SUMMER STREET SHOES!

[OnTheReel]

Working on assembling a set of summer wheels and (street) tires. Focus is getting the weight down as much as possible for more performance. Should also improve the handling and fuel economy too. I’ll probably get trashed for it but I just don’t go off road in the spring or summer.

These Weld Ledge 6 20x9 (0 offset) will be a good start. 28.5 pounds on my scale. Very light for 20s considering the stock 18s are around 30 pounds. I am also working on incorporating the OE center caps for a more factory look. The stock caps are a bit small. Gonna try some others but otherwise I may be able to make a bushing. Either way it looks pretty sweet.

Tires are still up in the air. I’m looking at 46.5lbs for Nitto 420v (305/50r20) or 2.5 pounds less for Toyo Proxes in the same size. Even with the Nittos I’ll be around 20 pounds lighter per corner than stock. Only downside is that they are a 32” tire. You can get a 33” 420v but it weighs a shitload more because it’s an LT. It would weigh more than the stock setup in fact. Other option would be a more off road focused tire like the Recon Grappler. They are sold in a 315/60r20 which is basically a 35. At 57 lbs I’d still be 8-10 pounds lighter than factory, but my heart still wants a street tire that will hook better instead.

 

[quietpeen]

those are very popular wheels. the performance will definitely increase with smaller street tires, but the 32’s might look really small.

 

[OnTheReel]

Yeah, that’s my fear. I think 33s would look okay. I guess it’s not being done for appearance anyway but I don’t wanna look like I skipped too many leg days either.

 

[OnTheReel]

Some center caps I’m working on. Goal is to imagine what a street TRX would/could be so the SRT center caps make sense to me. Of course even those are being modified to be more factory looking. They are OEM Mopar parts, but the SRT script is a bright finish that doesn’t match anything. Some disassembly and they are now painted to match the background finish on the “TRX” and front Ram badges.

 

[OnTheReel]

This is a TRX I found on the FB group on 305/50R20. It doesn’t look bad really.

305/55R20 is the other Nitto 420v I’m considering. Issue with that is it’s 15lbs heavier and about $130 more per tire. Start to lose the point of this endeavor when I’d only be shaving 5 pounds a corner vs 20.

 

[quietpeen]

The center caps look really good

 

[OnTheReel]

This is what I came up with to install the caps. Hole in the wheel was just a little too big so I cut some 3” circles of 3/16 ABS. Then drilled a 56mm hole in each. Center cap pushes through the front of the wheel like normal, then the plastic ring I cut goes over the tabs on the center cap from behind and snaps into place. Works great and they snap in tighter than the caps do on even a factory wheel!

 

[OnTheReel]

Got lucky and found a decent used 305/50 Nitto 420v on eBay for $60 shipped. Wish they had at least 3 more lol. But it’ll make for a good matching spare at least. Have an old rim in the shed from my 2016 GMC that has the same bolt pattern so I’m into the whole thing for basically nuthin.

Love the tread pattern and based on my preliminary (uninflated) measures the 305 420v actually has a slightly wider tread width than the factory 325 Goodyears.

Weight was 47 on my scale, so the whole combo should be under 76 pounds. Should pep this pig up a lot. And at no risk to the warranty.

 

[quietpeen]

That’s a nice price. Good find

 

[OnTheReel]

Got bored and mounted it myself today. I may have added a couple new love marks in the process but I assure you it was already curbed and beat up when I started. Might give her the ole plasti-dip, not that anyone would see it.

BTW, this GM wheel is heavy as shit. 40 pounds. Think the stock Ram 20s are in the low 30s.

 

[quietpeen]

you must have been really bored to struggle with that

 

[OnTheReel]

It actually wasn’t too bad. I’ve done a few trailer tires in the past and those are a hell of a lot easier than a 50 series like this though.

Again proving I have too much time on my hands in the winter, I dipped it real quick. Came out decent. Hope to never see it or use it anyway.

 

[quietpeen]

i like it better dipped.

 

[OnTheReel]

Got the tires back. Mounted, balanced, and trued. Not many guys still doing that last part. Old school.

Fitting that it decided to start snowing while I’m getting summer stuff ready. Still back and forth on center caps. Kinda like the Ram too so it’s a challenge.

 

[quietpeen]

curious to see if they make a noticeable difference in power. I like the SRT center caps better.

 

[OnTheReel]

Thinking it should be substantial between the diameter decrease and huge weight drop. But I will do some comparison testing with the Dragy. And fuel economy testing for the hell of it even though I don’t care.

 

[OnTheReel]

Test fit this emblem on. I want to use the SRT caps, but figured something like this would be needed tie it all together. Had to paint to match the rest of the emblems. I think I like it. Subtle.

Might shit-can the “4x4” emblem on the tailgate and SRT that thing too.

 

[Shaggy]

Working on assembling a set of summer wheels and (street) tires. Focus is getting the weight down as much as possible for more performance. Should also improve the handling and fuel economy too. I’ll probably get trashed for it but I just don’t go off road in the spring or summer.

These Weld Ledge 6 20x9 (0 offset) will be a good start. 28.5 pounds on my scale. Very light for 20s considering the stock 18s are around 30 pounds. I am also working on incorporating the OE center caps for a more factory look. The stock caps are a bit small. Gonna try some others but otherwise I may be able to make a bushing. Either way it looks pretty sweet.

View attachment 3503

Tires are still up in the air. I’m looking at 46.5lbs for Nitto 420v (305/50r20) or 2.5 pounds less for Toyo Proxes in the same size. Even with the Nittos I’ll be around 20 pounds lighter per corner than stock. Only downside is that they are a 32” tire. You can get a 33” 420v but it weighs a shitload more because it’s an LT. It would weigh more than the stock setup in fact. Other option would be a more off road focused tire like the Recon Grappler. They are sold in a 315/60r20 which is basically a 35. At 57 lbs I’d still be 8-10 pounds lighter than factory, but my heart still wants a street tire that will hook better instead.

Are these custom wheels? I have never seen any like this with the Ram emblem on it.

 

[OnTheReel]

Are these custom wheels? I have never seen any like this with the Ram emblem on it.

They are Weld Ledge 6s, just made adapters to take stock center caps. I like when stuff looks factory.

 

[quietpeen]

Test fit this emblem on. I want to use the SRT caps, but figured something like this would be needed tie it all together. Had to paint to match the rest of the emblems. I think I like it. Subtle.View attachment 3590View attachment 3591View attachment 3592
Might shit-can the “4x4” emblem on the tailgate and SRT that thing too.

Looks good. First time I have seen one in that location. Usually it’s straight above in the in the lower section of the grill.