Which Trucks Use 8-Lug Wheels?
Trucks with 8-lug wheels include 3/4 to 1-ton trucks from various vehicles, including Ford, Chevy, GMC, Dodge and Jeep. Generally, large trucks use the stronger 8-lug wheels to incorporate larger brakes and improve stopping ability.
During the era of big sedans, Pontiac was the first to have 8-lug wheels made for its full-size cars. The Kelsey-Hayes company produced them, and they were installed on the 1960 Pontiac. The 8-lug wheels were designed to use larger brakes and to cool them faster. The improved braking ability was crucial for the heavier all-metal sedans. From there, American truck companies, such as Ford, Chevy, GMC, and Dodge, began using 8-lug wheels to improve the braking ability of their larger trucks.
Due to the heavy weight and towing capacity of these trucks, the brakes had to be extra-capable. Therefore, these companies began using standard 8-lug wheels on most of their 3/4-ton and 1-ton trucks. The Ford F-250, Chevrolet 20, Chevrolet/GMC 2500, and Dodge 2500 are three-quarter-tons (3?4-ton). Chevrolet and GMC’s 3?4-ton suspension systems were further divided into light and heavy-duty, differentiated by 5-lug and 6- or 8-lug wheel hubs, depending on year. The Ford F-350, Chevrolet 30, Chevrolet/GMC 3500 and Dodge 3500 are 1-ton trucks.
