COMMERCIAL TRUCK WHEELS

Choose the Right Truck Wheel for a Medium, Tractor-Trailer, Heavy Duty Truck, or 1-ton Dually Truck

A truck’s wheels might not seem like an important decision, especially when compared to handling other things, such as engine maintenance, frame corrosion resistance, or body aerodynamics. As long as the wheels fit on the hub and take the proper tires, you’d assume that’s all that matters. But, it’s a bit more complicated than that.

With all the optimization required to squeeze out every last bit of performance and economy, wheel choice is crucial. And though your average truck owner probably cares about the style and appearance of their wheels as much as functionality, a fleet or work truck owner needs to purchase wheels that boost the bottom line of the business.

All of that is to say that your fleet needs the right truck wheels to ensure maximum efficiency and load capacity. And when you buy truck wheels from Tires4That, you’ll find the perfect truck wheels for every rig in your lineup, from 1-ton duallies to Class 8 tractor-trailers.

Below is a closer look at the truck size classes we cater to, as well as some model examples:

Looking for Trailer Truck Tires? We can carry those too!

Class 3

• Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 10,001-14,000 pounds
• Model Examples: 3500 series trucks, Ford F-350 and 450

Class 4

• Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 14,001-16,000 pounds
• Model Examples: 4500 series trucks, Ford F-450

Class 5

• Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 16,001-19,500 pounds
• Model Examples: 5500 series trucks, Ford F-550

Class 6

• Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 19,501-26,000 pounds
• Model Example: Ford F-650

Class 7

• Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 26,001-33,000 pounds
• Model Example: Ford F-750

Class 8

• Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 33,000+ pounds
• Model Examples: All tractor-trailers

We also carry wheels for trailers, skid steers and backhoes as well as more recreation-focused vehicles such as campers, ATVs and golf carts. No matter the kind of vehicle fleet you need to maintain, Tires4That will help you keep things moving.

What to Look for When Buying Commercial Truck Wheels

The matter of selecting truck wheels typically comes down to considering two main factors:

Size

Concerning picking the right wheel size, you need to look at more than just the size of tires the wheels accept. You must ensure that each of the following metrics matches the vehicles you have in your particular fleet:

• Rim size, including diameter and width
• Backspacing
• Front spacing
• Offset
• Center bore
• Bolt pattern (including open rims)

Altogether, you must know whether your new rims will fit your vehicles. When in doubt, contact Tires4That, and we’ll make sure that you select the correct wheel sizes, whether you’re running full-size tractor trailers, medium-duty trucks, or 1-ton dually pickups.

Load

The amount of weight your wheels can bear is also incredibly important. Make sure that you check out the load capacity for the wheels you need to guarantee they can handle the combined heft of the vehicle and the payload or trailer.

While it might seem like a reasonable idea to get wheels that can handle vastly greater payloads than they’ll ever experience, doing so isn’t necessarily a good plan. In general, when wheels are designed to take large amounts of weight, they’re quite large and heavy.

If you’re never taking advantage of their added strength, these heavier wheels are simply reducing your fuel efficiency, slowing down your town vehicle, and eating into your budget.

When Should You Replace Your Truck Wheels?

There isn’t necessarily a mileage number or specific age by which you must replace your truck wheels, but engaging in regular inspections will ensure your wheels last a long time and avoid potential runaways or other types of failures.

When inspecting your truck wheels, look for lubricants building up in strange places, such as on the surface of the brakes. These could indicate you have a damaged seal, and if the wheel gets too hot, leaking lubricant can catch fire.

You should inspect your truck wheels for signs of cracks as well. These cracks can form from excessive torque to the bolts or exceeding the weight rating. Avoiding those scenarios can keep cracks at bay, but aging wheels can still exhibit signs of stress and wear.

Lastly, it’s essential to keep your wheels clean. Truck wheels can rust and corrode, and if an inspector sees streaks of corrosion around boltholes, they may assume that the fasteners are loose.

