Dually wheels 2wd vs 4wd

chillman88

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Alright so factory 2wd trucks came with 215/85/16 tires, and factory 4wd dually trucks (which only came in cab & chassis models) came with 235/85/16 tires.

Yes there are trucks that are not cab & chassis but still 4wd dually, they were modified AFTER they left the factory so they don't count for this discussion.

Lots of guys like running 235/85/16 tires on their 2wd dually trucks, it just looks better. Problem is... The wheels just aren't spaced properly for the wider tires. Sure, you can get away with it most of the time, but it cost me THREE TIRES AND A FENDER so I wanted to give a little more light to the subject!

This picture is factory 2wd wheels, with 235/85/16 tires my fat hands can't pass between the tires, there's around 5/8-3/4 of an inch between the tires:
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This is factory 4x4 wheels with 235/85/16 tires on the same truck. There's probably about 1-1/2 inches between them:
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MUCH better. Now the tires can't rub when loaded and heat up and cause multiple blowouts on the highway!

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Thanks for reading!
 

u2slow

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That's a good detail I'd forgotten about.

Now I'm curious how the 92+ E-350/450 wheels compare... as they used 225/75R16 rubber. (The steel ones with 8 round holes instead of 4 oval ones.)
 

Randy Bush

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I know on my 93 dually you can't run 235s, Mine had those on when I bought it, used. Was hard to chain up and the fronts where to close to fender and rubbed too if I remember right when max turning. Went back to 215s now things are fine. I guess never know there was two different set of rims.
 

Ironman03R

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I ran 245/75(I think)/16 on my 94. It was 2wd and had aluminum wheels. I did put a 1/4" spacer between them but had space similar to your first pic.
 

ttman4

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That's a good detail I'd forgotten about.

Now I'm curious how the 92+ E-350/450 wheels compare... as they used 225/75R16 rubber. (The steel ones with 8 round holes instead of 4 oval ones.)


In '90 after I ran out my 215's D on my new '90 CC Dually I went to 235's E & had the sidewall rubbing problem unless I kept the tires aired up to full 80psi. (IIRC originally the 215's were D & called for 60 psi & then the 235's E called for 80 psi)

Shortly after I bought the '90 new I got into utility trailer mfg & got to finding some Dually wheels that were deeper off-set (approx 1/4-3/8" deeper) than the standard dually wheel.

These deeper dually wheels that I slowly found over time were the standard 4 oval hole wheel as well as some of the deeper wheels with the smaller 8 holes.

Currently I have & use & run 2 set of the deeper 4 hole wheels, & 6 of the deeper 8 hole dual wheels. I've never run spacers. Way I got these wheels was always be on look-out for them & carry a tape & lots of measuring.
 

chillman88

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I ran 245/75(I think)/16 on my 94. It was 2wd and had aluminum wheels. I did put a 1/4" spacer between them but had space similar to your first pic.

Yeah, I got about 1000 miles per tire highway towing running my 235s that close LOL but you already knew that :D
 
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