Which Centerline 17" Forged Wheel to Get?

[AzRamLover]

Which style do you prefer? Truck is '14 Laramie CC SB 4x4, stock height/suspension. Looking at downsizing the stock 13+ Laramie 20" chrome clad 20 x 9 to Centerline 17 x 8 Tomahawk Stingray III or Tomahawk Tracer.

Motivation: weight reduction, highway ride smoothness, impact protection during light off road duty

Stock 20" x 9 chrome clad = ~32 lbs
Centerline 17" x 8 polished = ~20 lbs
Wheel weight change per corner = ~(12 lbs)

Stock 275/60/20 Goodyear SR-A tire = 41 lbs (source: TireRack)
New 265/70/17 Michelin LTX MS/2 tire = 42 lbs (source: TireRack)
Tire weight change per corner = 1 lbs

Net change per corner = ~(11 lbs)

Your thoughts/experiences?

Stingray III (6-spoke, image on the left): The Design People

Tracer (10-spoke, image on the right): The Design People

 

[BOWERSFJ]

Just an FYI, I had polished Centerlines on my old Dakota . . . They are highly polished and look friggin awesome coming out of the box . . . I don't see where you live, or if you plan to run them all year . . . Centerlines are not clear coated . . . I spent 3 hours a wheel bringing mine back from the effects of an Ohio winter every Spring, and they never looked as good as new . . . I personally would never own another set of polished wheels . . . But hey, maybe you don't mind spending a good bit of every Saturday sitting at the 4 corners of your ride with compound and a rag in your hand . . . Just hoping to save you some hassle and frustration down the road.

 

[DavidRam]

I vote Tracer!

Maybe you could get them powder coated with a clear coat to protect them better...

 

[rammanriley20]

yep ^^

 

[blackbetty14]

I'm more of a fat spoke kinda guy so I vote for the stingray.

To save a polished wheel you need to seal it when new. Either with a clearcoat/anadized or look into a product called "zoop seal". I know it seals for a min oF 2 years, and my brother used it on a set of polished rims on his 68 vette. They look brand new and it's been way longer than 2 years but it doest get out much lol.

 

[AzRamLover]

Good to know! Thanks a bunch, y'all!

Are there any equivalent (weight, strength, cost, appearance) wheels you would recommend instead?

 

[BOWERSFJ]

I did some diggin around on Centerline's website, and both of the wheels you are looking at are available in polished and chrome . . . If the Az in your name means Arizona, then you wouldn't have any polishing or corrosion issues with the chrome out there . . . Just another option . . . Chrome may run you a couple more bucks

 

[AzRamLover]

Yes, AZ is home for now . . . unfortunately the extra maintenance is a nonstarter.

thanks for doing the extra digging though!

 

[jsteinm1]

I've owned centerline wheels also and they are nice but like others have said you need to either swap them out when you have snow/salt on the road or get them clear coated. I live in Nebraska so I kept my stock wheels. I put winter tires on them and swapped them out every winter. It was a fantastic setup.

 

[AzRamLover]

Thanks for the feedback, y'all.

Guess the search continues . . .

 

[BlownGP]

Good luck finding any light weight rims for these trucks that don't cost $1000s

I have come across the OEM 17x8 forged rims. I think there like 23lbs
Then there the stock aluminum silver 17s that are 24lbs are so.