Help. I have a 1999 dodge ram 1500. It came with r 225 70 16s. standard wheels. They were worn out, so I found a set of 2003 dodge ram wheels, and tires. the are michelin P 245/70 17 108S. Both are 5 lug. The truck shakes out of control with the 17s on it. Is my stock lug, although beveled, still inadequate? Should it have lugs that penetrate the alloy? Is it a geometric fault? I really need tires, and I like these rims, but they do not seem to like me. Also, the grease cup on my truck extends through the alloy, making the cap impossible to use.
Steveorama are you listening? I'm a newbie to this stuff, and need tires bad!

 

are they balanced. if theyre radials are they in the right direction? i dont know anything about tires but theyre things you might want to look at

 

Sounds like the lug nuts arent either A: the correct type (steel rims usually have a different lug nut than alloys) or B: the 03 rams lugs are of a bigger size than teh 99's and its letting teh rim wobble no matter what the torque on the nuts are.


Alsothe reason you cant get the cap on is the new rams use a slightly positive offset rim and your 99's didnt.

Honestly it would had been better to just buy some 245/75R16 tires (common size for GM full size trucks of that era also so tires shouldnt be hard to find in that size) if you wanted slightly bigger tires.

 

Thanks man I was so excited to get the alloy, that I just bought them. It never dawned on me that directional tread was in play!! I could have had them working against one another. You rock thanks for responding

 

Thanks for the tip. I was just excited I think to get a set of alloys, and the16s look so small on a 8foot bed. I'll check your advice on lug difference. Appreciate your advice.

 

The tread pattern should matter.....it jst wouldnt hook up as good on certain surfaces.

 

I wondered about balancing also but that may not be it.

 

Thanks everyone for their contributions to my query. It seems the 2nd and 3rd generation just don't share enough suspension geometry to interface together. I found an alloy wheel from a 2nd Generation with good tires on it, and last night I took the 1`7s off, In the rai and now ny ride rides like it should. Someone will want the nice 17s, with michelins, and I am happy, so the furun does work, thanks to everyone. "Gramps" ? I live with my Uncle who's 82, and he is gonna roll around hysterically when he's someone called me gramps!!! Be well in the new year.

 

Lots of people haev put the 20" wheels from the 3rd Gens on, wierd the alloys you have don't work. Did you try to get them balanced?

 

You might need spacers to compacete for the length of the lugs. Try to find out the right style of nuts you need from the dealer