I got my first vehicle about a month ago which is a 2006 dodge Dakota st 4x2 and red. I hate the stock st wheels so I want to get more aggressive looking wheels and tires. I was looking at the Tuff t01 red wheels but I don't know what kind of tires to get. I want something that will make it look more aggressive but not to knobby of tires since it is just a 4x2. So if anyone has a recommendation of what kind of tire to get please let me know. Also I want to black out the grill but am not sure on how to do it because I heard spray paint chips off when hit with rock on the road and things like that. I have seen a picture where a guy bed linered his grill and front and back bumper. Does anyone know the best way to do the grill and does the bed liner work on the grill and bumpers?

 

I sprayed my rear bumper with bed liner, about a year and a half ago, and it has held up great so far. Not sure what a little bump or nudge would do to it though, so I ride with a hitch step just in case.

I had Cooper Zeon LTZ tires at one point, they may have the look that you're after. But there are a lot of tire choices for you to sort through.

If you're going to buy wheels, pay attention to the offset, keeping an offset close to stock will limit your wheel choices. Your stock offset is 25.4mm on the 7" wide steel wheel, so you'll want it close to that to keep the same stance. Plenty of aftermarket wheels have an offset of around 18mm, and an 8" wide wheel is ideal. A much lower offset pushes the wheel out and wears on the front end, a weak spot already on our trucks.

Painting the grill, prep is the key, guys have had good results. Not sure how it holds up against rock chips. Another option is to spray it with Plasti Dip, not sure how it holds up against rock chips either though.

 

Thank you dakotaff. When you used the spray on bed liner what kind did you use and do you think it would stick well to a plastic bumper on the st model and on the chrome grill? I am trying to make all the black parts the same color black.

Also what are the tires and size you have on your truck in your picture? was there any rubbing, did you have to trim?

The headlights you have I really like and I have seen other people with them, what brand did you get, I don't know which ones are better?

 

The bed liner information will be in the thread link at the bottom of this post. As long as you scuff up the surface good, it should cover the parts well. I also sprayed the bed liner on my OEM chrome step bars after scuffing them up good, which I usually put on only in the winter. The steps are holding up good too, it's about time to get them back on again.

They are 265/70/17, which does require a leveling kit installed to fit, but there usually is some minor trimming necessary. Of course offset determines where and how much trimming is necessary. Read this thread for tire fitments.

There are a few different black headlights available. Some of them have a gray surround, but I was able to find the all black version, . I got them for a little less $, and I have also seen them go to over $240 at times. There's a close up picture of the headlight in the link below, towards the bottom.

Thread link here.

 

I had Plastidip on the grille of my Power wagon.. it held up nicely. Prep is key though.