Wheel Vintiques recognized the market for high-quality aftermarket wheels that have the same appearance as the wheels you could get from the factory, and has an entire line of both Magnum 500 and Chrysler Rallye wheels spun from billet aluminum or steel. Also recognizing the performance trend of larger diameter wheels combined with wide, low-profile tires, they made their wheels available in diameters up to twenty inches. While we do appreciate the performance these large wheels and low-profile tires provide, the performance comes at a price. Much of a car's ride quality is provided by the sidewall of the tire, which acts like a shock absorber of sorts cushioning the bumps of the road. With less sidewall available in a low-profile tire, there is less material to cushion the blow of bumps and potholes on the road, so ride quality will suffer. Also, if the suspension of your Mopar is stock, these low-profile tires will outperform the suspension capabilities of your car, and the benefits (other than appearance) will be minimal. For cars with suspension upgrades such as sway bars, large disc brake systems, and heavy-duty leaf springs and torsion bars, however, the handling, stopping, and acceleration benefits of these large diameter wheels and low-profile tires can be dramatic. Cars configured with aftermarket suspension and tall wheels can handle nearly as nimbly as new sports cars with only subtle appearance differences from stock, making these wheels a great choice for g-machines. Once your wheel style and diameter is chosen, the job isn't finished. Wheel width and offset, or back-spacing, must also be carefully chosen before tire selection can be made.
 Selecting an aftermarket wheel...  Selecting an aftermarket wheel can be a daunting task as literally hundreds of wheels are available. |  Popular choices for a street/strip...  Popular choices for a street/strip look include the Weld Drag Lite and Pro Star wheels shown here. |  If an old-school look is more...  If an old-school look is more your style, five-hole slotted wheels like these may be just what you need. Swap meets are a good place to find nostalgic wheels and several companies reproduce them as well. |
Rim Width, Diameter, and Backspacing
When choosing a wheel, rim width is an important consideration. As a general rule, the rim width should be different from the tire's tread width by no more than one inch. So if you want to run 9 inches of tread width, a rim width between 8 and 10 inches will work. Ideally the rim width should closely match the tread width of the tire. Rims that are wider than the tire's tread may work, but the tire's height will be shortened, and the tire may not perform up to its potential. Too narrow a rim will increase the tire's sidewall height and will certainly lead to accelerated wear especially at the edges of the tread. Factory rims came in widths from less than 6 inches, to 8 inches in some 15-inch Rallye wheels. Police car wheels and most Magnum 500 pieces measure in at 7 inches. Aftermarket wheels are available in many widths, offering the ability to optimize your car's available fender space to maximize traction for handling, stopping, and acceleration. When measuring rim width remember that it is the distance between the two lips of the wheel where the tire's beads seat, not the maximum width of the wheel.