Question about Alcoa Hot Shots on a 3500

[c5dura]

Looks like the backspacing is 8.130 inches and the offset is 5.150 inches.

I'm currently running 235s on stock rims and the spacing is a little tight in the rear under load.

Can I run 255s if I get a full set of 6 hot shots, or is the offset the same as the factory wheels.

If so, will I be able to run spacers in the rear like I can with the stock steel wheels?

Also, is it possible to polish the back side of each rim so that I can properly rotate all 6 tires without having to move tires from wheel to wheel? (since the part number is different for the front and rears, I assume it is because only the 'outside' is polished from the factory)

[mdrag]

c5dura,

I'll answer what I can of your questions. The Hotshots were designed to use the OEM tire width - 215 :( and will likely be just as tight/tighter with the 235's....

IIRC, the hub thickness on the aluminum Hotshots will be too thick to run both inner/outer duals - unless you find longer studs...Then another problem crops up - if you mount a Hotshot on the inner dual, the hubcentric mounting lip will not be wide enough to provide support for the outer dual :( :(

[c5dura]

I was afraid of that... :( :(

I guess my only option then is to keep the steel inner wheels, get 2" spacers, and then get a set of 4 Hot Shots.

That should allow me to run 255/85s since they can be mounted on 6.5" rims.

[mdrag]

c5dura,

You may want to read this post (http://forum.thedieselpage.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=14;t=000086) by Darrick Sweeden of SOUTHWEST WHEEL (http://www.southwestwheel.com):


This is a common question and the answer is one that most do not want to hear. When Chevrolet redesigned the new 16"x6.5" dual wheel for 2001-current trucks, I had the privilege of working with a GM engineer and Alcoa. I was told they designed the wheel to run no tire larger than an LT215. Their goal was to create less bulge on the tire. They did this by designing a 16"x6.5" rim width, basically .5" wider than a traditional dual wheel. Most would think you could run a wider tire, but they then pushed in the offset and changed the curvature of the wheel. Now to answer your question on the spacer, this is a bad idea. The modern dual wheel is a hub piloted system, meaning the entire weight of the vehicle rest on the center bore. The purpose of the swiveling flange nut is to create a large amount of pressure on the two flat faced wheels against the hub. This allows all the pressure of the wheel to return to the center bore. If you allow an object between the dual wheels you increase the chance dramatically of vibration or stud breakage and you will automatically void your warranty. If you run the larger tire without the use of a spacer, the tires will rub together creating heat and increase the chance of "blow outs". So for the purpose of this discussion by increasing the size of tire you reduce the overall performance and weight carrying capacity of the truck using a 16" wheel.

Modern steel wheel manufacturers can not justify a cost to produce a wheel with a different offset. One reason is the ability to produce enough volume for the tooling and the second is the liability of re-engineering the wheel. Your alternative is to move away from the 16" wheel, but finding a wheel with the correct center bore and offsets will be hard to do. Alcoa Wheels will be producing a 19.5" version wheel that will directly fit on the new Chevy/GM trucks in the coming year. Southwest Wheel

mdrag

[c5dura]

Thanks for the link mdrag.

Not exactly what I wanted to hear, but based on this new information, I think I'll just get another set of 235s and run another year or two on those.

Maybe some 7" steel wheels will come along one day with the proper offset to allow running 255s or even 265s without the need for spacers.