Vents MagaZine Music and Entertainment Magazine
Related Articles
The Ford F-150 needs no introduction in the United States. In fact, it is perhaps the best-known pick-up truck in the world.
We recently experimented with a newly launched model of Fuel Wheels with our Ford F-150 Raptor, a derivative of the original pick-up.
It was on a hunch that we selected Fuel’s FF66 rims in Candy Red finish since they would provide a splendid contrast in color versus the all-black Raptor. This specific Fuel model is a stunner. In fact, the entire Fuel ‘FF’ family are designated off road wheels.
The result was astonishing! We had not expected these rims to deliver the way they did. In our opinion (and in the opinions of several experts in the aftermarket rims market), Fuel seems to have overtaken Method Wheels at the moment.
And that is an achievement that’s pretty difficult to replicate!
Let’s quickly take you through what we experienced.
A word or two about our ride
The Ford F-150 Raptor is a more muscular variant of the full-size truck superstar, the F-150. We had at our disposal the 2021 variant that had been taken off-road several times but never quite pushed to its limits.
The 2021 F-150 Raptor lacks the 5-liter V-8 engine that the bigger sibling has but is no pushover. It boasts a V-6 twin-turbo engine that can deliver roughly 450 HP at its peak performance.
It has been designed for off-road use as several of its characteristics indicate. For example, the suspension has been ‘tuned’ for long-distance travel on gravelly surfaces. The internal-bypass dampers are visibly larger and the vehicle has been designed to utilize 37-inch tires!
Read that again: 37-inch tires.
This option definitely means that it will suit almost any of the latest Fuel Wheels without complaints.
This also means that the vehicle will be able to meet and conquer any surface you can throw at it! All you will need is a set of high-quality off-road rims and you’re set to roar your way ahead.
The rims we used
Although we are very big fans of Method Wheels, we went in for a change and tried on a set of the Fuel Forged series instead.
Over the years, Fuel has gone on to manufacture some of the finest forged rims money can buy. They are superior to most brands in several ways. The specific model we used was the 22-inch FF6 which has 6 lugs and 6 spokes that break up into 2 tributaries when they touch the interior part of the lip.
Furthermore, since we were opting for Fuel, we also used their Gripper M/T tires. These are seriously capable models that are, however, slightly pricier when compared to most equivalent tires from other major names.
The results
In one sentence, we were completely blown away!
With the mighty Gripper M/T, our vehicle had enough traction to go over small hillocks which we faced on the road. While they are very heavy, the tires can work perfectly even if there’s low air pressure.
The engine purred and growled as we pressed down on the gas. With the superb 10-speed auto transmission, each of our Fuel rims got enough energy to provide the necessary prowess required for off-road conditions.
Only 2 factors irked us. One was the vehicle’s suspension system. It seemed a bit too hard at times but that can be adjusted for a later trip. The second was that the Fuel tires seemed a lot noisier than comparable models when we were still inside the city.
While we are sticking with the Fuel Wheels’ forged series next time – with the bright and colorful dual-tones – we might perhaps change over to Continental or Michelin’s tires. They are as efficient as the Fuel models and will certainly consume a lot less gas.
Does Vision Wheels too have a similar model?
When it comes to custom rims, Vision rims are supposed to be as close to the top as possible. This is one company that is noted for its bespoke models only.
While Fuel rims are widely known for their splendid handling and braking prowess, not all of their models can be customized. For example, if we had to outfit the Ford F-150 Raptor with fully custom Fuel off-road rims, we would have to wait for a few weeks as the company would take some time to churn out one set of wheels (plus a spare) that was made for only that Ford F-150 Raptor!
The difference is quite obvious.
If we had to select a model from the house of Vision rims for this vehicle, we would have gone for the Vision Forged 003 (the VF003). It is one of their best-known products and has all the attributes of other high-end wheel makers including Fuel.
The one variation is that Vision off-road rims are most often unavailable off the shelves. You will have to place an order and the manufacturing process starts from that point.
Finally,
We bought our Fuel Wheels FF6 from AudioCityUSA in California. They are 33-year-old retailers and offer superb deals, especially on Fuel products!
