E-Body Tire Combos

[axlerod]

Did you have to re-locate the rear springs to fit the tires?

I did not modify the spring location or fuss with the wheel lip. They fit with plenty of room and no rubbing.

[axlerod]

axlerod,
What brand are those?

The wheels are Wheel Vintiques billet Magnums. I tried to buy a set of the cheaper American Racing AR500's but they still aren't shipping any and when I called them they said it will be sometime next year before they do. I'm not that patient.

[73Chally]

I can pick up a pair of 15x8 TT II with 275/60/15 tires, but the backspace is only 3.75".  I've seen a number of people running the same wheel and tire combo, but with 4.5" backspace.  Does anyone know for sure if the 3.75"BS will work, or will the tires rub on the fender?  Thanks.

[Troy]

I can pick up a pair of 15x8 TT II with 275/60/15 tires, but the backspace is only 3.75".  I've seen a number of people running the same wheel and tire combo, but with 4.5" backspace.  Does anyone know for sure if the 3.75"BS will work, or will the tires rub on the fender?  Thanks.

No, they will not fit. I couldn't even get the 275s into the wheel well of my Barracuda on a rim with 3 3/4" BS. Here's the car with 255/60-15s 3 3/4" BS - I already owned the wheels but these are only temporary. They fit but rub on the wheel lip every time I hit any kind of bump.



Troy

[ShelbyDogg]

It will rub on the outside.   Then the only way to fix it will be to jack it up sky high like a '70s clown car.  You need a 4.5" backspacing like everyone else uses for the 8" wheel.

You could put in a b-body rear end and move the springs in, but then you would be able to go with a 10" wheel.

[73Chally]

Funny you mention the B-Body because that is what they were originally bought for, and they rubbed on that, too (66 Satellite).  They were the exact size wheel/tire combo I'm looking for, but I was afraid I needed the 4.5" BS.  Not what I wanted to hear but thanks for the info, that was what I was afraid of. 

[GoodysGotaCuda]

It will rub on the outside.   Then the only way to fix it will be to jack it up sky high like a '70s clown car.  You need a 4.5" backspacing like everyone else uses for the 8" wheel.

You could put in a b-body rear end and move the springs in, but then you would be able to go with a 10" wheel.

Sky high? My super stock springs fixed the rub issue and then some with 275s and 3 3/4" backspacing 

[Born_Fast]

I have a 73 Cuda and I am buying my tires and Rims shortly. I am going with Centerlines. I would like something with a good amount of Meat in the rear and I would like the rear to be taller than the front.
Any recomendations would be appreciated. I do not want to modify anything. I have an 8.75 rear.
What rim width and tire size would you recommend based on a 15" wheel?
Thanks

I have almost the same request, except that i got a 70 Challenger instead. Also with 8 3/4 rear and i want to install AR torq Thrust with as much rubber, as i can get in there without troubles or modifications.

From what i read i guess 275 rear and 235 front would be a good setup. Also the rear should be a bit taller, to add an aggresive stance.

I'm also planning to get the XV level I suspension kit. And i absolutely don't want any wheel to rub on the well. Is the above mentioned setup safe?

What exact tire and rim dimensions should i look for?

Thanks,
Ralph

[HP2]

That's the easiest fitting combo around; 15x8 with 4.25 to 4.5 rear spacing. 235/60x15 is about 26" tall, 275/60x15 is about 28". Mild rake, fills the wells nicely, wont' rub, readily available.

[Born_Fast]

That's the easiest fitting combo around; 15x8 with 4.25 to 4.5 rear spacing. 235/60x15 is about 26" tall, 275/60x15 is about 28". Mild rake, fills the wells nicely, wont' rub, readily available.

Great! Thanks!

[ShelbyDogg]

Here's mine again. 
fronts: 15x7, 4" backspacing 235x60x15,  front is stock height and not jacked up; no rubs.
rears:  15x10, 5.5" backspace 295x50x15, springs moved in 1", b-body rear end, stock ride height most of the time, no rubs, no spacers.

