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5x4.5 or 5x115

Tim Chavez

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since our lovely manufacturer decided so many years ago to be silly and go to metric measurements for wheel lug patterns this has arisen a huge question. to change the hubs or not to change the hubs.... especially since everything is being replaced anyway as part of my suspension and brake upgrade. it would be a cheap way to get good looking wheels (and usually good tires) since many end up replacing them, they are definitely abundant and cheap( I've seen sets with 50 to 75% rubber go for less than 1000) does this sound stupid to you guys? should i just line up so 5x4.5s and call it good? what do you think?
 
It's up to you, but keep in mind that tires are bad after 5-6 yrs. (?) or so regardless of how much tread is left on them... the rubber just deteriorates.
 
It's up to you, but keep in mind that tires are bad after 5-6 yrs. (?) or so regardless of how much tread is left on them... the rubber just deteriorates.
i really don't know how to say this without sounding like SMUG so i will just be smug lol. i know exactly what to look for on tires to ensure they are safe regardless of age. (I'm a commercial fleet specialist for Goodyear) however, the 5-6 year thing is an excellent rule of thumb for anyone without deep tire knowledge. but its not necessarily the truth in all cases. tires will give you warning signs if you know what to look for. i guess i was more curious if this is a thing in the aftermarket? like can i buy a knuckle that is 5x115 but will fit my control arm setup? or will i be hacking together pieces and spending hours upon hours at a parts counter comparing specs with a high school kid in a green shirt
 
I have not seen any conversions of this sort from the aftermarket. Not saying someone is not doing it but I've never seen any. Also you refer to being able to get takeoffs for a good set of wheels. Unfortunately what looks good on a 2017 Charger usually looks like trash on our cars. Even if you corrected the bolt pattern issue, most modern wheels don't have a compatible offset to fit the older cars and look right. The use of positive offset wheels from a modern car also presents complications regarding suspension clearances.
 
Tim, with your background I think you can answer this question better than any of us...seriously
 
I've put some late model metric wheels on pre 1980 Mopars and they fit like they were supposed to be there.

Care to share your tire secrets?
 
is there a different register size on the hubs/axels
or in/on wheels one larger, smaller or other

Never tried to put a Contemporary wheel
from todays cars on an older car, 5 on 4.5" vs 5 x 115mm

seems that the backspacing could make it challenging too
maybe a spacer could help that

I still wonder about the registers
 
Got 2 loose hub one old, one new and a hole bunch of wheels. Don't have any new wide enough to solve the back spacing question.
 
I do this at the JY all the time (well, a lot).

I like to see what $10-20 wheels I might be interested in running on my classic cars.

There is usually a 5th Ave to test them on, and plenty of late model alloy wheels to choose from in 15, 16 and 17 inch diameter and 7, 8, and 9 inch widths.

If you didn't know, most MFG have switched to the 5 on 115 bolt pattern.

Truck backspacing is still the same as older cars.

...and a lot of newer alloy wheels do not have center register holes.

if you doubt me, go try it for your self.
 
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