Wheel size for 73 Charger SE

[73chargerguy]

I'm being told that I need to up the size of my wheels to help eliminate some of my steering/handling issues for my 73 Charger. Going from 14" to 16s. What size tires should I go with? I want to make sure I don't have rubbing problems but local tire co's aren't any help.

 

[satman72]

Depends on the tires you have now. What are your steering/handling issues?

There are so many options it's hard to give a definitive answer.

 

[RustyRatRod]

What kinda handling issues are you having? Seems to me the only thing new tires and wheels would help would be the tire store's pocketbook.

 

[benno440]

bigger wheels and smaller tires eliinate body roll/ tire roll, wider tires give more traction on the road.

on a 68-70 b body biggest unmodified for the rear is 315/35 20 and 275 40 20 on the front

i just put 19 x 10 rear with 295 35 19 and 18 x 8 fronts with 245 40 18 just so i can lower the car a bit, i think gen 3 b bodies are a tad smaller wheel arches. so upto u

 

[satman72]

bigger wheels and smaller tires eliinate body roll/ tire roll, wider tires give more traction on the road.

on a 68-70 b body biggest unmodified for the rear is 315/35 20 and 275 40 20 on the front

i just put 19 x 10 rear with 295 35 19 and 18 x 8 fronts with 245 40 18 just so i can lower the car a bit, i think gen 3 b bodies are a tad smaller wheel arches. so upto u

Uh, No! Bigger wheels and tires will not eliminate body roll. That is a function of shocks/springs/torsion bars/sway bars etc. Not wheels/tires.

 

[red340bbody]

Hi there i own a 1973 dodge charger rallye and yes going froma 14 to a bigger size is always a issue.look at the car in many ways .are you building the car for the 1/4 mile drag, ?solum racing? or just every day driving and running the car on the street .
I am going to run mine every week end so i am running a 275 / 60 / r15 radial tire all the way around mounted on 8 inch cop wheels..I have decided that this way I can drive and have all the handling i want with heavy duty torsion bars and KYB shocks all the way round . You see the 73-74 has a bigger wheel well to fill and i am a kid from the sixty's who loves the look of the 72 RAMCHARGERS DODGE CHARGER ..SUPER STOCK SET UP ....itis all on personal preferance and how you are planning to use and drive the car. Good luck on your choice of wheel /tire selection and i hope this helps you a bit .

 

[73chargerguy]

Hi there i own a 1973 dodge charger rallye and yes going froma 14 to a bigger size is always a issue.look at the car in many ways .are you building the car for the 1/4 mile drag, ?solum racing? or just every day driving and running the car on the street .
I am going to run mine every week end so i am running a 275 / 60 / r15 radial tire all the way around mounted on 8 inch cop wheels..I have decided that this way I can drive and have all the handling i want with heavy duty torsion bars and KYB shocks all the way round . You see the 73-74 has a bigger wheel well to fill and i am a kid from the sixty's who loves the look of the 72 RAMCHARGERS DODGE CHARGER ..SUPER STOCK SET UP ....itis all on personal preferance and how you are planning to use and drive the car. Good luck on your choice of wheel /tire selection and i hope this helps you a bit .

Thanks guys. This does help but i think i still have some research to do.

The problem that i have is that the car is all over the road when I hit a pot hole or large bump and there is some play in the steering wheel when it happens. Not being a mechanic, I had a local rod shop install a crate engine, redo wiring, and several other repairs. they told me to get bigger wheels, then have it aligned to see how much it helped. Haven't done that yet but a front-end guy said it needed to replace contol arm bushing, fix the toe-in, new tires (old ones are worn) and alignment. THey are suggesting 225/50R16's X 8 all around. From what I can tell, there is not problem fitting those on a 73.

All of this reminds me - looking to just buy the complete control arms - any suggestions there too?

Thanks again - I know how to drive the heck out of them, I just don't know how to work on them!

 

[HT413]

For control arms, talk to Badart, here on the forums. He's making tubular uppers for b bodies up to 72 for $200, maybe he has or knows of something for 73's too. Apparently his have improved caster and some additional camber. Worth a conversation if nothing else.

Here's his thread...
http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?45391-Question-about-upper-control-arms

 

[73chargerguy]

Will do. Thanks

 

[Kernel Sanders]

73 and up BBods use a completely different upper control arm setup than 72 and down years as the upper control arm assemblies are bolted to the ISO K member.



If you are having issues when hitting bumps and causing the car to be all over the road when driving, I would inspect or have inspected the suspension including the ISO bushings for damage or wear. If everything appears to be in good condition have it alligned by a reputable shop. The wheels and tires unless severly worn or damaged or severely under or over inflated should not cause that much of a drivability issue IMO

 

[RogerDodger]

Sounds exactly like the problem I was having with my 74. All over the road especially on rough roads. My ball joints, bushings, tie rods, pitman arm... all good and tight. I even changed my sway bar bushings and had alignment done. Still all over the road. Changed steering gear box. Problem solved. They can be adjusted on. Try that first. Mine bottomed out and needed replacing. What a difference!

 

[red340bbody]

wheels for 73 dodge charger

:headbang:

I'm being told that I need to up the size of my wheels to help eliminate some of my steering/handling issues for my 73 Charger. Going from 14" to 16s. What size tires should I go with? I want to make sure I don't have rubbing problems but local tire co's aren't any help.

hi there Yes i totally understand your issues with wheels for the charger .having such a huge selection as stated from the previous member .Mine had the 14 magnums with 225 70 r 14 's I switched all around to the 15 x 8 cop wheels with 255 70 r 15 bfg rwl tires on all four corners and my Charger has 4 wheel disc brakes front and rear sway bars and 2 1/2 exhaust .Did my homework so know issues will be had ....and the car will look really nice once she comes out of the booth and assembled....don't give up the wheel selection out there is un flippin believeable .....enjoy yourself....

 

[jessipup]

Look at what the front end guy is telling you and go to at least two more and see if they tell you the same thing. The steering box would be something to ask them about and or look at your self. Imho the wheel size has very little or no effect on how the suspension reacts to road irregularirties

 

[UKPlymouth]

Replaced steering box on my 73 and it transformed the car. No wandering and power steering feels tight. Night and day change for not a lot of $
cheaper than wheels and tires too!

 

[red340bbody]

wheels size for the 1973 and up b body

:headbang:you should still look at your k-member bushings they were horrible from the start .they were on the cop cars back in 73 and up and they run some big heavy units but they utilized the same type of bushing .there is a gentlemen on ebay he makes and sells solid billet mounts for the years that use the bushings 72.5 and up . If i remember right the price was 160.00 for the k member and the torsion bar mount which uses the same type of bushings .Also make sure that if you do change make sure you put your car to the ride height that is spec .then have it aligned .remember for each inch you lower the car you then looose the camber by 2 degrees for each inch then you have to watch the effect of bump steer .I have done all the homework for my Charger and i know it will go down the road straight and tight . Also watch where you buy your front end componenets there are lots of junk out there so be careful so you dont through all your hard earned money out the dooor for cutting a corner or trying to save a couple of bucks it will always bight you in the *** hard .....good luck and keep it between the ditches ....