Escape Take Off Wheels on Lobo

[Clump]

Did you lower your truck? If so, who's springs did you use?
I'd like to lower my LOBO.

Nope. Mine's completely stock.

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[Escapologist]

The Lobo wheels remind me of the BMW E30 "bottle cap" wheels that the tuners like for older stuff. I would run a set on Escape or future Mav for winters. Hard to find anything but steelies that isn't wide open and will collect slush chunks bad. Though I guess also I'd rather be down in diameter and up in sidewall a bit for winters.

 

[Buggy Man]

The Lobo wheels remind me of the BMW E30 "bottle cap" wheels that the tuners like for older stuff. I would run a set on Escape or future Mav for winters. Hard to find anything but steelies that isn't wide open and will collect slush chunks bad. Though I guess also I'd rather be down in diameter and up in sidewall a bit for winters.

Narrow wheels and tires are best for snow. The wider tires add more resistance when going through snow that is more than a few inches deep.
Being from western NY I have been through many blizzards so I have been there. Even with just front wheel drive it was amazing how much better my car handled with snow tires front and back.
Even with 4 BLIZZAKs my wife's AWD CRV got stuck pulling into the driveway with two+ feet of snow. There are limitations.

 

[Escapologist]

True true, was thinking that was implied with smaller diameter, something like 215 65 or 70, probably needing an XL tire. Really annoying being in a no-stud area, 'coz studdables leave all their ice grip to studs, poor siping, and "ice" tires are like M+S all seasons on everything else but ice. So a sliver of selection between those two that work for our winters.

 

[Buggy Man]

True true, was thinking that was implied with smaller diameter, something like 215 65 or 70, probably needing an XL tire. Really annoying being in a no-stud area, 'coz studdables leave all their ice grip to studs, poor siping, and "ice" tires are like M+S all seasons on everything else but ice. So a sliver of selection between those two that work for our winters.

The BLIZZAK's that were on my wife's CRV worked great. Only down side was the soft rubber. You were advised to limit dry road driving.
Soft surfaces need wide tires to spread the load - snow needs a narrow tire to get down to where the traction is without trying to act as a snow plow.
I'd start with the tire diameter (of your existing tires) and work backwards to figure out the wheel size and aspect ratio. There are tire size calculators available on the internet. A place like tire rack might be able to help.
The biggest problem will be finding the appropriate tire including the load rating.
When I bought tires for the dune buggy (larger rear tires than the front) I had to settle for what was available, what I wanted was not produced.

The tires on my LOBO are 225/55R19 and those look like they are 8" wide!

 

[OleFordGuy]

The BLIZZAK's that were on my wife's CRV worked great. Only down side was the soft rubber. You were advised to limit dry road driving.
Soft surfaces need wide tires to spread the load - snow needs a narrow tire to get down to where the traction is without trying to act as a snow plow.
I'd start with the tire diameter (of your existing tires) and work backwards to figure out the wheel size and aspect ratio. There are tire size calculators available on the internet. A place like tire rack might be able to help.
The biggest problem will be finding the appropriate tire including the load rating.
When I bought tires for the dune buggy (larger rear tires than the front) I had to settle for what was available, what I wanted was not produced.

The tires on my LOBO are 225/55R19 and those look like they are 8" wide!

Man that brings back memories of dune buggy days back in the 70's. That's a sweet looking buggy!!!

 

[Buggy Man]

Man that brings back memories of dune buggy days back in the 70's. That's a sweet looking buggy!!!

Thanks Oldfordguy, I appreciate the comment.
Here's some pictures of how it started in 2008. The buggy was finally finished and on the road in 2022 (after moving three times in 14 years). I have been upgrading it with larger diameter SS fuel line and electric fuel pump - after having fuel starvation issues. It's still apart due to health problems, but I hope to have it back on the road soon.
I really enjoy building stuff.

 

[Mcms25Lobo]

Your new wheels look good! Better than turbines. Personally, I'd swap for blk. lugs. These came on my Lobo.(1st pic) 225/55/19 I immediately added blk. lugs w/ lock and blk. FORD caps. (chrome lugs on a blacked out wheel/truck, not 4 me) I personally like them much better with the blk. on blk. & cleaner than the futuristic turbines. Just my opinion tho.

