Lowered Trucks on 6-Lug Wheels?

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wiscomick

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Hey guys. Question for you all.

I'm likely going to be pulling the lift off my 97 C2500 6-lug truck and lowering it. Problem is, most of the 6-lug wheel options that I see out there look like garbage on the OBS trucks. Too modern, flush faces, ugly designs. Very little out there that has a classic look. Also, most of the 6-lug stuff has more of an off-road look.

I currently run 17" KMC beadlocks, but I don't feel like they're going to be a good look with a smaller street tire.

For those of you with lowered 6 lug trucks, what wheels are you running? Can you post some pics?

Pic is the truck currently. Thanks!

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someotherguy

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Modern wheel design trends have left these trucks behind, sadly. You're either gonna find wheels that look like FWD stuff (flat face) that fit OK on GMT800/900/newer, or super wide (also super expensive) stuff that you have to narrow the rear end and tub the bed to fit.

IMO the last company making *good* billet wheels to order that weren't monstrously expensive was Centerline. They cratered a few years ago before filling existing orders, and then licensed their name to a new company selling mostly cast wheels with a few of the classic racing style Centerlines also being offered.

There's a few companies still out there doing custom orders but they seem to be double the price of what Centerlines were. Last set of 22's I ordered from Centerline were going to be $2100 shipped; they never filled the order, it took me months of fighting to get a refund.

Richard
 

wiscomick

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I hear you. It's hard to find something in a 6-lug that looks right. I put up a feeler ad in the wanted section for a set of 16" steelies. At least I could have a backup plan there with a color-matched set of steel wheels with chrome caps and rings. Just doesn't seem to be anything out there for the 6-lug that looks acceptable.
 

someotherguy

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The factory steelies may not have proper backspacing for much lowering. It's been forever since I had a set on hand so I can't recall for sure. I used to run a lowered '94 C2500 6 lug but it had aftermarket wheels when I bought it, and I ordered Centerline 20's for it before lowering it..

Wheel Vintiques has some limited options in steelies; it seems the smaller diameter choices may not have enough backspacing depending on how much you plan to lower. I personally wouldn't want to lower any less than 4/6 or 5/7; that pretty much requires 8-8.5" front with minimum 5" backspacing, up to 10" rear with 6" backspacing. WV has a Corvette-style Rally wheel in 6x5.5 bolt pattern, 17x8 and 17x9, with 5" backspace. They have other sizes too but a 17" is pretty easy to get good size tires for on a dropped truck. (255/50/17 is a 27" tall tire common on B-body Impala SS for example, good variety of choices still out there.)

Richard
 

99bluetahoe

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Im running 20x8.5 Black Rhino Pondora wheels with +45 offset in the front and +30 in the rear to help eliminate the front wheels sticking out too much on the my lowered 4wd tahoe.

Rear wheels in the picture are 20x8.5 Boss 330s. I hadnt swapped the pondoras on the rear yet. Tire size is 295/45R20.
 

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98chevy2500SS

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I'd honestly put some 6 lug 15x8 aluminums or steelies on it with some 275/60r15's, it'd look killer on your truck.
 

Lu Blunt

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I have a 1996 c2500 6 lug lowered 4/6 on ridetech coilovers. Yea the 6 lug wheel options are limited, most styles are 4x4 offroad wheels. I’ve been running a set of kmc 20x8.5 +15mm offset for about ten years. I don’t think kmc still makes this wheel or anything similar. Everywhere I look they’re discontinued/out of stock. I also have been considering swapping front rotors and re drilling the rear for 5 lug. The kmc beadlock you have now look good with the lift, but I agree they’re not lowered/street style wheels.

First pic is my truck with the kmc wheels. Second and third pics are American racing wheels. They make a few 6 lug cast wheels but I’m not sure what styles are still available. REV wheels by Holley makes some 6 lug options but will most likely need a spacer since the high offset is for 4wd. You could get custom forged wheels, whatever style, offset, and lug pattern you want but they’ll be around $1000 per wheel vs $300-$400 for cast wheels. I don’t want to get custom wheels untill I do the wilwood 5 lug big brake upgrade but it’s pricey so I’m in no hurry. Weld wheels makes a model called Ventura 6. They’re around $500 each but weigh half what a cast wheel does. Not sure how well they’ll hold up to daily driving. Personally I’m torn between the welds or swapping to 5 lug.

As for wheel width and offset. The 20x8.5 +15mm is alittle too inset for the front. Even with the drop spindles that widen track width the tires still rub the inside of the inner fender on big bumps. After some research it looks like +0 offset 4.5” back space with 20x8 wheel and 28” tall tire is ideal for the front for most 4/6 lowered c1500 guys.


For the rear, with the factory 2wd 6 lug 14bolt sf, the 20x8.5 +15mm offset is minimum offset that’ll fit. I had to roll the rear fender lips to prevent tire rubbing. After some measuring I think a 20x9.5 with a higher offset like +30ish would fit without rubbing the inner wheel well. Id prefer to keep the bed stock vs custom tubs for bigger wheels.

On a side note I’d like to find out if 15” wheels fit over the 14 bolt sf 6 lug drum brakes. Sry for the long the response lol. Hopefully you find some of the info helpful
 

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