Method 705s Are Another Lighter Weight Wheel Option

[Lion77]

Got my 705s today in 17x8.5 ET+35 and threw one on the scale just to verify:

Getting them mounted up tomorrow. I know the 703s are probably the most popular, but the 705 has the same load rating, offset and width but is almost another 3lbs lighter.

I looked at RRWs but wasnt wanting to go with offsets greater than +30 and I really wanted the beadgrip design because it just plain works and im going to the dunes this year. I also like the fact that Ford sells 703s, so their load ratings and durability is at minimum as good as OE, so I wouldn't expect issues jumping the truck.

Methods site lists 25.2lbs for the 705s in this size and offset so that is accurate (my bathroom scale isn't as accurate as a weigh scale, but good enough to confirm the weight).

These checked all the boxes and I like the spoke design more than the 703s, the trapezoids and squares with rounded corns seem to fit the boxy industrial stylijg of the RR pretty well.

Ill post some pics after getting then mounted up tomorrow.

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[Chuck2001]

Post back when installed!

 

[Lion77]

At the dealer now waiting for paperwork lol. Haven't even seen it yet, but I was stoked when I threw it up on the scale and the weight matched up with the spec. on their site (Method lists it as 25.2 lbs).

Most of the wheel options under 29-30lbs are aggressive offsets and no beadgrip. This option is pretty light, bead grip, mild offset and has same load rating as the 703s that Ford sells on their own site.

 

[Ron Quixote]

Sharp looking wheel.

 

[Lion77]

Only mods are Ford Performance Pro Cal, AL4 Tonneau Cover, Rokblockz XL mudflaps and Method 705's in 17x8.5 ET+35 (offset) on stock 285/70R17 KO3's.

With stock tires, there's PLENTY of clearance, so will not need any trimming and there's room for the suspension to flex a tad on the rubber bushings or the tires to ballon or flex a bit. +35mm offset is just about perfect for stock tires. About two finger widths, so almost an entire inch of clearance at full lock.

It's hard to get just the right angle, because you can make the tire look like pokes more or less depending on the angle, but in person, the sidewall of the tire is about flush with the fender flare, the tread is just barely tucked in, so about a flush fit. +25mm off set would likely have a bit of poke on the tread and most certainly the sidewall with stock tires, with wider tires +25mm off set would get you decent poke. Wider tires (like 315's) on +35mm will get just a tiny bit of tread poke.

The weight difference is pretty noticeable even with a Pro Cal tune, throttle response is sharper and it takes a bit less throttle to accelerate at the same rates I did before during normal driving. The truck is pretty quick with the Pro Cal, but Pro Cal with 25 lb lightweight bead grip wheels is for the win and absolutely in sync with its rally style personality!!!

My personal reasons for going with the 705's over the 703s (both are great options):
1. I wanted bead grip for sand dunes so I can run 15~20 PSI and still push some on corners without de-beading, Method is the 1st choice and had the most bead grip styles, sizes and off-sets, KMC and few others offered their version of bead grip on one or two wheels, but they only had one or two wheels with a similar concept and I don't think it was as well executed as Method's.

2. The 705's are their lightest weight wheel in 17x8.5 +35mm off set and bead grip.

3. I personally like the rounded square / trapezoid cut-outs of the split spoke design and think it complements the RR's squared off body shape and "industrial" angles / proportions. it also offers a bit more exposure to air for brake cooling, but less shielding against mud, so that can be a pro or con depending on your use. For Rally / Baja style and street, that's a plus. For 4x4 / mudding it's maybe a bit of a con.

4. The Matte Titanium actually matches the fenders quite well, it's very similar tone, maybe 1 shade lighter, but I don't' think it looks like a mismatch (and I actually don't like this wheel in darker colors like black even though I like black wheels, for some reason I only liked it in the Titanium or maybe a flat bronze).

5. The 705's have the same side load rating as the 703's which Ford sells on their site, so Ford Performance / Ford has tested the 703's to meet their durability standards, so the 703's / 705's should be as tough as OEM alloys as the 705's are from the same company, same alloy and have the same load rating as the 703's. It's a relatively safe bet for quality / durability.

6. The Bronco's (non-Raptor) use the same wheel hub and pattern as the Ranger. Ford sells the Bronco's with factory off-sets ranging from +55mm out to +30mm, so there's a VERY HIGH probability that is the acceptable working range of off-sets for the wheel bearings without compromising durability or affecting scrub radius enough to negatively affect steering / braking stability and tire wear to unacceptable levels. Off-set is more than just looks, it affects track width, clearance, bearing loads / durability, scrub radius (which affects braking stability, turn-in and tire wear), my goal was to "tweak" not radically alter vehicle dynamics.

7. Nobody else has used the 705's on a RR yet.

My thoughts on handling dynamics between +55 stock wheels and a slightly more aggressive +35mm offset: There was absolutely no steering feedback with the stock off set, it was very numb where now in sport mode there is just a tiny bit of feedback, not much, but enough to add some confidence and just a touch of road feel. Turn-in is a bit sharper / more precise than before where it was a little vague for my liking stock, so a plus there as well. This should translate well off-road too as the feedback isn't much, so it's not "jerking the wheel" like excessive scrub from high off sets, it feels "just right".

