I bought some H2 wheels on ebay and figured they are 8 lug wheels so they should be heavy duty. But now I read on the forum that they might not be. What was the final determination on the load rating on these.

When towing I can reach a rear axle weight of ~6500lbs.

What should I do? Thanks in advance for the help.

I've never read of someone actually breaking one whilst towing, but others may chime in here... I think the rating, IIRC, is over 3k per wheel, but I'm not sure on that.

IIRC, no one has been able to get the rating for the wheels.

It was stated here once that the rating must be stamped on the wheel as that was a requirement by law. I have no clue if this is true, but if it is true, the numbers stamped on the back are all over 3K.

I have two sets of H2 wheels & tires (bought a set of 4, then saw a better deal and bought another set of 4), and the rims/wheels do not have a weight rating stamped in them. I believe the Hummer H2 has a rear axle rating of 5,000 lb, so each Hummer H2 must be rated for at least 2,500 lb. Personally, I would be comfortable using them up to the rear axle rating of my truck (6,084 lb, or 3,042 lb each). In your case, as you exceed that, you may want to consider a wheel with a known higher rating.

Some on this site have said the Hummer wheels are junk because they are cast. That is not true. Cast aluminum can be heat treated to a higher (relative to non heat treated cast aluminum) hardness and yield strength, so just because the H2 wheels are cast does not mean they are soft or junk. That said, they are heavy at about 32 lb per rim. The reason for this is that in order to get the equivalent strength from a heat treated cast aluminum rim compared to a forged rim (and more expensive) the casting must have thicker sections. Put simply, forging creates a denser and more favorablly oriented grain structure with fewer voids than does casting even when the casting is properly heat treated.

Bottom line, as you are running 6,500 lb on the rear axle, you should consider getting rims with a rating of at least 3,250 lb each.

Personally, I would be comfortable using them up to the rear axle rating of my truck (6,084 lb, or 3,042 lb each).

Bottom line, as you are running 6,500 lb on the rear axle, you should consider getting rims with a rating of at least 3,250 lb each.

The rear axle is an AAM 1150 rated at 10,930 lbs. The rear axle rating of the truck stamped on the door is the total load rating of the stock tires (245's) which have a capacity of 3042 lbs. per tire, X2 = 6084 lbs.

The stock 16" wheels with 265's load range E have a capacity 3417 lbs. per tire, X2 = 6834 lbs. for the axle.

Any heavier is a definite candidate for 19.5's with load range F or G tires rated at 4500 lbs. per tire, X2 = 9000 lbs. for the axle.
:grd:

How do you think the rim would fail? Would it just bend or fracture?

How do you think the rim would fail? Would it just bend or fracture?

LOL I wouldn't want to find out.