help with wheel sizes

[navyboy]

so it looks like I have 15x7 on her now as I picked up another plymouth a few weeks to test the waters for fun. trying to see what is the largest I can stuff under it for a 52 plymouth cranbrook I picked up few weeks ago. I cant take measurements for **** and was hoping someone new what the max I can go with the stock system that is on it now IE brakes ect. would 17x10 in rear be way to big with stock equip. anyone gone to atleast a 16x8? seeing what others have done with good results, the idea is to see what is the widest in a sense I can go as she is being built as a track car for fun with low budget, thanks guys.

[plyroadking]

I don't know what size you can fit under your car, but don't forget about the body roll, i did and the rears rubbed on the frame/trunk wall every time i went around a corner. ....

[Plymouthy Adams]

ARE you just looking to put the fattest tires you can under there or are you also considering the fact that you want the speedometer and ODO to also indicate correctly.  To get there you must consider the very wheel itself....the profile of the wheel in diameter, width and offset will be more important than just a tire size as they alone will dictate the max rubber you can run safely and also run with correct indication of speed.  Body roll as mentioned above is a very big player and the 52 Plymouth was not factory equipped with a panhard rod..any aggressive driving will probably net you some less than desired performance.    You will need to calculate the very distance from the inner fender to the outer lip with the "bulge" from the cross section profile of the tire and center this on the axle with the proper width and offset rim.  Anything less than a full consideration of all thing working back there is going to give you some cause of concern and often tire damage is the result.  Stock wheel you are very limited but if you upgrade wheels, as you go wider in rim with modern style tires the added width above 6.5 is often found on the outer edge of the rim and is of concern to scraping the tires on the fender lip.  Any deep offset and you will have the same concern with the inner fender.  Stock later model Mopar rims per my measurement and subsequent usage are approx. 5 inch backset at 6.5 rim width, again the wider width will be to the outer edge and the backset stay approx. the same.  HOWEVER...these modern wheel may not be that good for you as the axle is not as wide and are basically designed from the factory for a neutral offset or at best a + .5 - 1.0  I run the modern wheels as I usually do front and rear chassis component upgrades and the use of the modern wheel is just a natural selection on the most part of what wheel suits your eye.  There are companies out there that will build your wheel to any width and offset per you specifications...so...you are either locked in with stock, upgrade to modern stuff or basically bite the bullet for custom made.   Fat meat can be managed in various ways but usually it is with taller rims and shorter ratio aspect with wider cross sections..there is a balance to all this.  My 52 is not running anything spectacular, 225/60/16's but they are on a postitive offset late model factory alloy with a rear axle almost 6 inches wider than stock flange to flange from a 79 Chrysler police interceptor with sure grip 2.88 and 9 1/4 axle.  Being a flat faced rim at 6.5 and backset at 5 inches approx..they fill the wheel wells quite nicely.  Do the math...its the only real deal going for you...

Edited November 12, 2013 by Plymouthy Adams

[Don Coatney]

In order for the fat tires to rub the inner fender you first have to be able to bet them in there. Even with the rear of the car jacked up by the frame so the rear axle is at its lowest the clearance to squeeze a fat tire in there is minimul. Take careful measurements to insure they will fit before you shell out any cash.

[greg g]

Do what the Ramcharger's did on High and Mighty.  Remove the rear fenders, then 90% of you issues go away.

Edited November 12, 2013 by greg g

[Don Coatney]

The HIGH AND MIGHTY

 

[DJ194950]

Want to know what will fit for sure? Fitment for tire size/wheel offset tool measureing devices are avail.

Most tire mfg'ers web site list the height/sidewall height/tread measurements to match what the tool says will fit.

Wheel mfg'ers list width and backspacing. As mentioned for a few? extra bucks and a wait, custom sizes are avail. from some mfg'ers.

 

Just one example from Summit racing

[navyboy]

Hmm thanks Guy, I wasn't referring so much to tires but wheels. Seen some wheels I like may just have to see if some local wheel places can help out for next spring. Thanks guys.

[navyboy]

Also wheels in question I like are the fr500 in mate black. Some others as well. Also have GPS operated speedo from speed hut and is bad ass. Also working on frame reinforcement and swapped out shocks for coilovers.

[Plymouthy Adams]

well..six of one a half dozen of the other.....the question of the widest wheel automatically means you going to have to run a wide tire to go with it...we hae folks here stuff wide meat on a 4.5 rim...rarely will anyone ever try to put a small narrow tire on a 10 in wheel...maybe you ought take this question to the HAMB...they may know right off as they seem to do the very same stuff you want to do daily...but again..it is very simple to do the math...as it appears you have you mind set on a particular style..they are usually listed with specifications..be a quick and easy comparison...I admit that without the spec of the wheel in question it would  be a guessing game...personally, I like to keep the guessing part out of the equation

 

looked at the fr500 wheel...is your car..personally I feel they do not fit the body style...they would be better suited on grandpa's casket..that wheel will pretty much be as I explained the first time...they will never fit the front of the car without minimum of 3 inch spacers...the very flat boss also will probably will not allow the very front hub with the integral bearing to enter let alone protrude to fit flush to the hub....you need to consider all aspects when selecting a wheel especially retrofitting modern to old..

 

oh..as a note...I think many mustang folks even run spacers with these wheels

Edited November 13, 2013 by Plymouthy Adams

[martybose]

I don't know what size you can fit under your car, but don't forget about the body roll, i did and the rears rubbed on the frame/trunk wall every time i went around a corner. ....

I had exactly the same experience with my 7 x 15 wheels.  When I finally installed my front disk brakes and needed a different offset wheel, I took the 6 x 15 wheels that had been on the front, put a slightly narrower and taller tire on them and installed them on the back.  Haven't heard anything rubbing since.

 

Marty