Rim size replacement

MRPETER

MEMBER
1979 DODGE RAM
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
120,000 MILES

I own a 1979 Dodge Sportsman cut away 21" (manufactured by Triple E) motor home with a 440 cid engine and automatic transmission. Due to the age of the motor home, I am finding it difficult to find replacement Bias-ply tires sized 16 x 8. I would like to swap over to metric tires and would like to know if todays 8 bolt pattern rims would fit. I'm thinking of getting the rims from an auto recycle center but not sure what to ask for. I will be replacing all 7 rims and tires. I am not overly concerned about the Tires, but need information on the rims Would the rims from a 1 ton pick up truck or service vehicle fit and are all 8 bolt pattern wheels the same pattern (ie. Ford, Gm and or Dodge)?

3 Replies

RIVERMIKERAT

MECHANIC
6,110 POSTS

They should be from a Dodge, not a GM or Ford.

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Monday, July 4th, 2011 AT 4:10 PM

MSAPP12

MEMBER
2 POSTS

There are a few things to exam here first. Normally on dually type rims, you have flat faced, hubcentric rims that use a plate that the lug nuts go against to hold rims in place or you have the rims that have a concave/convex system that align the rims together and the lug nuts hit the rims directly. If it is the first system then you would need to use Dodge rims because the hub is what centers the rims to the vehicle. If it is the latter system, you should be able to use Ford on a Dodge because Ford generally has a bigger hub and therefore you shouldn't have any clearance issues. GM is normally the smallest and will generally only fit GM products. Side note: Be careful of rim offset too. Going to radial tires which tend to have more flex in them than bias, you can get rims that are too close due to offset and the tires will rub on the sidewalls which you do not want due to heat build up. I would also recommend going to your tire dealer and price new rims that may work. If you are going to keep the vehicle for a long time and use it, it is a cost worth having knowing that the rims are not beat up like the ones from a wrecking yard. Good luck.