Will 3rd gen factory 17" wheels fit on a 2000 model cummins? my son has the option to buy some pretty cheap but was told he might need spacers,I thought they would swap out am I wrong?

 

I have them on my truck the wheels fit no problem, the problem I had was with the center caps, I just took a small grinder and took off some of the inside of the cap, The inside of the axle sticks out further on the 2nd gens, I think this causes the problem with the caps, but after the grinding they fit fine. I also got a good deal on them, which is why I'm using them.

 

I heard 3rd gen wheels will fit 2nd gen trucks, but not the other way around. I've seen a few around here, and they look good.

 

If you get the aluminum 3rd gen wheels then the center caps will fit on the rear end without grinding any of the cap. The steel/chrome wheels are not as thick so the rear hub covers wont fit without some modification.

 

Yup the aluminum ones fit just fine.

 

the only rims that will not are the 2001.5 to 2003 because they are 16'' not 16.5 thats only if you have drum brakes in the rear. in late 2001 dodge began putting disc brakes all the way around and switched to the 16'' then they went to 17 from 2003 till now. if i recall

 

Interesting point about the drum brakes! Never thought about that.
If they fit for 'johnyb59' on an 01 (not an 01.5) they should work on any 2nd Gen.... no?

I know the Aluminum.... Painted.... or Steel w/ Chrome covers (attached) work fine on my 02.

RJ

 

the lug patterns never change just the .5 inch diameter needed to go around the large drum brakes. but the third gens will fit on any year dodge 8 lug because they are 17 and clear both drum and disc brakes

 

What is all the talk about 16.5" rims? The Dodges from 94-02 all had 16 inch rims.

 

no they didnt! try to put a set of 16 inch rims on a 1996 rear axle it will not fit over the drums. they might have used a smaller drum on the 98.5 to early 2001 but as far as i know the drum brake trucks need 16.5 rims. im sure someone with drum brakes will chime in and tell you they arent 16s there 16.5. but if im wrong then i am sorry for the mix up and false information.

 

when i had my 2500 (01.5) I had the steel 17s' on front and rear, with center caps no problem looked pretty good also, and handled better IMO also

 

My 98.5 has drum brakes and 16's. And I'm pretty close to 100% sure that the chrome steel wheels on mine are the same as the old ones.

 

hmm ive tried to put my stock 16'' rims from my 2001.5 on my buddies 1996 and they do not fit around the drums. it might be 1998.5 and older has the larger drums. but i am 100% sure that in my personal experiance with literally
putting the wheels on the truck they do not fit around the rim. my father had been in the tire bisness for 23 years maybe i can ask him

 

The reason that the newer aluminum 16" rims will not fit on the older trucks is because they are machined different. They are thicker than the steel wheels are. All of the wheels on 2500 Dodge pickups from 94-02 have 16" wheels.

To the OP, sorry for getting of track. The 3rd gen wheels will fit, and imo look great, and that is more than likely what I will be going with when I get the cash saved up.

 

None of the dodge have 16.5" wheels frome the factory. Where you were seing the problem is that aluminum wheels were not available when they were using the drum design. The steel wheel werent as thick and cleared the drums