Are the Raptor's Factory Wheels "Horrible"?

[MagicMtnDan]

The Raptor is a special vehicle and available in limited (less than other F-150 quantities) and so the Raptor's wheels are rather exclusive as well.

Give the wheels' all-around performance ("free" with the Raptor), weight ("light"), strength and looks, I'm staying with them for the foreseeable future.

Like Mark, I may go with a 2nd set and even consider painting them.

So, those of you who are considering/moving to new wheels, keep us forum members in mind when you're trying to unload them. (Especially you Brian - wink wink).

And Jason, you might want to consider changing where you spend your time reading magazines calling your Raptor's engine a "boat anchor" and now it has "horrible wheels" - there's gotta be happier places for you to spend your time :mrgreen: Maybe like this place?

 

[MarkT]

Whats the load rating for the stock wheels?
Method's load rating is 3400 lbs. at 27.5 per wheel
I believe Walker's are 3800 lbs and Robby Gordon's are 3200 lbs.

I don't know off hand and my Raptor is WAY too dirty right now to look for any markings on the wheels... Asking the SVT Engineers would be a great idea.

I'm guessing 27.5 per wheel is the weight in pounds? I think the stock Raptor wheel weighs around 35 lbs IIRC... 7.5 lbs difference is a lot of aluminum! Does that mean the stock wheel is stronger? No. But it's something to think about.

And if I come down sideways on one wheel hard I know I'd be exceeding the best wheel rating available... But I think those ratings are based on GVWR and not the kind of abuse off-roading puts a wheel through. (that said, bigger is probably better)

If I would drive my Raptor hard off road (not me!:mrgreen my personal opinion (probably not worth much) would be to use the stock wheels or a high-end forged wheel of some kind... I'd stay away from cast unless I was very sure of the quality and strength... YMMV

 

[AndyR]

Ford Racing does have a set of black Raptor wheels in the catalog.

 

[MagicMtnDan]

Don't know if this is a good price but this site has the Raptor wheels (gray and black) for $299.00 each (says list is $370.95 each)

http://www.fordracingpartsdirect.com/category_s/168.htm?searching=Y&sort=13&cat=168&show=20&page=2

The Ford Racing Performance Parts site says this about the wheels:

Package Dimensions: 11.50 x 20.00 x 20.00

Package Weight: 34.3 lbs

Part Type: Chassis: Wheels

Instruction Sheet: None

Warranty Availability: N/A

Catalog Page: 0

UPC Code: 75612211285

http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts/part_details.asp?PartKeyField=11285

Here's the black wheel:

 

[NoCaDiver]

I have no problems with the factory wheels. Like many of you I think they are the best looking factory wheels I have seen in a long time.

But J do tell us what all of the F150 forum members are rocking for dubs, you know since none of the F150 wheels are as appealing as the Raptors (IMO).

 

[SLB8SNK]

i have to laugh at these posts sometime. I think you guys must have some deep pockets or money to burn. When I had my GT500 those guys were the same, tossing thousands a dollars at unnecessary and non functional mods.... and for what? I bought both my GT500 and my Raptor because they ALREADY came with a custom look. Sorry and not knocking anyone but the truck is amazing stock and at nearly 50K it is staying that way as I drive it into the ground. No need to toss money at mods hoping to change the look of the truck when after all part or most of the reason to buy it WAS the looks LOL.. but good luck!

 

[bstoner59]

The only reason I bought the truck was to drive off-road...A LOT!! I mod the truck in ways that make it handle better off-road...looks comes 2nd. If it weren't for guys being unhappy with the "stock" look and ability of cars there wouldn't be production cars with the aftermarket influence such as the GT500 and Raptor. I hope that guys continue to push the envelope with the Raptor (SDHQ in AZ is doing a nice job with that) so maybe Ford will keep it around for a couple gens and continue to expand on what they and the aftermarket have done. Take the Lightning and the Cobra...both started as specialty cars with small mods and you know where the Cobra is now and the Lightning has led to the Raptor. I understand if you don't want to touch your truck but it shouldn't make you laugh because you don't understand the objective of some people...you should smile because it's people like that that make it possible for Ford to make the truck you love so much...just my thoughts.

 

[Jake Y.]

Amen!

 

[BIRDMAN]

for the grey color wheels i much prefer Toyota's Hyper Black color...it's just a tad darker grey and looks mean.

 

[MagicMtnDan]

Like I always say, "it's a good thing people like all kinds of different things otherwise we'd all have the same vehicles". Every time I see someone doing something I think is tasteless I say good for them (and I wouldn't do it). For each Raptor that I wouldn't copy in any way is one less Raptor that's going to look like mine and THAT'S a good thing.