[Bosco]

ok, well i went by my local tire shop today and they had some 15's there and they were going to test fit them for me.. they took off my wheel and put this used wheel on that had the little stick on weights inside the rim. those little weights were hitting the caliper. so we knocked off the weights and put the rim back on.. now it cleared and spun without problems.. but im wondering.. is this to close to run the wheel to the caliper? i called several discount tire stores and got mixxed opinion as im sure i will get here.. some told me that it would be just fine. others said the brakes would not displace heat well enough with that little clearance. and 4 wheel parts brought up that rocks could get stuck in there and "eat my wheel in half". it seems that a rock would crumble into pieces before it would cause any real problems. the clearance was like 1/8" so the only rock that would fit in there would be like the size of a BB or smaller.. let me know what you guys think... cause im having mixxed feelings. i like the idea of having 15's because both tires and wheels are cheaper and plus there are more tire sizes availible for 15's then 16's and the 15's also make the tires look bigger : let me know guys. thanks

 

[BR]

i think most of the people with aftermarket rims here are running 15's. although, i think the 99+ rams had a larger caliper, so i don't know how many of them are running 15's. the shop here that sells rims and stuff will put whatever you want to buy on, they even suggested 15's because tires are cheaper. i'd take the chance.

 

[OkDodge]

Hey Poppy, I've been in the same dilemma every since I bought my 2001.

I really wanted to put 15" Hellcats on my truck, but wasn't sure if they would fit. I tried to put one of the 15" Eagle 589's from my Jeep on my truck and it wouldn't fit without the wheel itself rubbing on the caliper. So I gave up and put 16" Hellcats on it but I don't like them because I think they look totally different that the 15's.

Like you, I've heard many different answers to the question. I guess it depends on the brand/style of wheel. So anyway, what wheel was it that you tried?

 

[Glenshadow]

Mine are close.. but not anything that is gonna kill me.

http://www.playboyresort.com/pics/wheel-test-fit

As for heat disapartion... I don't think in my case it is an issue... I have enuff all around clearance that heat can go where ever...

 

[Foolish]

Do you have 4 wheel disc? If not you might want to make sure your wheels will fit over your drums. Most people with 2000+ rams that want to fit 15's grind the {expletive} out of their calipers.

 

[Bosco]

yeah.. it does actually clear though.. for those wheels anyways... so grinding wouldnt be nesasary. the guy said they were eagles.. but i didnt recognize them they must be an old style or something. they reminded me of AR39's the way they had a kinda of swirl pattern with black inside the holes.. but they were not AR39's just simalar in appearance....

 

[Bosco]

and i have drums in the back.. but i do not think i will have a problem with them

 

[Glenshadow]

There were no mods required to fit mine....

well other than fender flares to keep the piggy off my back.

 

[Rattlesnake]

15" Hellcats are SUPPOSED to fit a 16" OEM truck according to either their website or National Tire and Wheels website.

 

[OkDodge]

National Tire and Wheel has 15x10 Hellcats for $148, so I called them about a week ago and asked the guy if they would fit on my '01 truck...the guy told me they wouldn't and that he wouldn't even sell them to me! :-?:

Of course I realize I could still buy them anway, plus I probably could have called right back and talked to someone else and got a completely different answer...but still, the dilemma continues. :wall:

Bottom line..test fit before you buy...and I just haven't made it to a shop to try that yet.

 

[WMIF]

wow glen, those are some pretty brake line covers you got there. :silly:

when i had the 16's on my truck, the clearence was really close. i dont think quite as close as 1/8" but close to it. i have streaks in my old rims from rocks getting wedged in there. it also packed mud in there making the wheels off balance a lot. the 16.5's are a lot better clearence. remember that wheels also flex some. the actual wheel may rub the caliper if it flexes.

 

[King Nothing]

My 15 inch rims have grooves worn on the inside where the calipers "clearanced them" Then again I dont know the manufacturer of my rims as they have been on a 87 ford, an 89 ford, a 96 ram, a 79 bronco, a 90 bronco, and my ram... and thats just between me and my friend that I bought them from

 

[TopperHarley]

First off, many people don't like to do it, but you can grind your calipers down a lot, without compromising their integrity to the point that they are unsafe or will fail. I know you clear anyway but it would give you that extra clearance you are looking for. Heat is a bit of an issue but that also depends on the type of rim as well. If you get something like the outlaw I's, with no holes, you are asking for trouble. But if you get something that is pretty open I think you will be fine. Personally, I HATE the look of 16.5" rims. I also like having twice as much to choose from at a much better price. I also prefer the inner weights. You don't really have a choice here, but the outer weights in my opinion look like dirty a$$. My truck gets a much wider stance with the less back spacing of the 15" and I definitely feel safer in turns. I say go for it. How hard do you wheel? oke:

 

[Bosco]

its not gonna be off road much... it will basicly be a pavement pounder till i ge tout of college and can afford to replace the parts i break.. i think i may go ahead and go with 15's.. i just need to find the one that will give the MOST clearance.. thanks topper for the info on the caliper.. how much of that caliper do you think i can take off without comprimising safety? the guy at just brakes already told me one of my calipers was starting to "buckle" but he said it wouldnt be a big issue for prolly a few more years.. do you think shaving it would make that time period shorter?

 

[The Beast]

I have a 2000 model truck. I had dual piston calipers. 1999 models do not have dual piston calipers. They are single piston calipers.

15" aluminums don't fit, generally. There are SOME brands that do, like the Ultras, for instance.

15" Steel Wheels will fit, no rub. This is when I still had the Dana 44 (POS!!!)

I did extensive testing on this, and it is proven. Does this help?

 

[Bosco]

hey. thanks it does help.. i dont know.. i may need to go ahead and just bite the bullet and get a damn 16.. but i dont know.. like topper said.. i do like how they have on average 1" less backspacingwhich i guess isnt a HUGE amount but i figure it is still enough to notice and i really dont like the look of larger wheels. so i think the largest i would get would be a 16 and i noticed the tsl radial in a 36x14.50 16 is only about $7 more per tire then for a 15 so it wont be too too bad.. thanks for all the info.. if anyone else has expeariances theyd like to share id appreciate it

 

[Showald19]

I had a Dana 80 rear axle the front cleared the calipers and the rear was drum but the rim was stuck on the drum the wheels are 16s and are stock ram wheels so not sure what was going on took the lugs off and beat the wheels with a hammer and didn't want to come off any tips? 🤔