Anyone using 17x11 AR500 or VN500 wheels on their charger?

[Lord Warlock]

The wheels look great, now i'll have to order a set of 17x8s for the front and tires to match, wish they sold em cheaper than the 11s, will have to look around. It looks to good to have a mismatched set of wheels on it anymore, too bad its gonna take a bigger chunk of change, i'm sure the wife is ancy about the cost, but she'll deal with it, haven't splurged on wheels that often.  

Guess i'll have to call the glass folks to come out and install the glass, then i can tow it to the shop to do the brake work and install new lines, then before i put it back in storage i'll let the headliner guy do his work.  Then i can focus on the gas tank, trunk floor and last, the engine bay.  

As you can see, i painted the old tires when painting the car,  lazy on my part but i also knew I'd be replacing them later so didn't worry about it too much.  I covered the stealth wheels the first 4 tmes i painted it, then got lazy and figured i'd pull the wheels after i'm done, and pressure wash the paint off the rubber, and repaint the rims themselves, again being lazy tends to add more work later, but at least i'm getting closer to where it would actually matter, and someone might see the paint on rubber, new tires look so much nicer than oversprayed tires...lol.

What is the proper backspacing/offset for a 17x8 rim for the front? 4.5" Backspacing, any offset? anyone?  Started looking around, and found that everyone else i found online were more expensive than the place i got mine, the 17x8s are priced at 309 each from Newstalgia wheels.  Did find that wheel vintiques are even more expensive than the AR500s are, haven't looked enough at the cragar s/s versions,

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Wheels look cool but O/T here for a minute....refresh my memory...was your car originally coded for the V21 Hood Perf Treatment?

[Lord Warlock]

Unfortunately, no it is not coded for a v21 hood treatment,  mine was built before that option came available in 69.  I just figured if i was going to build my car, i'd build it the way i would have ordered it, not the way someone else did way back when.  Plus i remember lots of glare off the hood and windshield when driving it and the black hood treatment would reduce that somewhat.  The y3 color needed something black on the front to balance out the black stripe on the rear.  Most y2 or y3 chargers i've seen had black tops, not tan ones, i always liked the tan top and tan interior, so it wasn't an option to put a black top on the car, so therefore i went with the v21 treatment.  I also considered painting the door scallops, but eventually ruled that out.  

The car also isn't coded for road wheels or magnums,  its supposed to have steel wheels and the SE hubcaps,  another deviation from stock for me. 

[Lord Warlock]

The 17x8 magnums are on order,  these should be for the front wheels,  Had to debate whether to just get 15s for the front or get matching 17s,  I have a pair of almost new 15 inch BFGoodrich tires on the slot rims, and thought that it would save me a few hundred not to have to buy tires,  but eventually decided I'd rather get the 17s to match the rears, as much as I like the white sidewall lettering, I think i'll be getting a pair of 245/45 17 Nittos to match the rear set. 

I'll be trying to test fit the 17x8s on the challenger,  just to see if they clear the rotors/calipers.  There are some that say they won't fit, but many also said the 4.5 bolt pattern wouldn't bolt on, and they were wrong. 

[Lord Warlock]

17x8s should arrive for pickup tomorrow, getting them after work if I can get there on time.  After unboxing them and making sure they're the right wheels, I'll drop them off at discount tire to mount the 245x45 17s.  Plan on seeing if the 8 inch rim would fit on the challenger without hitting the calipers.  If they do I may end  up ordering another set for the 2010 challenger. 

[Mopar Nut]

17x8s should arrive for pickup tomorrow, getting them after work if I can get there on time.  After unboxing them and making sure they're the right wheels, I'll drop them off at discount tire to mount the 245x45 17s.  Plan on seeing if the 8 inch rim would fit on the challenger without hitting the calipers.  If they do I may end  up ordering another set for the 2010 challenger.  

That's fast, my 15x8's and 15x10's AR500 took almost six weeks.  

Who did you order them through?

