Anyone got a Acapulco blue with 19s banded, I'm not convinced they would look well together.
 
are these 19" banded steels 120mph fully loaded safe ? as in safe safe ?
how do they balance up ?

Bit of an odd question, but bare in mind that banded steels are not load rated/tested or carry any approval. They are a steel wheel that's cut up and welded back together, but all the Duchy work i've owned or seen has been top notch, and i'd go so far as to say they are far stronger than some alloys, specially some of the cheap rubbish that you seen on eBay. Even my first set of Wolfrace Entourage cracked on 3 wheels in 2 different places on each wheel.

My T6 is quite heavy, and it does a lot of miles, combine that with B14s on lowest setting, ARB's on stiffest setting, with a driver that drives hard sometimes and other than user error, where kerbs magically move into your path, they've been fantastic. If they last with me and my van, they will last anyone.
 
Sending my Amarok's to dutchy for banding this week
I'm thinking 8s and 9s anyone got any input on this ?
Don't want any rubbing or arch rolling silliness

cheers
 
Sending my Amarok's to dutchy for banding this week
I'm thinking 8s and 9s anyone got any input on this ?
Don't want any rubbing or arch rolling silliness

cheers

Take what ever Jamie advises, he knows exactly what works, unless you want something outside the box.
It's doubtful you will have any rubbing unless you are super low, with huge profile tyres.
To put it into perspective, i'm maxed out on B14s, and wearing 45 profile tyres on my 19s, with around 10mm of clearance under my arches, and it never rubs.
 
I have run two sets one set 9" fronts & 9.5" rears, but the rears tended to catch my kirvans store door card but now i'm lowered on b 14@s i tempted to try them again, my current set are 8.5" front and 9" rear. All wheels were run on a 255 /45 tyre with a nice stretch on the 9.5's but my current 8.5's could probably do with a 235 for looks . I've not suffered any catching or rubbing at all
Duchy certainly knows his stuff
 
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ok cool thanks chaps I think 8.5s and 9s will be a good all round compromise .
do you think I can get a 235 50 18 tyre on a 9" rim ?
 
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Please forgive me asking this question,

After seeing some of these wheels on one of the “ show me your alloys” thread.

I must admit they look ace, can I ask what is the difference between them and smooths or are they the same.

can I also ask what size and dimensions I would need for a T5.1. I have just looked on Duchy’s Facebook and I haven’t seen that many different colours and styles.
 
Please forgive me asking this question,

After seeing some of these wheels on one of the “ show me your alloys” thread.

I must admit they look ace, can I ask what is the difference between them and smooths or are they the same.

can I also ask what size and dimensions I would need for a T5.1. I have just looked on Duchy’s Facebook and I haven’t seen that many different colours and styles.

A good question that warrants a detailed answer.

Banded steels come in four different sizes for the T5 and T6 (basically a 5x120 stud pattern)
They are available in 16-17-18-19" though the smaller sizes won't fit the bigger brakes.
The 16 and 17" steels are directly off a T5 or T6 and that's what people like Jamie (Duchy Banded Steels) band.
The 18" steels are off the VW Amarok, and not overly expensive to buy new in none banded form, but often a very limited stock. (these also look really cool as they are)
The 19" are a whole different animal, and these are seen as the king of Banded steels. These are made up from Range Rover space savers, which are banded in the same way as the others, but they take more work to build, and hence cost far more. They use Range Rover simply because they are 5x120 and the only 19" steel wheel available in the UK.

Most are staggered fronts and rears, and the sizes can vary depending on who banded them, but as a general rule, your standard band should be around 8.5" fronts, and 9.5" rears, although some are wider and some are narrower. My 19" RRs for instance are 9" fronts and 10" rears, where as my 18" Amaroks are 8.5" and 9.5"

There are several companies that offer banding, but I have only ever used Jamie, as have many other forum members. Personally I think his work is exceptional, and i've never heard of anyone having issues with a banded steel wheel from him.
There is the obvious legal issue with Banded steels, in that they are not a tested or approved wheel, and anyone that quotes the load ratings of a banded steel in it's none banded form is incorrect for obvious reasons. You have to make the choice if you want to fit these wheels, and I personally have no issues running 2 sets of them myself.

Tyre sizes: There isn't really a standard answer for this, and it depends on if you are low, slammed, Swamper, on air , want load rated etc.
Personally, i'm not a big fan of the stretched tyre, ultra low profile thing, and prefer the chunky look of a 45 profile on both my sets. This gives me the correct load ratings, plus the reliability and comfort I need for all the miles I do a year.

Colours are only limited by your own imagination.

Lastly, 'smoothies' are just a name of a wheel that has no holes cut out, and available from people like Tamar wheels in none-banded form.

There are other steel wheels available, that look like they are banded, but they are actually built from scratch this way by companies like Weller wheels, or Detroit Steels, and can often be fully tested and load rated for our vehicles.

Banded steels are love them or hate them, but i'm a huge fan of steel wheels, and it was probably my T6 you're referring to from the other thread. They are extremely quick and easy to wipe clean, but they are heavy compared to some alloys, and they won't withstand being kerbed because they rust within days if you chip the paint.
I've yet to find any other wheel that i'd prefer, hence why I have a set for summer and a dedicated set for winter, running full winter tyres.
 
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Can I say a massive Thankyou Tourershine, that’s a comprehensive answer and educational.

I can say I’m in the love them camp, and will start looking at the 18” Amarok wheels. I’ve had a good look at Duchy’s face book page but I’m not signed up to facebook so will be worth an email to him.

These would be a great add to my van and great as winter wheels, saving grace is my wife likes them very much.

Thanks again.
 
Can I say a massive Thankyou Tourershine, that’s a comprehensive answer and educational.

I can say I’m in the love them camp, and will start looking at the 18” Amarok wheels. I’ve had a good look at Duchy’s face book page but I’m not signed up to facebook so will be worth an email to him.

These would be a great add to my van and great as winter wheels, saving grace is my wife likes them very much.

Thanks again.

Jamie is always on hand when it comes to selling his wheels, and super helpful. He might have a set already done that you can choose your own colour.
If you want his mobile number, drop me a PM and I will pass it over to you.
 
I was actually about to message you @Tourershine and found this and only from today, it’s almost answered all of my questions!!!
I’ve got a T32 SWB Kombi Sportline, bought it with 19 ABT’s .... it’s a work horse, I’m a heating engineer, so it’s loaded, and sometimes it’s 2/3 weeks before I can clean in the winter, and the ABT’s will get ruined, I love them but thinking of having a set of banded steels for a winter set, my biggest query was the load rating if I’m honest! Is your van a T32?
 
As @Ads_Essex confirmed, mine is a T32 and a work horse like yours @DWS often covering 100s of miles a day.

I've been down the fancy intricate alloy wheel route and winter either ruins them, or ruins you with the amount of cleaning they need.
 
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I’ve had a spate of being so busy with work and family life it was 4 weeks it hadn’t been cleaned for and I do love a clean van and a clean car etc and am pretty anal about how I clean them with the jet wash and 2 bucket method etc .... but time is always the issue, I cleaned it Wednesday, Thursday it was quite muddy from a farm track so I just hosed it off just to get the worst off but it’s filthy again! This is why I think steels would look good, but I just couldn’t have the standard 18” Amarok’s, I’d have to have banded ones!
like your rear lights too @Tourershine .... and is your tailgate solid or glazed? If it’s glazed it’s been proper blacked out!
 
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