What mods can be done to a 73 challenger fenders to accept a taller, wider tire?

[mellowguy]

I want to put a 18 inch wheel and tire in front of my 73 Challenger.  What exact mods are nessasary to put the tallest widest tire on there without tire rubbing? What would the max tire size be?

[72bluNblu]

What exactly are you looking at running?

I've got 275/40/17's on my '72 Challenger on 17x9's with a 5" backspace. I had a minor rub on the passenger side fender going in and out of driveways until I went from -.5 to -.9 degrees camber. I also have removed the fender brace that runs to the middle of the wheel opening on the backside of the fender because my car is lowered and the tires would occasionally rub on that as well.

18's aren't a big deal, you could run an 18x9 with a 275/35/18 as long as your backspace was between 5" and 5.3". Less backspace will put you into the fender, much more than that would probably put you into the frame. The good news is that with 18's you clear the inner tie rod end, with 17x9's I'm stuck at about 5" to 5.125 to avoid the rim hitting the tie rod end. I don't have much clearance to the frame at full lock, so it doesn't buy you much, but an extra 1/4" is huge if you're looking for maximum fitment.

I think either an 18x9 with 5.25" backspace, or an 18x9.5 with a 5.5" backspace would be about perfect. A 275/35/18 with that size rim should clear everything just fine. You might be able to get away with a 275/40/18 with those specs if you didn't lower the car a bunch, but I think that would be the absolute max, and it might rub on the frame at full lock. And you'd definitely have to lose that brace too, or modify it for additional clearance. I've seen a few tires in 265/40/18, that would be a better height (26.3") than a 275/40/18 (26.7!!!) if you want a taller tire than the 275/35/18.

[mellowguy]

Thank you 72 bluNblu. That was EXACTLY the info that I needed. I have asked multiple questions over the years and you have helped many times. Thanks again my friend.

[72bluNblu]

Thank you 72 bluNblu. That was EXACTLY the info that I needed. I have asked multiple questions over the years and you have helped many times. Thanks again my friend.

Hey no problem. Might as well tell other people what I've learned so far.

The more I think about it, the less I think you'll be able to get away with a 275/40/18. At 26.7" it's just too darn tall for the front, especially at that width. Not saying its impossible, but it would definitely hinder how much the car could be lowered, and I think to keep it off the frame you'd have to closer to the fender than would be comfortable given how much the factory tolerances vary. Plus, it'd be difficult to find a good match for a rear tire with a front tire that tall. I know for sure the 275/35/18 will fit, that's the exact same dimensions as what I'm running. And I think a 265/40/18 would be just fine if you want a little taller tire with the 18's to maintain some sidewall.

What are you looking at for the rear? Do you have mini-tubs or offset shackles in the back? With the stock width rear and springs a 275 is about as wide as you can go, so you could actually buy a pair of 275/40/18's and check the fit up front with them and then just use them for the rear if they didn't work out. Of course, even with offset springs and hangers you can go much wider than a 275 out back. I run a B rear and Dr. Diff's 1" spring relocation and my 275's look small out back compared to the amount of room I have. 

[jordan]

How tall of a tire is the best fit?  My memory keeps telling me that 27" is the preferred height.  Close to a stock size.  I will be putting in a XV level 1 system, and it lowers the car, so, should I run a 26" tall tire?  My plan now it to run 18" x 8 rims in the front, 18"x9.5" or even a 19"x9.5" rim in the rear.  I am leaning towards a 295 series rear tire and side wall is dependent upon tire makers tire height.  Up front I am planning on a 255 series tire, with side wall dependent on maker tire height.  I dont want too wide of a tire in the front to dull steering feel.  Most high performance cars are not running ultra wide tires in the front in order to get better steering manners.  I am sticking with the given trend.  My plan is to buy  these
http://tsw.com/alloy_wheels_snetterton.php

[72bluNblu]

How tall of a tire is the best fit?  My memory keeps telling me that 27" is the preferred height.  Close to a stock size.  I will be putting in a XV level 1 system, and it lowers the car, so, should I run a 26" tall tire?  My plan now it to run 18" x 8 rims in the front, 18"x9.5" or even a 19"x9.5" rim in the rear.  I am leaning towards a 295 series rear tire and side wall is dependent upon tire makers tire height.  Up front I am planning on a 255 series tire, with side wall dependent on maker tire height.  I dont want too wide of a tire in the front to dull steering feel.  Most high performance cars are not running ultra wide tires in the front in order to get better steering manners.  I am sticking with the given trend.  My plan is to buy  these
http://tsw.com/alloy_wheels_snetterton.php

Stock size depends a little on how the car was equipped, but 7.35-14's were stock for Challengers and they measure about 25.9". F70-14's were available with HD suspension, those are 26.2" tall. So ideally if you wanted to maintain original tire height specs you'd want a 26" tall tire.

Of course, those were mounted on 5.5" wide rims, so when you go wider you have to consider clearance. But a 255 series on the front shouldn't be a problem at all. On an 18" rim you'd want a 255/40/18, that'll be a 26" tall tire. Obviously there's a little difference by tire brand and model, but its not enough to change to the next profile. 

In the back, you're going to have to do some work if you want to fit 295's. XV level 1 suspension does not move the springs, so unless you get an additional hanger/shackle offset kit you won't be able to get a 295 under there. With the stock spring location a 275 is about as wide as you can safely go considering that not all the rears are perfectly centered on these cars. Now, you can get one of Dr. Diff's 1" relocation kits, with moves the hangers and shackles in 1". You'll have to move the spring perches on your rear axle, or get a B body 8 3/4 which has the perches in the correct spot for a 1" relocation kit. Once that's done, you should be able to clear a 295 if its centered properly. I have a B rear and 1" relocation kit on my car, and with my 275's I have just under an inch of clearance to my quarters and my springs. The tire profile of a 295 is a full inch wider than a 275, which should leave enough clearance to avoid rubbing.

[jordan]

I forgot to mention that I have the offset hangers and will be redoing the rear to fit the car.  Backspacing will be the next measurement I have to start working on.  Thanks Blu

[Bucks70RT]

I know the thread is a few months old but some of us are just catching up. How about these.    http://www.performanceplustire.com/products/wheels/searchType/searchBySize/size/18x9/boltPattern/5x114.3/offset/Low/finish/ALL%20FINISHES/productID/14469/wheelDataID/171628    . If link doesn't work there Showwheels Streeter Black, 18x9, 5.25 bs, 6mm offset.

[72bluNblu]

I know the thread is a few months old but some of us are just catching up. How about these.    http://www.performanceplustire.com/products/wheels/searchType/searchBySize/size/18x9/boltPattern/5x114.3/offset/Low/finish/ALL%20FINISHES/productID/14469/wheelDataID/171628    . If link doesn't work there Showwheels Streeter Black, 18x9, 5.25 bs, 6mm offset.

I would think that those should work great! In the front for sure, if you have the stock 8 3/4 and spring spacing out back you might need a small spacer depending on your tire choice, but that's not a big deal.