[Lord Warlock]

I ordered them through wheel vintiques,  they were as cheap there as any other place I could find,  if you buy 4 they'll do free shipping, since I bought two first, and two later, I didn't get them shipped free, but the second set were shipped cheaper than the first set were.  Both sets only took about two weeks to arrive.  The bad thing was that once the order confirmation was received, they didn't notify me when they actually shipped the wheels, so you didn't have  clue how long it would be, and couldn't line up a delivery day and work from home.  They usually require a signature, which complicates things as I'm rarely around to hear the doorbell, even if i'm home. 

I was tempted to order tires from them as well, the tires were cheaper than discount tire sells them for.  But i'm a cheapskate at heart, and the wheels themselves are fairly expensive at 310-360 each.  Never spent near that much on wheels before...but they do look nice on the charger, so guess I can't complain much. 

[Mopar Nut]

but they do look nice on the charger, so guess I can't complain much. 

I agree, one of the best looking wheels on a Charger.

[Mopar Nut]

I ordered them through wheel vintiques,  they were as cheap there as any other place I could find,  if you buy 4 they'll do free shipping, since I bought two first, and two later, I didn't get them shipped free, but the second set were shipped cheaper than the first set were.  Both sets only took about two weeks to arrive.  The bad thing was that once the order confirmation was received, they didn't notify me when they actually shipped the wheels, so you didn't have  clue how long it would be, and couldn't line up a delivery day and work from home.  They usually require a signature, which complicates things as I'm rarely around to hear the doorbell, even if i'm home. 

I was tempted to order tires from them as well, the tires were cheaper than discount tire sells them for.  But i'm a cheapskate at heart, and the wheels themselves are fairly expensive at 310-360 each.  Never spent near that much on wheels before...but they do look nice on the charger, so guess I can't complain much. 

I'm getting ready to install the AR500's, what lug nuts are you using on the Charger?

[Lord Warlock]

I got a set of RH threaded lugs online somewhere,  the longer style similar to the original magnum 500s, they have a tapered end on them, but I'm not really happy with them, I'd prefer ones more like the lugs i had on the slot wheels that had a sleeve at the beginning of the thread that led to a taper that went up to the full width of the lug. This would allow more grip on the threaded part of the studs and not just the part outside of the wheel.   In my case i had replaced both rear axles and both front rotors so all wheels have RH threads on them now. 

My other dissatisfaction was that using a cordless impact wrench and a normal socket marked up the lugs a little.  I still prefer the longer style lug that sticks out a little further on the rims, it looks right to me overall. 

[Mopar Nut]

Like these?

[Mopar Nut]

or

[Lord Warlock]

yes, something similar to those would work better in my mind, just to give more threads grip holding the wheels on.  Mine are a little longer looking.  They look like they hold the wheel on just fine, i just believe the other style would provide a better grip. 

[frank1966]

iam confused! i love the ar500 but what wheel size with no fitment problems? any suggestions do 40 profile tires run rough?

[frank1966]

so this is what I came up with to keep the same aspect ratio of 50 and the same tires. with vn500 wheels with a 4.5BS
17x8 255/50 nittos 450
17x9.5 275/50 nitto 450

will the fronts fit okay?
stock wheels are 215/75/14 - the height of the new wheels will increase for the rear it will increase by 0.6 inches and the front by 0.2. Any problems with the increased height in the rear?

[Lord Warlock]

17X8 With a 4.5 backspace will work fine on the front wheels.  Can't answer on the back wheels, I got 17x11's with 5.5 BS for the rear and they fit fine, but with a taller tire could be close  to the outer wheel opening,  I've got 315 35 17s in the rear, would probably go with 315 40s if I had to do them over again, as the tire is a little shorter than i expected in back. 

[frank1966]

I think your right since I don't want to go lower than 50 series tires. I can go with 17x9 255 on the rear - cant go with a 8 inch on the front since most of you go with 8 inches on the front?

[petohazy]

17X8 With a 4.5 backspace will work fine on the front wheels.  Can't answer on the back wheels, I got 17x11's with 5.5 BS for the rear and they fit fine, but with a taller tire could be close  to the outer wheel opening,  I've got 315 35 17s in the rear, would probably go with 315 40s if I had to do them over again, as the tire is a little shorter than i expected in back. 

