I'm asking tww because my husband's convinced it can make it, and I'm convinced it won't. The manual agrees with me, so I know this thread is basically pointless, but perhaps someone will have a nugget of advice ... or a rim for my van.


FACTS:

1. 04 venture - this donut has previously gone about 30 miles, then another 15 or so today - and I need a rim, which isn't available at any salvage yards locally.

2. it's going to be Monday before I can get a new rim, and that's a remanned one (new = $4x and 1-2 weeks). UPS Ground could deliver on Monday either here or our intended destination, or I can pay $5x shipping and get it Friday.

3. next week is spring break, and our plans were to drive about 150 miles to family this weekend. We were then heading north from there. I'm seriously considering driving up there and having the rim delivered Monday up there, then replacing the tire up there. We have somewhere we have to be up there on Sunday, but if we have to come back here for the wheel this obviously fubars our other plans.

QUESTIONS:

The manual says 50 miles - but if I replace the donut tire with a new donut tire do you think it could make it 150 miles as long as I avoid interstate driving? Do you think it could make it without replacing it, also assuming no interstate?

2/28/2007 6:57:55 PM

well, youre also not supposed to go over 55 or something with a donut right?

so it would at least be slow going, but i dont think you want to chance a donut on 150 miles unless you have about 3 more spare donuts

2/28/2007 7:02:53 PM

pay extra, get it friday

what happens if you get another flat and the donut is already on the car?

2/28/2007 7:05:59 PM

Rental car? Or see if a friend will loan you a car if you let them use yours...

2/28/2007 7:06:40 PM

go find a steel wheel with your stock wheel dimensions.

cheaper than finding a alloy rim (if thats what you have).

and would last just as long as an alloy one

2/28/2007 7:06:44 PM

find a van like yours and take the wheels off of it

2/28/2007 7:10:45 PM

yeah, I agree with the ain't worth the risk ... he doesn't I'm srsly considering paying the extra. I have til 4 tomorrow to decide. Rental ... eh, we'd be gone a whole week, and the $ would be about the same as paying for Friday delivery. We could drive his car, but we wouldn't be able to get the double jogging stroller in it.


When I called junkyards I said I didn't care if it was a matching wheel, just that I want one that will fit. They all told me they didn't have anything that would fit. I'm not sure what dimensions to give ... I found an ebay listing that has info ... the only thing it told me that I didn't know was the bolt pattern is gauged (?) at 115mm.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=002&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=120089932269&rd=1,1
Do they just suck, or are they right?

I'm googling but if anyone knows a site where I can find out all the vehicles that use a particular size tire, LMK.

[Edited on February 28, 2007 at 7:18 PM. Reason : .]

2/28/2007 7:17:31 PM

according to http://www.car-part.com just about any Buick Century with a 15" x 6" wheel is the right size. There are an assload more. You can probably get 'em as cheap as 25 or 30 bux.

[Edited on February 28, 2007 at 7:25 PM. Reason : shizzle]

2/28/2007 7:25:02 PM

it'll be fine

just CYA by the tire manufacturers

2/28/2007 7:29:29 PM

I got a set of almost new phat ass gold crosslace GM wheels that would look fly on a Venture that I will sell you cheap.

2/28/2007 7:30:07 PM

my tires are 225/60R16 ... I have the 16" alloy rims, not the 15" stock rims ... we bought the thing used, and that's what was on them so at the time we were thinkin' "bonus!"

A LOT of GM vehicles apparently use this bolt pattern but I don't know what offset means - is that the measure of the inside edge of the rim to the bolt holes?

optimus ... van is silver - might look tacky - but what the hell, $?

[Edited on February 28, 2007 at 7:31 PM. Reason : .]

2/28/2007 7:30:40 PM

They are way expensive new, I practically stole them, I would take $100 for the set cause I want them gone! They are 5x115, have about 1200 miles on them, you can use your current tires on them (they are 16in) and I will throw in a set of brake dust shields with them.

2/28/2007 7:46:18 PM

actual conversation as I pull up this thread:

(pic of wheels loads)
Paige: What are thooooose?
Me: (faking like I'm hip) Dem's called riiims
Paige: they riiiimzzzzzzzz?
Me: yeayuh.
Paige: I wants them!

[/funny]

check PM

2/28/2007 8:12:12 PM

my friend drove about 2,600 miles on a donut before it went bald and blew out

2/28/2007 8:48:08 PM

aren't those the rims off that supercharged Bonneville?

2/28/2007 9:03:03 PM

yep!

2/28/2007 9:04:02 PM

u can make it

2/28/2007 9:05:52 PM

I was wondering what they came off of

This leads to a new question: Venture is 16x6.5, those are 16x7 - is this going to pose a problem? I'm thinking not, so

2/28/2007 9:18:55 PM

no, shouldnt be a problem at all, depending on backspacing.

2/28/2007 9:24:46 PM

if you have your bent wheel with you when you come we can measure the backspacing on both and compare.

2/28/2007 9:28:32 PM

will do

2/28/2007 9:31:25 PM

silver van... gold rims... you'd be the high-roller soccer mom minivan. Only 2nd because of that crazy Jamaican family that have 22 spinners...

2/28/2007 9:39:18 PM

Thank God for


... in case I decide to unpimp the auto

2/28/2007 11:13:14 PM

um what? jesus what was I thinking, ill just put the wheels on ebay.

2/28/2007 11:20:37 PM

those bonneville rims would look ok on a venture, just dont paint them

2/28/2007 11:29:32 PM

go to city auto salvage or wagners in durham, get a standard duty steel wheel for a late model chevy monte carlo. it will be $65-$85 and you can paint it whatever color you want.

2/28/2007 11:33:42 PM

it was a joke

a VW commercial just came on at the same time as the other guy posted

2/28/2007 11:56:01 PM

I have learned much about my wheels:

16x6.5"
5x115 pattern
+42 offset

3/1/2007 10:57:30 AM

my wheels are 38 offset

3/1/2007 12:59:49 PM

FACT

3/1/2007 7:11:28 PM