Rob







Here is a pic of the Sway bar plate that I modified to have a 2nd hole 1" over from stock. It now has 2 mounting holes.

[kamstra]

The rear rims are 17 x 9.5 rims on a 66 body rims and a Dr diff relocation kit and 17 x7 in the front.  Serious handling improvement over the 15 inch rims

[PlumCrazyChris]

Just put these new wheels and tires on last week:

Front: 17X8
         4.75 backspace
         235/45 BFG's

Back:  17X9.5
         5.5 backspace
         255/50 BFG's

Hey Axelrod, I really like the look of those billet magnums and I'm looking at going with a set of those same rims.  Would you still go with the 4.75" BS on the front if you could do it over again instead of the stock 4.5?  It looks like you have plenty of clearance on the front to push them out a bit.....   

I was thinking of using 17x8s with stock 4.5" BS and with 235 and 255/50/17 BFG KDWS.  Those would end up with nearly the exact same dimensions that my current 15x8 magnums with 235 and 255/60/15 BFG TA's have. 

What was the advantage to going with different BS?  What kind of clearance do you have front and rear?

Thanks,
Chris

[axlerod]

Hey Axelrod, I really like the look of those billet magnums and I'm looking at going with a set of those same rims.  Would you still go with the 4.75" BS on the front if you could do it over again instead of the stock 4.5?  It looks like you have plenty of clearance on the front to push them out a bit.....   

I was thinking of using 17x8s with stock 4.5" BS and with 235 and 255/50/17 BFG KDWS.  Those would end up with nearly the exact same dimensions that my current 15x8 magnums with 235 and 255/60/15 BFG TA's have. 

What was the advantage to going with different BS?  What kind of clearance do you have front and rear?

Thanks,
Chris

On the car as it sits now the extra 1/4 inch BS isn't doing anything for me. I have plenty of room in the front. The reason I ordered the extra BS was in anticipation of lowering it some in the front. I put 2 inch drop spindles on my 68 Charger which has 17X8 with 4.5 BS and 245/45 on it and they rub sometimes even after taking off the wheel trim. My thinking was I can always add some spacers but you can't add BS. The wheel is just more versatile to me with the extra BS.

In the back I've got plenty of room using Mopar's XHD leaf springs. Since I posted the pictures I've lowered the back 1.5 inches or so using AR Engineering front spring hangers. I haven't had a chance to load the car up with folks and go cruising but I don't anticipate any problems. One thing I'd like to mention is I've compared the 255/50 BFG's to some other brand tires and these things appear much wider than you'd expect. They are defineatly wider than a set of 255/50 16 Kumo's that I have and they are real close in width to a old set of 275/60 15 FireHawks that I took off my Charger. So my advice is don't assume that all tires of the same stated size will be equivalent.

[PlumCrazyChris]

Good info, thanks Axelrod.  Do you think 5.5" BS in the rear is mandatory?  Would 4.5" work?  Yours looks pretty tight and doesn't look like it could be pushed out another inch. 

According to the BFG website, the 255/60/15 TA's that I have, have nearly identical section width and .3" shorter than the 255/50/17 g-force TA's.   So I was thinking that the 17 GFTAs on 17x8 with 4.5" bs would occupy the same space as the 15x8 with 4.5" bs that I have on there now....   any thoughts? 

I have had 17x8s with 5.5s on it, but they had a smaller tire, so I can't compare apples to apples.  The 5.5s had no problems fitting, like yours don't, but I want to make sure that the 4.5s would fit, because that is the size I might get (buying from an individual). 

Also, I'm told you need a special type of upper ball joint that is lower profile for 17" rims to clear.  Is that true and can anyone tell me what brand/part # they are?

Axelrod, what type of seats do you have in your Cuda (which looks really nice)?  They don't look quite stock.

Thanks again. 
Chris