i am really having trouble with finding wagon wheels or steel wheels in general, to fit my xl7.  i am very interested in using my truck as a truck.  in order to do this i know i need to get the ' cadillac ' feel out other than changing to stiffer shocks and springs.  i feel like the xl is the bastard zuki.  i can't find ____!

I got mine from 4wheelparts.com, but I saw a almost new set on ebay that went for only 20 bucks.

did you have to special order or just order correct size?

Didn't I read here that it's the same bolt hole patern and spacing as a (Gasp, dare I mention it?? ) a Ford F150 pickup?          Dave

did you have to special order or just order correct size?

I ordered the 15x8 in wheels with 2.5 inches of backspacing. They have a 5.5 x 5 bolt pattern.

THE KICK DOES...AND IF THE XL7 IS 5 ON 5.5 15'S THEN IT SHOULD ALSO GO

I can save you a lot of work.  None of the suggestions so far will work, as your truck IS a bastard.

I have a GV with the same 16x7 JJ rims.  The important code to watch is JJ.  Kicks and such, along with the Vitaras have a J code.

What does this mean?  Well, you need a deep profile on the rim to clear the calipers, which has nothing to do with backspacing.  Nothing, and I do mean nothing, on the market in a steel rim will fit the GV or XL7, other than factory steel rims.  I tried Bart, US Steel, American Racing and others.  Nothing.  Dodge rims won't work, neither with Ford F150/Bronco rims.  There are a few alloys that will fit, but that's it.

In the end, I called dealer after dealer until i found one with a set of factory take-offs, and bought them for ~$150/set of 4.  Fit perfect and I use them to mount my MT tires on, saving the expensive factory GV Limited rims for my street-bound ATs.

HTH,

thanks y.t.  i just have spent the last 5 weeks day and night trying to not believe that the answer i found and the answer you gave is exactly what i found(even as far as ordering single wheels to no avail)

if this changes at all, i need to know so i can run this truck.


oh and what year steel gv wheels did you get?

i am really having trouble with finding wagon wheels or steel wheels in general, to fit my xl7.  i am very interested in using my truck as a truck.  in order to do this i know i need to get the ' cadillac ' feel out other than changing to stiffer shocks and springs.  i feel like the xl is the bastard zuki.  i can't find ____!

How is changing the wheels going to get the cadilac feel out of it? Why would wagon wheels make your truck a truck? I was under the understanding that Xl7 and gv used the same steel wheels. I have 3 xl7 wheels and 1 gv wheel on for street use. They look the same.

Mike

the whole idea of getting the caddy out means i have a truck, susp is going to be changed,  i already use it to pull a large lanscape trailer hauling trees i cut down however when full it doesn't feel as sturdy and i just want to tighten it up a bit.  changing wheels is one more step into making this rig a reality not a plush grocery getter.  also one day i will be at zukimelt or another zuk function a.s.a.p.  

One way to get rid of the squishy caddy
feel is to replace your P series tires with
LT series tires, 4 ply sidewall and higher
PSI does wonders to the handleing under
loads.

Wheels still wont change the ride. However, I did some checking and several, infact almost all wheel manufactorers sell wheels for the Xl7. Its just not in the book.Just give them this info and they should be able to help you. You will need a 5 on 5.5 bolt pattern in at least a 16 inch rim to clear the calipers. However, it sounds like Wildgoody has the answer your looking for.

Mike

Mike,

Trust me, no steel wheels for a XL7 or GV other than OEM (as of Spring 2003).  It's not the 16" with 5 on 5.5", it's the JJ code that its the deal killer.  This is something to do with the flange profile.  It's deep.

In the Vitara/GV realm, there are three OEM steel rims, 15x6 J, 16x6.5 J and 16x7 JJ.  The 16x7 JJ is the only rim that will fit the v6 GV and XL7.  I've tried fitting all three.

As for steel rims, I've test fitted American Racing, Weld and *brain fart* another one.  JD's Offroad was kind enuff to order them to see what fit.  None.  All rubbed the caliper.  Even my 15"  Willamette Daytona rims with 2" of BS didn't work.  I was in a jam trying to find steel rims for my MTs.  In the end, only the OEMs work.  There are aftermarket alloy rims available that fit, but no steel

Been there, done that, got a T-shirt.

I didnt know it was a 2003. How about wheel spacers?

Mike

I dunno if the XL in question is a 2003.  But my search concluded in the spring of this year, with no aftermarket steel rims fitting the GV or XL.

Tom Kingston said they had to machine a set of spacer specific to the GV, as there was a ridge the spacers had to clear.  Given the XL uses different axles than the GV, it's possible they are diffent as well.

But the issue with spacers and larger tires on the GV is the small wheel openings.  The spaced out wheels would rub like made.   My Gv has 5.5" of lift and 31"s, and with that, you can't fit a piece of paper between the tire and the lip of the wheel well when fully compressed.  A spacer would put it into the body hard.