Stock factory wheel to fit wider width tire

Gilach · Oct 26, 2016

I'd like to stuff larger tires onto my factory wheels in the back. does anyone know where i might find modified versions of the factory style wheel for rears, ie does it makes sense to get them fabricated, or is there a source that sells them. I can go with 4.5 inch backspacing. I've attached a few pixs that show my current factory wheels that i have. i'm also looking for those center caps as well. i'm guessing the best source for those are ebay, but open to suggestions. Thanks in advance.

best, Paul.

Cranky · Oct 26, 2016

Common practice to separate the center from the rim or ring and and weld on a new wider ring. Not sure if Stockton Wheel is still in business but they were the ones that you could go to years back. A buddy used them for his Super Bee but it took 3 times to get them right and one time the wheels showed up with Ford centers. Might try Wheel Vintiques but last time I looked at their site, they were advertising Ford and GM and saw nothing about Mopar....but here's another place.
https://www.specialtywheel.com/product-showcase/mopar.html

lewtot184 · Oct 26, 2016

summit has wheel vintiques 15x8-4.5" backspace. that's about all the wheel, with a 275-60x15, that your cars wheel well will take.

PurpleBeeper · Oct 26, 2016

lewtot184 said:
summit has wheel vintiques 15x8-4.5" backspace. that's about all the wheel, with a 275-60x15, that your cars wheel well will take.

I got a set of these wheels from Summit and I am pleased with the quality and fit.

278horn · Oct 26, 2016

Paul, Just got my rear wheels back from this guy.http://www.themopardude.com/ They look and function great! He does the OEM steelies too.

Gilach · Oct 26, 2016

Awesome. Thanks for the quick replies. I will post a pixs or two with the new wheels.

Dennis H · Oct 26, 2016

295 50-15's go on an 8 inch rim no problem.

lewtot184 · Oct 26, 2016

Dennis H said:
295 50-15's go on an 8 inch rim no problem.

i think that's problematic on those '65-'67 narrow wheel wells. i know my '69 coronet will take a little more tire than my '65 coronet. those early wheel wells don't have much to work with.

Cranky · Oct 27, 2016

Are the pre 66-67 wells all that small? I know the 66-67's suck!

lewtot184 · Oct 27, 2016

Cranky said:
Are the pre 66-67 wells all that small? I know the 66-67's suck!

they're pretty narrow. even the mopar chassis books spells this out. '65's are just as narrow. i remember back in the day working with a guy to build a comp class '66 coronet and it wouldn't take a 10" slick. we had to move the springs in. i tried a 15x8 1/2" (3 3/4" back space) torquethrust with a 275-60x15 on my '65 coronet and there was no way to get it in the well, but it would fit my '69 coronet. i've found that an 8" wheel with 4 1/2" back space is about as safe as it gets with stock spring location and ride height.

Cranky · Oct 27, 2016

I have no experience with the 65 and earlier cars but do have with the 66 and up. Yup, the 66-67 suck for sure. Had 12.5W's on a 68 roadrunner which had mini tubs and ladder bars and they were a tight fit. Tread width on those were
13 1/4". The openings were also pulled out about a 1/2" and the lips were rolled up too....

Gilach · Oct 30, 2016

ok, here's my plan. I'm going for the "COPO" plane jane look. I was thinking of going with the wheel vintiques shown on the linke below for both front and back. Car currently has 14 inch wheels on it, see attached. i'm not really fond of the hubcaps.

Rear: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/wvi-14-5812042/recommendedparts

Then i would fit them with M/T ET R tires shown here: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/mtt-3553

I need to know if i should go with the 15X7 or 15X8 rim.

For the front, because i don't have power steering!!!!! i was thinking of getting skinny's. Either way, i would like to somehow ensure that the front tires side wall's should be around the same height as the back tires shown above. Open to any suggestions.

best, Paul.

lewtot184 · Oct 30, 2016

this is a combo i did with my '65 coronet: 15x8-4.5 backspace with a 275-60x15 (28" tall) in the back, 15x5.5-4" backspace with 215-75x15 (27.5" tall) in the front. for the way i drive i didn't like it. seemed like the big tires and sure grip rear in the back steered the car.

Gilach · Oct 30, 2016

thanks for the feedback lewtot. Yes, i kinda understand what you mean in terms of having all the grip and tire on the back. i have a lot of weight up front (elephant motor) so i need to consider that aspect. thanks for the info. on height.

Cranky · Oct 30, 2016

lewtot184 said:
this is a combo i did with my '65 coronet: 15x8-4.5 backspace with a 275-60x15 (28" tall) in the back, 15x5.5-4" backspace with 215-75x15 (27.5" tall) in the front. for the way i drive i didn't like it. seemed like the big tires and sure grip rear in the back steered the car.

On a level surface, was the car steering one way when you got on the gas? I had a set of 275-60's on the back of my Cuda and they were not exactly the same height. They came from a buddy's car that was not a Sure Grip and one tire probably had 20% of the tread burned off vs the left side. I didn't even think about that making a difference but it sure did. I was unpleasantly surprised to see the difference when I measured the roll out....

lewtot184 · Oct 30, 2016

Cranky said:
On a level surface, was the car steering one way when you got on the gas? I had a set of 275-60's on the back of my Cuda and they were not exactly the same height. They came from a buddy's car that was not a Sure Grip and one tire probably had 20% of the tread burned off vs the left side. I didn't even think about that making a difference but it sure did. I was unpleasantly surprised to see the difference when I measured the roll out....

car went around corners terrible, even at low speeds. i went to 7" wheels and 235-70x15's all around and like it better.

Cranky · Oct 31, 2016

I had 7" cop car wheels and 235-75x15's on my 66. It was lowered more in the front with lots of camber and handled pretty decent for no sway bars. It was only a /6 up front but it did have factory ac on it too...

lewtot184 · Oct 31, 2016

Cranky said:
I had 7" cop car wheels and 235-75x15's on my 66. It was lowered more in the front with lots of camber and handled pretty decent for no sway bars. It was only a /6 up front but it did have factory ac on it too...

later i added a 1 1/8" sway bar and that made a tremendous difference.

Gilach · Oct 31, 2016

btw i have the blue line poly glass 'period correct' tires on the car now. anything beyond this will definitely be a step up in terms of both performance and safety. only good thing about polyglass is the high pitch squeal when peelin' out....love that sound!!!!

Gilach · Nov 1, 2016

i've changed direction. I'm going with the obligatory Torq Thrusts to go all around. Thinking of going with something like these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/American-Ra...ip-/222193210203?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368

for the rears, they come in 15X7 or 15X8.5 with the 4.5 backspacing. They don't have 15X8. Any suggestions/recommendations on which size i should select? i'm assuming that the 15X8.5 will be too wide.

best, Paul.

Stock factory wheel to fit wider width tire

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