If your truck wheels are showing these various signs of damage or excessive wear, you’ll need new ones. And even if you decide to switch to lower-maintenance aluminum wheels, you’ll still need to do inspections and keep them clean to avoid cracks, corrosion, and rim flange wear.

Truck Wheels FAQs

What Size Wheels Do I Need for My Truck?

You need to consult the manufacturer’s specifications for your truck’s hubs. First, check how many lugs you have. Typically, this number will be between eight and ten. From there, you’ll need to have the proper wheel spacing, both front and back. You’ll also have to know your wheel offset and center bore size.

Once you know which rims fit your truck, you can then decide what rim size you need, depending on the tires you’ll be using. Typical semi-tractor tires, for example, can be something like 295/75R22.5, which translates to 295 mm (a little over 11 ½ inches) wide, 75% aspect ratio sidewall (the sidewall is 75% as high as the tire is wide), and radial construction, meant for 22 ½ inch diameter wheels.

What Are the Best Materials for Truck Wheels?

Truck wheels are generally made out of one of two materials: either steel or aluminum. Steel wheels are the more traditional choice, but they’ll require frequent maintenance to avoid corrosion and wear, and they are quite heavy to boot.

Aluminum is a superior material thanks primarily to a weight reduction of around 30 pounds vs. steel. Additionally, aluminum wheels don’t require as much maintenance because they don’t need periodic refinishing and are much more resistant to corrosion.

The downside of aluminum is cost. Aluminum wheels can cost twice and sometimes three times as much as equivalent steel wheels. Nevertheless, the weight reduction and diminished maintenance needs can usually offset the additional cost. When using tires with low rolling resistance, for instance, switching to aluminum can cause fuel consumption to drop by 3%.

Can I Use the Same Wheels for Different Types of Trucks?

Yes, but there’s a caveat. You must ensure the rims fit all the necessary parameters (bolt pattern, diameter, offset, etc.) to avoid rubbing the fender or bottoming out. You must also make sure the rims can handle the weight of the vehicle and its payload. Only then can you swap the wheels between trucks.

The most essential metric to pay attention to is the weight rating. Rubbing a tire on a fender can be little more than annoying if there’s barely any contact, but exceeding the weight rating of a wheel can cause it to crack, deform, and even break entirely.

How Do I Maintain My Truck Wheels?

Your truck’s wheels are a big investment, so you need to keep them looking and performing their best! Here are the most important actions you can take to keep your wheels in optimal shape:

First, tighten the wheels with the exact amount of torque they need. Apply too much, and you could crack the wheel. On the opposite end, too little means the nuts may come loose. You’ll need to re-torque the nuts on a regular basis to keep them secure.

Secondly, clean your wheels. If you don’t, your wheels will not only start to look rough, but they will corrode, as well.

On a similar note, inspect your wheels for signs of damage and wear frequently. Catching an issue before a long delivery will prevent a damaged wheel from becoming a liability. Look for leaking lubricant as well, particularly on brake components. Grease and oil leaking can lead to wheel fires.

Ultimately, clean, solid wheels not only aid in efficiency but are safer as well. The amount of time taken to inspect and repair or replace a set of truck wheels is negligible compared to the cost of dealing with a broken truck wheel during a delivery.

Why Buy Truck Wheels From Us?

With competitive prices and a vast range of products, Tires4That is your trusted source for truck wheels. We’ve been specializing in commercial wheels and tires for over 50 years, making our expertise and experience immensely valuable for fleets around the country. Our commitment to quality and selection means you can trust our team to connect you with the right wheels and tires for your business.

We also carry center caps, tire chains, tire balancing supplies, and tubes as well. Whether you’re maintaining golf carts at a driving range, forklifts in a warehouse, or tractor-trailers that deliver goods over thousands of miles, we look forward to partnering with you to keep your vehicles running their best.

Tap into our decades of experience by contacting us today. Tires4That is happy to answer your questions and steer you in the right direction.