E-Body Tire Combos

[HP2]

My 50 series tires are 1/4" off the rear segment of the spring. Since they are a reasonably rigid sidewall, so it has never contacted. Also considering the spring passes close to the middle of the tire, there is also very little deflection in that area to cause problems.

[ntstlgl1970]

I have about the same clearance on mine, can get your pinky finger in there, that is about it. Maybe 1/4 - 3/8". I've had these tires on for about 5-7k miles and they've never rubbed the spring that I can tell

[SPEEDY1]

Would one of you guys post some pics of the 18" on the front and 20" on the rear combos. Some of the pics are just red xs and I want to run this combo. I would really appreciate it.

[dodj]

I have about the same clearance on mine, can get your pinky finger in there, that is about it. Maybe 1/4 - 3/8". I've had these tires on for about 5-7k miles and they've never rubbed the spring that I can tell

You seem to have a problem with rubber sticking to your rear quarters

[cowvette]

hi , i am new here in this forum , i am from italy and i have a RR 68 and a cuda 74.....

i have a qustion to resolve, i want to put on my cuda 18 rims or 20 ".
wich wheels i  can put on with wich backspacing with the original rear suspension set ?
i would put the coys wheel .
thanks for your suggestion

[nz70cuda]

hi this may help i run 18x8 fronts 4.5bs with 245/40/18 and on the rear 18x10 with 275/40/18 5.5bs  i have done no mods to the body or springs . also on a 70 challenger i had i had 15x8 front with 26550/15 bs 4.5 and on the rear i ran 15x8 with 29550/15 and a bs of 4.5  cheers terry

[wiging19]

hi this may help i run 18x8 fronts 4.5bs with 245/40/18 and on the rear 18x10 with 275/40/18 5.5bs  i have done no mods to the body or springs . also on a 70 challenger i had i had 15x8 front with 26550/15 bs 4.5 and on the rear i ran 15x8 with 29550/15 and a bs of 4.5  cheers terry

Can you compare the difference in ride so those of us contemplating a change along those lines understand the positives and negatives of such a change?

[nz70cuda]

hi by putting the 18s on the car handles alot more positive .i have a late model car over here in new zealand its a commodore ss 5.7 chev its the same as the pontiac gto anyway the cuda can just about out handle it . the negs is a bit harder ridding but its not to bad depends on the profile of the tyres  and they look cool  i hope this helps cheers terry

[wiging19]

Thanks for the feedback.  That helps me understand the difference better. 

[72bluNblu]

The shorter sidewalls on the tires for the larger rims account for the handling difference. Since they're shorter they flex less, so you get a more positive feel when cornering, much more precise feeling. But since they are stiffer they transmit more of the road imperfections. Typically things don't start to get really harsh until you get down to a 40 series or below, but that's just a ballpark recommendation as the sidewall height depends on series and width. 20's would have a really short sidewall to fit right on these cars, the biggest I'd go is 18's. And it will obviously also depend on how the car is sprung. A stock spring rate car would be much easier to take with a short sidewall than say my car, with 1.12" front torsion bars and XHD (soon to be super stock) rear springs.

[miketyler]

I sure like the look of them fatties! I am running 17" all the way around with 315's out back and 275's up front. I drive very conservatively and to be honest I cant tell much, if any difference in the ride from the 15's I had before.

[PlumCrazyChris]

I sure like the look of them fatties! I am running 17" all the way around with 315's out back and 275's up front. I drive very conservatively and to be honest I cant tell much, if any difference in the ride from the 15's I had before.

Wow Mike, did you paint your car, or is that a different one? 

Chris

[Kevin71]

I am looking at putting 18 x 9 inch wide rims on the rear of a 71 Challenger.  Would 5.5 inches of back space be to much or to little.  Does anyone have any experience with this size rim.  Also what would be the tallest tire I could put on the rear without causing a problem.  I've been told a 27" is about normal, but could you go up to a 29".

[71cudajoe]

I'm not sure if this will help, but I went through quite a bit of study on wheel sizing and backspacing during the process of building my 71 Cuda. Here's where I've settled:

FRONT WHEELS: 18x8s with 4-1/2" backspacing. Tires are 245/40ZR18s. I've installed a set of Wilwood disc brakes with 2"dropped spindles on my car, and the wheels/tires have plenty of clearance. This size of front wheel and tire should mount fine on stock brakes and spindles too.

BACK WHEELS: Mine is a more custom setup here, but this is what I have: 18x9.5s with 5" backspacing. Tires are 275/40ZR18s. The rearend is a custom-built Strange Dana 60 that is 44-1/2" from flange to flange. I have 12" Wilwood disc brakes installed. I had to use a spring relocation kit to offset the leaf springs inward 3/4" to get adequate clearance for the wide tires, but everything fits great. I actually added 1/4" spacers to push the wheels out just a little... fits even better.

[PlumCrazyChris]

I am looking at putting 18 x 9 inch wide rims on the rear of a 71 Challenger.  Would 5.5 inches of back space be to much or to little.  Does anyone have any experience with this size rim.  Also what would be the tallest tire I could put on the rear without causing a problem.  I've been told a 27" is about normal, but could you go up to a 29".

29s should be fine on the back.  It just depends on your width.   Just look for something that occupies the same space as a 275/60/15 and you'll be fine, it doesn't matter what size rim you use as long as it occupies the same space. 

Try this site.   http://www.bigcustomwheels.com/rt_specs.jsp