15" wheels on a '99-'06?

[68C1087GTA]

I know it sounds backwards & all & I'd rather not hafta sit here & explain why I'm asking. All I wanna know is IF a 15" wheel would fit & what would the maximum backspacing that will work. I know the rotors &^ calipers will be a clearance issue which is why I'm asking about the backspacing. As far as width goes? That is irrelevant at this point (custom bodywork).

I thought for sure I'd find an answer by searching & looking for drag race trucks, but I couldn't find any '99-'06 trucks with 15" wheels.

[MadManAndrew]

You don't find any because you'd either have to run smaller brakes or literally have it backspaced so that the hub was outside the wheel?
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[68C1087GTA]

But looking on Tirerack I see 16" wheels for '99-'06 trucks with 4.62" bs & I see 15" wheels (no 15s listed for 99-06) having 4" bs. That 1/2" wouldn't push a wheel out too far, but no idea if a 15" rim will clear the calipers OR if a 15" wheel would hafta go down to like just 3" (or whatever) bs. That would make for a narrow wheel to not stick out too far, but in a drag race application it is very common to have 3"/5" (whatever) wide front wheels. Which was why I asked & searched more for drag race applications.

[RWB-713]

a 15" wheel will NOT clear the calipers, a 16" MIGHT ( i don't think so tho) on early halfton trucks.... i think they did a brake change up front somewhere in there, not sure of the exact year tho.

even if you are running a 3-5" wide front wheel, you'd still have to space the wheels so far out that the inside of the wheel was completey outside of the caliper, I.E. 0" offset, the WMS is flush with the inside bead. and you don't want to do that.

hope that helps!

[68C1087GTA]

Originally Posted by RWB-713

a 15" wheel will NOT clear the calipers, a 16" MIGHT ( i don't think so tho) on early halfton trucks.... i think they did a brake change up front somewhere in there, not sure of the exact year tho.

even if you are running a 3-5" wide front wheel, you'd still have to space the wheels so far out that the inside of the wheel was completey outside of the caliper, I.E. 0" offset, the WMS is flush with the inside bead. and you don't want to do that.

hope that helps!

According to Tirerack? 16"s will fit. I have no experience in these trucks which was why I had to ask.

https://www.tirerack.com/wheels/resu...rSpecial=false

Thanks for the help. That pretty much rules out the 15" wheel option I was looking at & relegates to the 17" option.

But as for your explanation of 0 offset......Isn't it that a 0 offset (offset equal distance front centerline of wheel) means that the mounting surface is dead center in a wheel which means that half the wheel width is what the backspacing equals?

[RWB-713]

Tire rack has definately fit more wheels than I have, and like I say, in my opinion a 16 MIGHT fit. If you really want 16's, and The place you buy from, be it tirerack, or your local tire shop (which I reccomend) says they'll fit, and will back up their claim. Then by all means, give it a go. It's not a certainty tho, 17's are. No idea the full details of the situation, just speaking from my experiences in the past.

[Boog]

16" rims come factory on 99 and up to at least 03 1/2 ton trucks. I have a 2000 GMC and an 03 Tahoe both with factory 16" wheels. I do not think 15"s will clear the lower ball joint stud mainly and maybe the caliper. Do some careful measuring or borrow a 15 and see if it will clear.
If the wheel manufacturers do not list a 15 for your application there is a very good reason for it.

[RWB-713]

There ya go, 03 1/2. I kinda thought some of those trucks came with 16's, but I wasn't sure. But after that, i highly doubt any 16's would fit. You can't even fit your finger between the caliper & wheel on a friend of mine's 06 w/ 17's

[hyatt]

16s will fit any 1/2 ton 99 or newer Standard wheel is a 16 15s will absolutly not fit

[Sooner84]

15's will fit but you have to grind the break calipers. Grind some, test fit, grind, test fit, and so on until it works. I've never done it but hear its more of a pain than its worth.