Challenger Wheels
Here is an informative article that appeared in tirereview.com:
Making Waves
by Scott Blair
In October 2008 / In Focus: Performance
In a few days, the 2008 SEMA Show will get underway. In spite of the current economic climate, there is still a lot to be gained by attending the show. New vehicles are still arriving and consumers are still looking for ideas on how to improve upon OE parts.
One of the most anticipated cars to arrive is the 2009 Dodge Challenger.
I have looked closely at the preproduction version of this one for years as it was on display. It always had big-inch tires and wheels. For the production car, though, it appears that the 20-inch package is only for some R/T and all SRT-8 models.
My first encounter for wheels with this car was a SE model that came with P215/65R17 tires on 17x8 wheels. What an opportunity. My customer is the exact demographic that you would expect: retirement age and looking to change the OE wheels to something that would have been popular in 1970. Just to let you know, cast aluminum mods are not made in 17-inch sizes, but Centerline Wheels (centerlinewheels.com) offers old-school styles like a Gambler or AutoDrag III in a two-piece to create a similar style.
Another option is to offer a 17-inch wheel that resembles the original 1970s style. Where would we find this, you ask? How about Wheel Vintiques (wheelvintiques.com). They can cut a 16- to 18-inch Chrysler Rallye style wheel out of billet aluminum and offer it with custom backside settings.
I will be taking measurements on the OE wheel soon and will let you know how this project turns out.
Considering that the SE model is $8,000 less than the R/T and nearly $20,000 less than an SRT-8, we can offer quite a bit for under $10,000. For instance, Brembo (brembo.com) has just released their newest fitment guide for their GT (Gran Turismo) line of performance brakes.
2009 Challenger brake kits with 4- and 6-piston calipers for V6 and V8 powerplants are available. A quick word of caution here: If you make this upgrade, measure for the X-factor of the wheel needed to clear this larger caliper when you order new wheels."