 

[Mcms25Lobo]

I didn't care for my first replacement of all locks w/ splines. As they again revealed to much chrome around the lugs for my taste and were also too long. So I went with OEM style, White Knight, blk. chrome, bulge acorns and only one lock. Now I can sleep.

 

[Drail]

I personally like the Lobo factory wheels you took away the unique look of the lobo with boring escape wheels. Just my personal taste but if you like it all good enjoy!

 

[Bdesign]

I opted for the optional wheels. The turbine wheel concept is cool but the proportions are off, vents should be larger, "frying pan" should be smaller with more dish to it. Currently too flat for me personally.

 

[Buggy Man]

I didn't care for my first replacement of all locks w/ splines. As they again revealed to much chrome around the lugs for my taste and were also too long. So I went with OEM style, White Knight, blk. chrome, bulge acorns and only one lock. Now I can sleep.

I have had similar wheels on several cars. They look neat but were a pain to clean. I had to try to run a sponge around the rim behind all the spokes and getting it past the caliper. The "open" design begs to have the calipers painted something other than silver.
At least the semi-black wheels won't show the brake dust as much.
When I first saw the "dinner plate" (turbine) wheels I didn't like them either, but they are growing on me. And they are easier to keep clean.
Anyone remember MOON DISCS?
Just my opinion misguided or otherwise.

 

[Meeka]

Thanks Oldfordguy, I appreciate the comment.
Here's some pictures of how it started in 2008. The buggy was finally finished and on the road in 2022 (after moving three times in 14 years). I have been upgrading it with larger diameter SS fuel line and electric fuel pump - after having fuel starvation issues. It's still apart due to health problems, but I hope to have it back on the road soon.
I really enjoy building stuff.

Do you have any pictures of that beautiful truck to the left, looks awesome!

 

[Buggy Man]

Do you have any pictures of that beautiful truck to the left, looks awesome!

I sold the truck in 2009 0r 2010.
There were a lot of things I had to fix on it. Somewhere along the line someone swopped the stick 6 for a 350 V8, EDELBROCK 410 hp kit (heads, air cap manifold wild cam, Holley carb). They also added power steering but because the alternator was on the drivers side....you had to remove it just to check the PS fluid (V8's had the ALT on the passenger side). They also locked the rear end.

The truck was horrible to drive. Even with 4.11 gears you couldn't shift into high gear below 60 mph or the wild cam would complain.
There were a lot of stupid things I had to fix like making a new harness to move the alt to the passenger side (I had to locate the correct brackets for the ALT & PS), replacing the electric pump for a mechanical one (the wiring for the pump was just twisted together), Changing the radiator for the V8 water inlet, oil pan threads were striped (had a RUBBER plug !!) so I added a new oil pan, replaced the EDELBROCK kit with standard heads, alum manifold, EDELBROCK carb and mild cam. I spent the whole summer fixing all this. Truck was much nicer to drive after all that work

.
At the end of the summer I had had enough so I sold it.

 

[Meeka]

I sold the truck in 2009 0r 2010.
There were a lot of things I had to fix on it. Somewhere along the line someone swopped the stick 6 for a 350 V8, EDELBROCK 410 hp kit (heads, air cap manifold wild cam, Holley carb). They also added power steering but because the alternator was on the drivers side....you had to remove it just to check the PS fluid (V8's had the ALT on the passenger side). They also locked the rear end.

The truck was horrible to drive. Even with 4.11 gears you couldn't shift into high gear below 60 mph or the wild cam would complain.
There were a lot of stupid things I had to fix like making a new harness to move the alt to the passenger side (I had to locate the correct brackets for the ALT & PS), replacing the electric pump for a mechanical one (the wiring for the pump was just twisted together), Changing the radiator for the V8 water inlet, oil pan threads were striped (had a RUBBER plug !!) so I added a new oil pan, replaced the EDELBROCK kit with standard heads, alum manifold, EDELBROCK carb and mild cam. I spent the whole summer fixing all this. Truck was much nicer to drive after all that work

.
At the end of the summer I had had enough so I sold it.

Still, looked nice! And I noticed you had a K&N air filter on it, some here don’t like thems,

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