How to Choose 8-Lug Wheels for Your Heavy-Duty Truck

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The first thing to get right when choosing 8-lug wheels is the bolt pattern. Heavy-duty pickups from the three big American makers use three different 8-lug patterns, and a wheel that is a millimeter or two off will not mount safely. This guide walks through the pattern each truck family uses, the other measurements that have to match, and how to shop once you know your numbers.

The three common 8-lug bolt patterns

An 8-lug pattern is written as the number of studs, then the diameter of the circle they sit on. The numbers below are the ones most commonly listed for heavy-duty pickups. Always confirm against your owner’s manual or the wheel maker’s fitment guide for your exact year and trim.

• 8×165.1 mm (8×6.5 in): Ram 2500 and 3500, and Chevrolet/GMC 2500HD and 3500HD through the 2010 model year.
• 8×170 mm (8×6.7 in): Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty, including the dual-rear-wheel F-350.
• 8×180 mm (8×7.09 in): Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500HD and 3500HD from the 2011 model year on.

The patterns are close enough in size that people sometimes try to force a wheel onto the wrong truck. Do not. A wheel drilled for 8×165.1 will not seat correctly on an 8×170 hub, and the mismatch can loosen the lug nuts over time.

Hub bore: the second number that must fit

The center hole of the wheel has to be at least as large as the hub that sticks out of the truck. If the bore is larger than the hub, a hub-centric ring fills the gap so the wheel is centered by the hub rather than by the lug nuts. If the bore is smaller than the hub, the wheel simply will not go on. Check the center bore listed for your truck and compare it to the wheel listing.

Wheel diameter and width

Most heavy-duty trucks leave the factory on 17-, 18- or 20-inch wheels. Going larger in diameter usually means a lower-profile tire, which changes ride quality and load capability. Width matters just as much: a wider wheel needs a tire sized to match, and extra width pushes the tire closer to the fender and suspension parts. Our guide to wheel offset and backspacing explains how width and offset work together.

Load rating

Heavy-duty trucks carry heavy loads, so the wheel must be rated for the truck’s axle weight. Look for a load rating stamped on the wheel or listed by the maker, and make sure it meets or exceeds what your truck needs. Dually (dual-rear-wheel) trucks use different wheels in the rear than single-rear-wheel trucks, so check which you have.

Tire size has to match the wheel

Once the wheel is picked, the tire follows. Light-truck (LT) tires are the usual choice on heavy-duty trucks; see LT vs P-metric tires for how they differ. Tire width has to fit the wheel width, with the tire maker listing an approved rim-width range for each size.

A quick checklist before you order

1. Confirm your truck’s bolt pattern from the manual or a trusted fitment guide.
2. Check the center bore and whether you will need hub-centric rings.
3. Pick a diameter and width you can fit tires for.
4. Check the offset against fender and suspension clearance.
5. Confirm the wheel’s load rating is right for your truck, especially if you tow.

Reading bolt pattern in inches and millimeters

Listings write the same pattern two ways. The inch version is stud count by circle diameter in inches, and the metric version is the same circle in millimeters. 8×6.5 in is 8×165.1 mm, 8×6.7 in is 8×170 mm, and 8×7.09 in is 8×180 mm. If a listing uses one notation and your manual uses the other, convert before you compare. Numbers that look “close” are not interchangeable.

Single rear wheel versus dually

A dual-rear-wheel (dually) truck carries two wheels on each rear hub. Those rear wheels are made differently from the front wheels and from single-rear-wheel (SRW) wheels, with a different offset so the pair fits side by side and the tires do not touch. If you own a dually, shop for wheels sold for your exact configuration and never mix front and rear wheels. SRW wheels are the right choice for most one-ton pickups that are not duallies.

Cast, forged and steel wheels

• Cast aluminum is the most common aftermarket style. It offers many designs at a reasonable cost.
• Forged aluminum is denser and can be lighter for the same strength, and it usually costs more.
• Steel is inexpensive and durable, which makes it a fit for work trucks and winter sets, with fewer styling choices.

Mistakes that cause returns

• Assuming every heavy-duty GM truck uses the same pattern. The 2010 and 2011 model years sit on either side of a change from 8×165.1 to 8×180.
• Ordering by appearance and checking fitment afterward.
• Forgetting that aftermarket wheels often need different lug nuts than factory wheels.
• Not planning for the tire pressure sensors on trucks that have them.
• Mounting tires on a wheel before test-fitting the bare wheel. Many retailers will not take back a wheel once a tire has been mounted.

When your numbers are ready, browse our 8-lug truck wheels and use the bolt pattern in each listing to compare. Prices and availability are set by the retailer, and fitment should always be confirmed before purchase. Our wheel fitment checklist covers the remaining details such as lug seats and brake clearance.