I'm interested in how your 17x11 AR 500s with the Nitto 315/35ZR17 tires in the rear worked out (actually your front set-up as well!).  It seems like a really nice set-up I'd like to try, if it fits without rubbing.  Appreciate any feedback and pics if you have them. Thanks in advance.

[Lord Warlock]

The 17x8's in the front fit great with 45 series tires on them, they are the same height as the original wheels were, the 17x11 wheels in the rear have clearance on the leaf springs, and just barely inside the wheelwells.  The 35 series tires in my mind are a little short and leave more wheel gap than I prefer but have plenty of room between the wheel and wheelwell since they don't fit up inside the wheelwell, I think a set of 315 45 series tires would fit better and look better overall. The nitto sidewalls curve inward near the tread so give more clearance than some other tires would.  I would worry that the 11 inch rims were too wide with any tire that bulged a little.  The width of the tires in back looks awesome though, just what i was looking for.  

I had L50-15 tires on 15x6.5 inch wheels before, the tires were actually a few sizes too wide for the rims i had, but we got them on and they lasted 30 years and still hold air, just can't trust them on the road anymore for fear of dry rot. 

I'll try to get some decent pics tomorrow, last time i took pics there was another car in the way that made it hard to see from the sides, the car has now been moved, so i can take a new pic and post it up tomorrow sometime.

[petohazy]

Pics would be great.  What brand 315/45x17 tire were you considering?  I couldn't find a 315/45x17 tire on the Nitto website.

[Lord Warlock]

Since i just put these tires on, I don't plan on replacing them for quite a while, but the next set i get will be either a 40 or a 45 series tire, even if i have to drop down to a 305 size instead of the 315.  Still haven't gotten the pictures, will deal with those a little bit later this afternoon, have to clear some stuff out of the free stall, was trying to figure out how to make a console in front of the buddy seat to hold a new stereo, first attempt was a flop, will have to redesign and try again.

[petohazy]

Since i just put these tires on, I don't plan on replacing them for quite a while, but the next set i get will be either a 40 or a 45 series tire, even if i have to drop down to a 305 size instead of the 315.  Still haven't gotten the pictures, will deal with those a little bit later this afternoon, have to clear some stuff out of the free stall, was trying to figure out how to make a console in front of the buddy seat to hold a new stereo, first attempt was a flop, will have to redesign and try again.

Yeah, I've been searching but all I can find larger than 35% sidewall is street drag tires.  I would like at least an H rating, as I don't do any drag racing, just high speed highway sometimes, where taller 27"+ tires would help.  My Gear Vendors Overdrive also helps that out nicely.  I'm also contemplating changing out the factory console, with something custom that has an arm rest and cup holders.  Future project though, as my current project is working on upgrading the front disc set up and adding rear discs (one of the reasons I am looking at the 17" rims).

[Lord Warlock]

A few pics, excuse the dirty wheels, haven't cleaned em off for a bit after wetsand and buffing with compound.  But you can see how they sit in the wheelwells and get an idea of width.  I was able to install the original magnum 500 center caps, after ordering a set of adapters from year one, they are just the cups that mount inside the wheel and tighten down with two small bolts to the center cap, the originals won't fit because the diameter of the hole isn't the same as 15 inch magnums.  They were pretty cheap.

Front wheel, 245/45 on 17x8 inch rims


Rear tire width


Rear tire height

[Lord Warlock]

The rear tires are drag radials, NT555R's, I figured they'd grip better than regular tires, and have always wanted to try a set out, the car always used to spin the tires pretty easy if you gave a tad too much gas, figure these may help it some.  If not they'll wear  out quick and i can get a different set of tires, then again the car doesn't get driven much so it may be a year or more before it sees enough road time to swap rubber again.  Car isn't currently tagged or insured, although it is getting close to needing a tag and insurance again. 

[Mopar Nut]

They look great, how tall are your wheels? I don't remember reading it on here, but lately I don't remember much anymore.