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The inevitable 'how wide can I go' question

Charger Bill

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Location
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Hi!
I did my due diligence but can't find an answer in the forums:
Can I fit 15x10 rear wheels on my '76 Charger?
I'm looking at a set with a 3.25 back space, which may not be enough without going super-high on the stance. Also considering leaf spring relocation, but right now wondering if I should grab the wheels or not.
Thanks for any help!
 
You have a good size fender well opening. I would measure from the upper inner lip to the inner fender well. Allowing an inch or so for tire width clearance should give you an idea of what size rubber you could mount on 10" rims. As you know, the backspacing is what can make or break it. I think 3.25 to 3.50 is pretty much a standard offset. I always liked to fit the largest meat I can so measuring carefully is paramount. Since wheels and tires are a costly investment you want to make sure they will fit as you know. I bought a wheel fitment tool to make sure my N-50's would fit my car before I bought the tires. I think I paid $69.00 for the tool and I think it is Percy's . You mount the tool to the lugs and there are adjustable arms that extend out to help see what size meat you can fit. The tool is pretty much plastic but there are others out there, more expensive of course. Some people grind off some of the fenders inner lip to get a little more room. Good luck! :)
 
As you know, the backspacing is what can make or break it. I think 3.25 to 3.50 is pretty much a standard offset.

Yeah, for a 6.5-7" wide wheel.. As the wheel gets wide the backspacing gets deeper too.. For a 10" wheel 5" is typical... The wheels the OP is looking at will be very deep on the front side... Really deep wheels look good but in order to fit them into the wheel well rather than under the wheel well may require a little work.... Possibly an axle swap... The 71 & up B body axle is pretty wide, an earlier axle would move the wheels in allowing them to work....

Not saying they won't fit as is, I've never owned a 71 & up B body... But I kinda doubt it... In spite of the Huge wheel wells on those cars....
 
I agree with 1 Wild. My instant reaction reading your question was "no way!" Then i looked at pics of a 76 charger. I think they can work if..... you realize that a ten inch wheel needs a big tire, you like a stinkbug look, and you want the tires sticking out past the fender like a sixties gasser.
Sorry for the long winded way of saying those arent the right wheels. Tens might fit, with 5 or 5 1/2 backspace. There is certainly no need to move springs with the tires three inches away from them, which is where they would be with 3something backspace.
 
I agree with 1 Wild. My instant reaction reading your question was "no way!" Then i looked at pics of a 76 charger. I think they can work if..... you realize that a ten inch wheel needs a big tire, you like a stinkbug look, and you want the tires sticking out past the fender like a sixties gasser.
Sorry for the long winded way of saying those arent the right wheels. Tens might fit, with 5 or 5 1/2 backspace. There is certainly no need to move springs with the tires three inches away from them, which is where they would be with 3something backspace.
I hear you. Looks-wise, I'm actually going for a period 70's-80's street look, and stinkbug stance is okay by me. Not fully Street-Freak, but jacked up for sure.
 
Those will not make outer clearance unless you plan to put the back end of the car in the sky.
As far as measuring goes, measure rim off an existing rim and tire. The you can figure your max wheel., tire, and needed back space. No need to spend $70.
 
I just took the wheels off with the rear end housing sitting on jack stands so it was at ride height , put a straight edge on the face of the drum and measured to the inner wheelhouse and out to the quarter panel , you can figure how wide you can go, I got N50 15 's on the back of my 68 roadrunner with stock springs and no lift , the backspacing is usually going to be center of your wheel so your 10 inch wheel is probably going to need to be 5 inch backspace , 9 inch wheel will need to be 4 1/2 , the closest thing to my tire is the leaf spring its less then 1/4 inch away
 
eah, for a 6.5-7" wide wheel.. As the wheel gets wide the backspacing gets deeper too.. For a 10" wheel 5" is typical... The wheels the OP is looking at will be very deep on the front side... Really deep wheels look good but in order to fit them into the wheel well rather than under the wheel well may require a little work.... Possibly an axle swap... The 71 & up B body axle is pretty wide, an earlier axle would move the wheels in allowing them to work....
I think that on standard rims that is basically true, however, My old 8.5" aluminum slots are definitely 3 1/2" back space as were the 15x10 steel cyclones that were on my car when I bought it. Also, I bought a pair of used 15x10 aluminum (used) Ansen Sprints on Ebay and they also were 3 1/2" backspace! However, my 15 x 7 front Ansen Sprints are 4" back space. There are many available back space options these days, especially in 16",17", & 18". My factory 15 x 8" police wheels were 4 1/2" backspace.
 
yes but how much more could you have gone with a different backspace? the question was how ide can I go
 
A ten inch wheel is really eleven inches wide, at least the aluminum ones are, as a wheel width is measured from inside bead to bead. So to have the wheel exactly centered, bs would have to be 5 1/2. Then you have to add the section width bulge for a tire with a nine to eleven inch tread, say a minimum of twelve inches, maybe more. The wheel you are looking at moves that tire 2 1/4 inches closer to the fender than a neutral.
Stinkbug, here we come.
 
