Widening factory wheels. 46 P15

[Dubyagee]

Has anyone widened the factory wheels on a 46 P15?  I know they are 16” factory.  I was looking to widen mine and keep them 16”. Maybe 7” wide. 
 

Has anyone tried this?   Thanks

[Doug&Deb]

It may be easier and cheaper to buy new ones. Check Wheel Vintiques I believe is the name. If you’re willing to go to 15 inch you have options. My 52 Coronet has 15x7 Mopar police wheels and they work fine.

[Dubyagee]

Thanks for the reply
 

Im trying to keep the same outside diameter with 16” wheels.  Does anyone make a wheel that look like the stock wheel?

 

Im learning the site and posting pics seems elusive.  

[andyd]

I'd check with any local tyre/wheel shop, the easiest maybe having the stock centres cut from the original wheels and then installed in new 16" rims of the width you want......only issue maybe that the new rims may not have the same shape/style of rim as the originals but doing it this way means you still use the original centres..........years ago it was a common thing here in Oz to widen original rims  by cutting in half then inserting a piece to widen the rim.....only problem doing it this way is that it required two weld beads which the local registration dept didn't like......lol.......I'm a hotrodder so I just stuck Wheel Vintiques Chrome Smoothies 15x6 & 15X7 with the standard back spacing on my 41 Coupe....looked great......sold the car like a dope........lol.........andyd

[Dubyagee]

I found a few companies that will widen the factory wheels.  I like the look of the 16” tire although yours looks great and has me considering it. 
 

When I get it done I will post pics here if I can figure out how.  
 

[Plymouthy Adams]

the only reason to use widened wheels as I can see it would be to use stock poverty style hubcaps.  If the poverty caps are not going to be used....then basically the choices are good for steel wheels, modern wheels from mopar run rather some large offsets making use with stock axles an adventure with use of spacers.  Modern axles are a bit wider if you think to change them out for the better ratio, then you can opt for the modern alloy.  Of course the front will still have need of adapters, upgrade here is involved.  

[Dubyagee]

Im wanting to keep the caps and profile but widen to 7”.  I found 16” wide whitewalls to keep the factory look and style.  Im measuring the needed offset now. 

[QEC]

Splitting the rim and welding in a band is/was very common in dirt-stock cars years ago. They were hard on such parts so structural integrity was not an issue. Not sure what they do today but the technology is there.

[Plymouthy Adams]

one note here on the rear with wider wheels.   The body will need be jacked fairly high to get the clearance needed to insert the wheel between the hub and the lip of the fender...often many folks don't like the height needed for a stock rim/tire let along going real wide here...do not overlook this with your pending measurements.  See about borrowing a wheel/tire assembly of the size you intend to run for test fit.

Edited August 19 by Plymouthy Adams

[greg g]

Gotta watch the backspace, 3.5 inches is about the max for tire to spring spring clearance.  Whatt size tires are you thinking?  Some folks have said 80s rear wheel drive police car rims (7 wide x 15) will work with 75 aspect ratio tires.  I am running wheel vintinques 15x5.5 3.5 back space smoothys with 205 75 fronts and 225 75 rears.  I had a rear tire to fender rub with a full trunk on right turns.  Fixed with new shocks and spring bushings.

[Plymouthy Adams]

I run some good size meat on my 48 but suffice it to say am not stock in a lot of the drive train engine and suspensio....but with 225/75R16's I am at the point where you have to be cautious on hard cornering.  For some reason while the axle is properly positioned with the frame, there is a slight variance in the frame to fender opening probably what Grep is also experiencing.  I have a fix on paper but alas not done the actual mod to correct for this.   Another item you will wish to add into your calculation for any wheel/tire upgrades..Measuring two other P15's here, all three were off a bit from the others....not an absolute as I have found.

[Sniper]

I have a set of 17x7 rims on the back of my 51, Dorman 939-137, less than $60 new.  Not sure on the back spacing, but it's more than 3.5".  Bore is correct for hub centricity.  No issues with the drum rivets hitting the wheel. 

 

Running 255/50R17 tires, zero issues with fitment, no spacers.  But, PA is right about having to jack the body high to get enough clearance to install them.

 

 

[Plymouthy Adams]

running 50 series tires may also lessen the chance of fender lip to tire rub when maneuvering at greater speeds also and at that may necessitate a bit of ride height adjustment....but for sure even with a less tall tire, the width is great for installing just the same....My Plymouth looked great with 8" widths also...but for sure that width is to the outside of the wheel....while not really an issue except to say splashing the dogleg in the front, the rears were a total no-go from the git-go.  I did not want to reprogram the computer is why I stuck with the 225/75R16's.  Personally I would liked to have stayed about 205 but did not want to carry this thing to a dealer as I do not have a tuner.  I think I now have access to one as my bud stated he has one but not got the book on the model he has so cannot say for certain.  I will do my tweak and likely add a panhard rod.  

[DJ194950]

Wheel hoops blanks are available for sale and you can a local machine shop remove your existing center and install them in the new hoops as per your desired sizes and offsets.

 

One company I found on a quick web search that sells the wheel hoops(rims only).

 

ttps://www.heywheel.com/page11.html 

 

I believe that the address should be https: I somehow screwed that up?!

 

DJ

 

 

Edited August 19 by DJ194950

[Dave72dt]

None of those hoops at heywheels have the safety beads to prevent tires rolling off the rim during cornering.