Stance is perfect in my opinion, the sidewall is flush with the fender, the tread is just barely tucked in from the edge of the fender (on stock tires). It gives the truck a bit more aggressive stance without looking ridiculous (I don't mind a small amount of poke either, but I was more concerned about handling with too big of an off set, aesthetics were honestly my LAST consideration in wheel choice).

The weight is very noticeable part throttle and also in steering response, my truck is Pro Cal tuned and the whole powertrain is DLC coated (super lubricity), so I didn't have to give it much throttle before, now I can be VERY light on the pedal to get decent acceleration for around town, it just goes so effortlessly for a 5,300lb 4x4 truck with 33" off-road tires.

The ride over small bumps or "wash" in the cement, aka the small undulations or waviness, which is imperfections in the pouring of the surface, is noticeably improved. It feels more "mazda" like, a one and done instead of a bit of resonance (jitter) that it had over small bumps / imperfections prior. I attribute that obviously to the significant reduction in un-sprung mass and going from OEM Bead locks to 25 lb wheels is quite noticeable. I think before I would get a bit of "tire bounce" due to the weight of the wheel, but now that's gone.

If you had OEM alloys (non-bead locks), it's probably not enough weight difference to notice there, but the other differences from off set would be noticeable. Overall, I'm giving the Method 705's a 10/10. The dealer that did the install has been pretty good and the tech chose not to use the centering rings on mine, I didn't have a change to get into 70's, but I cruised home in the 60mph range, and it was buttery smooth, in fact smoother than the OEMs. Lot less wheel weights were needed to balance the KO3's with the lightweight wheels.

OEM Beadlocks are reported to weight around 36 to 37 lbs. Let's assume 36 just to be nice to Ford.

(36 - 25.2) * 4 = 43.2 lb reduction in un-sprung mass! yah, you can notice that. If it was only 2-3lbs per wheel? Probably not, so don't go selling your 703's now

 

[Lion77]

BTW, sorry for the stupid long post, but wanted to give anyone looking as much info / details on these wheels or something similar like the 703's. I'm a big Method fan now. Wish it wasn't winter, I could get some pics of the truck nice and clean on some grass or in a field, but alas, winter = dirty.

8. Forgot to mention the stupid valve stems, I CAN ACTUALLY ACCESS THEM NOW. YIPEEEE!!!! Method did a good job of angling them inward at about 45 degrees, so they don't' stick straight out sideways where they could get ripped off / pinched by a rock, but they aren't hard to access either, especially on these wheels since the valve stem hole is right where one of the larger spoke gaps are on each wheel. They clearly put some thought into the whole wheel design.

 

[jordantii]

Great write up! I'm looking into the 705's with Pirelli Scorpion XTM's which are like 8 lbs lighter than the K03's, each.

 

[Sauce]

Love the look of them and almost pulled the trigger when I was looking, but for some reason I got hung up on the 5 bolt pattern on that design (the pattern aligns with a 6 bolt pattern). Now that I see them on your rig, they look great and I question my decision. I went with the 707s since I don't see a lot of them and I love them - but they are heavier than yours.

 

[Chuck2001]

Great write up! I'm looking into the 705's with Pirelli Scorpion XTM's which are like 8 lbs lighter than the K03's, each.

I'm really looking forward to indépendant reviews on these. Internet has mixed feelings so far it seems on those tires.

The rivian community has mixed reviews.

 

[jordantii]

I'm really looking forward to indépendant reviews on these. Internet has mixed feelings so far it seems on those tires.

The rivian community has mixed reviews.

Yeah 'I've heard that too. He is gonna do a full review at some point. Looking forward to it as well.

 

[Shadowsquatch]

That’s a nice looking wheel, great choice!

 

[Lion77]

I'm actually really liking the matt titanium color, but if I ever did repaint them, I do think they would also look good in a flat bronze, so if I scratch them up or chip them up I might have them Cerakoted in one of their bronze colors. Either way, I personally think this wheel pattern looks better in lighter colors, not black.

I do like blackout wheels, but just not in this spoke pattern, almost like the black hides the unique spoke pattern, where I actually like black with the 703's.

 

[Lion77]

And those Pirelli MTX AT's look promising. They have the alternating shoulder blocks like the KO3's for sand, mud and river rock (looser surfaces) where the large lugs are what give you bite. What would win me over to the MTX's is if they delivered the same off-road performance as the KO3's but improved on-road dynamics a little more.

The tread blocks look to be spaced a little closer together (smaller voids), so that would likely improve on-road handling, the question becomes, does it negatively affect off-road traction as compared to the KO3, and if so, how much? This is what Pirelli claims, weather that holds up in independent testing, I don't know, but I can say their high-performance car tires (summer and all season) are excellent, so maybe that translates into an AT tire that is even better rounded than the KO3, which for off-road use, is hard to beat.

From the limited testing he did, it sounds like this might be a little better off road too, very compelling option and looks like there are really 3 top contenders now, KO3, AT4W and XTM AT.

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