ya , I forgot about the extra inch wheel lip
 
Brand:
U.S. Mags
Manufacturer's Part Number:
U10115008535
Part Type:
Wheels
Product Line:
U.S. Mags Indy U101 Polished Wheels
Summit Racing Part Number:
USM-U10115008535
Wheel Diameter:
15 in.
Wheel Width (in):
10.000 in.
Wheel Bolt Pattern (app):
5 x 139.70mm|5 x 5 1/2 in.
Wheel Material:
Aluminum
TPMS Sensor Compatible:
Yes
TPMS Sensor Mounting Style:
Valve stem mount
Primary Wheel Color:
Polished
Wheel Finish:
Polished
Manufacturers Wheel Series:
U.S. Mags Indy Series
Offset:
-50.00mm
Backspacing (in.):
3.500 in.
Wheel Construction:
1-piece
Beadlock Included:
No
Beadlock Functional:
No
Lug Nut Seat Style:
Conical seat - 60 degree
Hub Centric Ring Compatible:
Yes
Center Bore Diameter (in.):
4.252 in.
Center Bore Diameter (mm):
108.00mm
Center Cap Included:
No
Load Rating (lbs):
1,600 lbs.
Lug Nuts Included:
No
Small Diameter Lug Nuts Required:
No
Valve Stems Included:
No
Quantity:
Sold individually.
Notes:
Center caps not included on this wheel. See suggested items tab,


usm-u10115708537_xl.jpg
 
so that wheel will be 4 inch inside and 7inch out
 
I think that on standard rims that is basically true, however, My old 8.5" aluminum slots are definitely 3 1/2" back space as were the 15x10 steel cyclones that were on my car when I bought it. Also, I bought a pair of used 15x10 aluminum (used) Ansen Sprints on Ebay and they also were 3 1/2" backspace! However, my 15 x 7 front Ansen Sprints are 4" back space. There are many available back space options these days, especially in 16",17", & 18". My factory 15 x 8" police wheels were 4 1/2" backspace.
Agree, i have a couple pairs, maybe three pairs of old 8, 8 1/2 one piece mags (amercan racing daisies, and a pair of ansen five spokes) that have 3 1/4,3 1/2 bs. They are the "deep dish" that look good, but only fit cars with completely open rear wheelwells. They wont fit 66/67 b-bodys, or 55/57 chevies for example.
They probably would fit the op's car, a lot better than tens would.
 
As I say there are many backspace options in aftermarket wheels. For this style of wheel I just saw 4" & 4 1/2" as well. Generally speaking I think manufactures pretty much make the offset for more specialized fitment which also may be due to lug pattern. This same wheel is available many different ways. At one time , you could get really deep dish wheels and even now, I have seen they sell these and similar wheels as blanks, they drill them in what ever bot pattern you desire. The 17"x9" wheels on my truck are available with positive, negative & neutral,(no offset).
 
Brand:
U.S. Mags
Manufacturer's Part Number:
U10115008535
Part Type:
Wheels
Product Line:
U.S. Mags Indy U101 Polished Wheels
Summit Racing Part Number:
USM-U10115008535
Wheel Diameter:
15 in.
Wheel Width (in):
10.000 in.
Wheel Bolt Pattern (app):
5 x 139.70mm|5 x 5 1/2 in.
Wheel Material:
Aluminum
TPMS Sensor Compatible:
Yes
TPMS Sensor Mounting Style:
Valve stem mount
Primary Wheel Color:
Polished
Wheel Finish:
Polished
Manufacturers Wheel Series:
U.S. Mags Indy Series
Offset:
-50.00mm
Backspacing (in.):
3.500 in.
Wheel Construction:
1-piece
Beadlock Included:
No
Beadlock Functional:
No
Lug Nut Seat Style:
Conical seat - 60 degree
Hub Centric Ring Compatible:
Yes
Center Bore Diameter (in.):
4.252 in.
Center Bore Diameter (mm):
108.00mm
Center Cap Included:
No
Load Rating (lbs):
1,600 lbs.
Lug Nuts Included:
No
Small Diameter Lug Nuts Required:
No
Valve Stems Included:
No
Quantity:
Sold individually.
Notes:
Center caps not included on this wheel. See suggested items tab,


View attachment 1096706
Nice wheel for a mid-fifties ford pickup. Wrong bolt pattern for a mopar.
 
It is also the lug pattern on my 2000 Dodge Ram Pickup and believe me I would have gotten a set if I had the money,,,,,,,,,,however,,,,, With the newer huge brakes on vehicles today, like my truck, 15 inch rims generally won't clear the calipers. Thank God they make them in 17" now as well, so, when I possibly rob a bank in the future, I will finally get a set. By the way, I am several other sites as well and on the DodgeRam Forum, I posted a question on the 2 gen truck thread. "Does anyone here have or know of someone who has aluminum slotted mags on their truck?" Guess what, NONE! I think I will start a go-fund page so I can fulfill my dream and be Totally Unique!
:lol:
 
Since we are discussing wheels and fitment, I have noticed that over the years that 1/2 ton pickups usually had 5 or 6 lugs and when you went to 3/4 ton and higher, they were universally 8 lugs. Then our friends at Ford came out with a 7 lug just to **** things up! For several years I assume you could only get wheels from Ford until the aftermarket jumped in. ? Maybe they Didn't"???
 
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