheels to want to pay for a quality solution to their 56mm offset.

Most rims went "deep dish" a long time ago.

Fair point.

I wouldn't put these wheels on an Impala, but I know there are folks out there looking for a more modern wheel to replace their 15 inchers.

I know there are guys like @Chicagoareabmx who are interested in cheap aluminum wheels for the track.

Another counterpoint: A handful of brake upgrades, etc. have been passed up due to increased track width. A wheel like this would be a solution.

Remember @GoremanX that the AWD Astro has a completely removable front subframe. The track width is a few inches wider than the B-body, so I never looked into it past that.

 

[Marky Dissod]

... the AWD Astro has a completely removable front subframe.
The track width is a few inches wider than the B-body, so I never looked into it past that.

Can the track width be addressed by using different control arms, or knuckles, or anything like that?

 

[shakenfake]

Yes but that is another big fab project. It would be with the control arms but then you are modifying a whole lot of **** probably.

 

[Caddylack]

Can the track width be addressed by using different control arms, or knuckles, or anything like that?

Yes but that is another big fab project. It would be with the control arms but then you are modifying a whole lot of **** probably.

Yeah, at that point it stops being practical compared to other options.

 

[buickman1]

Considering alot of modern wheels have a positive offset compared to our cars you would need to use a spacer anyway to make it work. Since you can get spacers in different bolt patterns than what is on your vehicle, you could use basically any wheel with a positive offset.

 

[Z09B4U]

never heard/seen any spacer police. How would they possibly enforce such a silly law

State or provincial inspections.
Insurance inspections.
Insurance contracts.

Where I am both the insurance inspection form and the insurance contract ask: Has the vehicle been modified for speed or performance. Everyone should check their policies for this as lawyers may define your modifications differently than you do.

The other investigative route is after a accident. A bicyclist went through a red light and hit a friends stock truck. They impounded the truck to check it for "deficiencies". (none found and totally irrelevant)

A insurance lawyer may go after modifications to shift blame or draw out or deny claims.

 

[Caddylack]

State or provincial inspections.
Insurance inspections.
Insurance contracts.

Where I am both the insurance inspection form and the insurance contract ask: Has the vehicle been modified for speed or performance. Everyone should check their policies for this as lawyers may define your modifications differently than you do.

The other investigative route is after a accident. A bicyclist went through a red light and hit a friends stock truck. They impounded the truck to check it for "deficiencies". (none found and totally irrelevant)

A insurance lawyer may go after modifications to shift blame or draw out or deny claims.

None of these are frequent occurrences.

Possible, yes. But show me an actual case of somebody getting busted for spacers, and then we can talk.

 

[shakenfake]

What? State inspections happen once a year every year. Same with insurance contracts, albeit everyone lies let's be real here. Even Karen with a 50% window tint she got on her front side windows lies about her car being unmodified.

Now insurance inspections those are pretty rare.

 

[buickman1]

Where I am both the insurance inspection form and the insurance contract ask: Has the vehicle been modified for speed or performance. Everyone should check their policies for this as lawyers may define your modifications differently than you do.

And you know the insurance lawyers are not on your side.