Front inside tires hitting tie rod ends?

[TJM70's_48]

I had my car up on a rack last week and got a good look all around. I was troubled to see that my front tires are hitting somewhere and have substantial damage to them. My best guess is the tie rod ends, but I haven't figure it out for sure.

The car has 215/75R15 tires on chrome reverse rims. All from the previous owner. I have the stock rims, but no tires on them...and not eager to spend almost $1000 on tires if I can avoid it.

I will need to replace the tires, but, I'm looking for opinions on using spacers on the front wheels. From what I'm reading in posts here, the stock lugs should be able to handle a spacer around 1/4"...but do you think this will get me enough clearance? I think it would do so, but, not 100% sure.

Is anyone running a similar size tire or had a similar problem? Any suggestons about alternative sizes to make sure I don't hit the tires? I think the 75 is the narrowest tire that I can get for the 15" rims?

Thanks, I appreciate all the help I get here. I have a lot of learning to go.

Tom

[Plymouthy Adams]

what is the backset/offset of the rims..the 215 are about as wide as you would want to go on a stock P15..combined with the other unknown rim..could be very close...however you should have seen that when on the lift...if inspection on the rack proved clearing but close..only the flex while making a turn comes into play...compare the backing/offset of the rim to your stock ones and go from there..

[greg g]

215's are pushing it a bit as far as mounting them on stock wheels, they are only 4 1/2 inches wide and 215 are "supposed"to be mounted on 6 to 7 inch wide. I am running 205 on the front of mine on 5 inch wide after market wheels.

Tim is correct about the backspace. the distance from the edge of the rim to the back of the mounting flange. I is really maxed a 4 inches, Stock is 3.5 i believe.

So other than new tires, spacers would be the leas expensive way to go. Getting them lined up using the lug bolts might be a pain int he butt.

[Plymouthy Adams]

as Plymouth uses the lug bolt..finding these in a longer length to secure spacers is a bit tough..1/4 is about the max I spacer I would suggest using with stock length bolts..

[TJM70's_48]

Thanks for the backspace info...I will get under there and check it out. Just about everything on the car was done by the previous owner and I've been dealing with issues as they pop up.

I'm not sure if I want to get the spacers or not. It needs new king pins and a tie rod end, and two new front tires :-(

The 215s are mounted on chrome wheels...not on stock wheels. If I went back to the stock rims, I'd get the wide white walls...but it's just a money question right now...don't want to spring for 4 Coker tires yet if I can help it.

So much to learn....

[claybill]

due to expense...i switched back to bias...G78x15 lucas tire WWW is 124.00

with the 3 1/4 white wall. coker is only 2 1/2 in. a little narrow.....

coker makes 2 radials...if you do, get the AMERICAN CLASSIC made in usa.!

bill

[TJM70's_48]

I haven't driven a car with bias tires in at least 25 years...believe it or not, I used to run them on my Ford Maverick back in the 80s!

How are the bias tires? How is it to drive one of these cars with them?

I can handle a $124. price a lot better! Might be an acceptable fix for my problem...and look nice, too.

[LAKOTA169]

I had a similar problem when I first got my car. Tires were rubbing the front brake lines and the drag link. This would happen when the steering was turned for corners.PO had smeared grease all over the inside walls of the tires and tie wrapped the rubber brake lines. Car had H70X15 tires on all four corners. Replaced tires with 6.00X16. No more rubbing.

[TJM70's_48]

grease & rubber wrapping, good grief!!!!

I just realized that I might be able to sell the chrome reverse wheels to offset the tires cost....hmmmm.

I do like the look of the stock style ww tires better anyway...

[Oldguy48]

Had exactly the same issue when I bought my P15. The previous owner had 215-75-R15 tires on chrome wheels. Sold the wheels/tires to some guy redoing a 57 Ford, and am going back to original 4.5" wheels/205-75-R15 tires.

[JoelOkie]

I had this same problem on a 48 where chrome wheels and wider tires were installed. I made some small stops out of 1 1/2 strap, and drilled and bolted them where they would keep the wheels from turning quite as far in a tight turn, maybe 1/4" (but not more than 1/2"). It stopped the rubbing, and it didn't affect how tight a turn you could make so much that I was able tell it made any difference. I pointed them out to the man I sold the car to so he could remove them if he wanted. I don't remember exactly where I put the bolt, but I do remember that it was a very quick fix, maybe 15 minutes, so it could be something someone could do until they got the other tires and wheels. Joel

Edited June 5, 2010 by JoelOkie

[BobT-47P15]

Would the radials happen to be low on air pressure? Maybe that

contributes to the rubbing. More pressure might keep the sidewalls

more firm. Just an un-technical thought.

Re: the question about going from radials to bias ply....you will probably

notice a bit of difference. My car drove good on radials, and when I

went back to bias ply, the front end felt real loose and sloppy, and the

tires follow ruts in the pavement. Kinda throw you around some, best

way I can describe it.

I saw some wide white radials on an ebay ad,

with a price of around $248 each.

If you get blackwall radials you can

purchase at a regular local tire store, they should cost less.

[LAKOTA169]

What Bob said about driving on bias ply. Mine does that.

[Robert Horne]

Is there a bump stop on the suspension, so as to stop the steering from turning too far?..........Bob..........