Help With Wheel/Tire Sizing

Technical Question and Answer - On topic to 71-74 Plymouth B-bodies only.

Moderator: Site Administrators

Post Reply
71_bronze_gtx
GTX (RS)
Posts: 268
Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2013 1:32 pm
My Cars: 71 GTX
72 cuda repli-mod
Location: S. E. Michigan

Help With Wheel/Tire Sizing

Post by 71_bronze_gtx » Fri May 03, 2013 12:44 pm

I found a sweet deal on a set of American Racing Vintage Torq Thrust D wheels with tires for my 71 GTX, but am not sure that they'll have enough clearance.

Front wheels: 15 x 7 with with Cooper P225/70R15

Rear wheels: 15 x 8-1/2 with Cooper P275/60R15

Both front and rear measure 3-3/4" from the inner surface of the mounting flange to the deepest part of the wheel. The 8-1/2 are listed as -25 mm offset. The 7 are listed as -6mm offset.

On the car now are Eagle 225/70R15 front and Eagle 275/60R15 rear. Not P profiles. On rallye wheels, don't know the wheel sizes. The fronts rub a little when turning the steering to the lock.

Anybody know if these are going to be OK? I think they will, but would like to be more certain.

Same size fit in my 'cuda just fine.

User avatar
teddy1500
Road Runner (RM)
Posts: 42
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2006 5:31 pm

Re: Help With Wheel/Tire Sizing

Post by teddy1500 » Mon May 06, 2013 4:45 pm

That combo should be fine, I ran 15X8 with a 245/60 15 with out any problems on my wagon, and 15x10 with 275/60/15 on the back of my charger, no rubbing at all.

71_bronze_gtx
GTX (RS)
Posts: 268
Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2013 1:32 pm
My Cars: 71 GTX
72 cuda repli-mod
Location: S. E. Michigan

Re: Help With Wheel/Tire Sizing

Post by 71_bronze_gtx » Tue May 07, 2013 12:40 pm

Answering my own question. Sort of.

The 15 x 8-1/2 wheel has LESS backspace than the 8" wheel and the same as a 7" wheel. It has less than a 7" rallye wheel, which is what is now on the car. The 8-1/2" wheel would have moved the tire outward around 1-3/4" according to the compared measurements the seller and I took of our respective wheels and tires. That would have put the outer edge of the tire under the inner lip of the wheel opening. About 2" of suspension travel would probably have had the tire rubbing. Too bad, because the wheels looked like brand new.

The tires he had with his wheels are 21 years old. Unworn, but beginning to dry rot - wipe your finger on the tire and it comes away black. So the deal was not as sweet as I thought originally. Even though he offered me a money back if they don't fit deal, it was about 100 miles away and he wanted more than 75% of the price for new wheels w/o tires. He was throwing in lug nuts.

The 275mm tires can go on a 7" wheel, but an 8" wheel is better.

So now I'm an expert!

User avatar
teddy1500
Road Runner (RM)
Posts: 42
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2006 5:31 pm

Re: Help With Wheel/Tire Sizing

Post by teddy1500 » Wed May 08, 2013 6:48 pm

The 15 X 10s that I have are old school western wheels Hurricanes. the are deep dish, with only about 3 1/2 from inside edge, to were it mounts, but the dont rub.

Post Reply