Im running 215/75r15 on my 53, but i want to lower it a few inches and i am pretty sure these wide 215s arent going to clear for turning, if you are running radials what size are you running and how low is your car? I know that radials arent traditional but its the only thing my parents will let me run, they have something against bias plys and i cant figure it out. My dad says bias dont handle as well and for the mountain, bumpy, windy roads we live down, that i will run radials.... I guess just go along with it until i am completely paying for insurance! lol i was looking at the american cl***ic 195/75r15 since they are narrower.. should i maybe just look at 205/70s? or would they look funny being so much shorter in diameter?? all input is good. I know i have talked about this in here before but now i have done more research and have a little more knowledge... so what are you guys running? Thanks Luke
i have 215/65/15s on the front of my 55, got the aerostar springs with torino spindles. not as low as some ive seen but i like where the front is . check out my pics in m profile
Lot of discussion on wheels and tires http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?do=discuss&group=&discussionid=3612 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?do=discuss&group=&discussionid=4322 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?do=discuss&group=&discussionid=10216 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?do=discuss&group=&discussionid=12965
The biggest issue with 52-56 Fords is the shallow rear wheel well.on my '54 I have 195/75R/14's on 14" X 6" U.S. Slot Mags I had to trim the inner lip and roll it and add shock extensions so the rear would drop enough to get it in the wheel well.So before you lay down the bucks,try to trial fit some wheels to determine the needed offset.Front tires are usually not a problem with clearance,another rear that is pretty strong and narrow is the 8 3/4" Mopar used in Dodge Darts,I put one in a '63 Nova SS and it was almost a bolt in.
Yeah, as jeff said, the fronts aren't really an issue. Now the rear, thats a can of worms. For the record, I've got 14x6 wheels (with a standard ford offset) and f-78 bias plys, and I used to have trouble stuffing those ****ers in there. I've got it figured out for what works for me (deflate the tires, knock the shocks loose, and a jack between the axle and the frame). When I ran radials (They were free, and they were cooler than the radials that came with the car), getting the rear wheels on was a nightmare. I gott'em on, but it wasn't fun. I think I was running 195s or something then too. Anyway, you might try some skinny whites out, I think they'd fit your wheels a little better (thats just me). Could play with photoshop or something with'em? I dunno, your car, your call.
Thanks guys for the help. yeah i was looking at aerostar springs for the front. right now i have a slight rub in the back but just when i go around tight corners and stuff. but it is only on my left rear wheel... oldladysmad- whats the diameter of your wheels their in the front? ill take a look when i get the chance at the front, maybe it wont be as big of a deal as i thought...
got mopar wheels, 15x6s had to go with those because the centers had to be bigger for the rotors and thats what my wheel guy had that fit
If you go down a little bit in size, it won't really hurt the look that much. I dunno, I had tiny radials on my car when I was rocking those, and it looked okay, fit the period I was after anyway. Though! My sugguestion, which is the cheapest (especially if you want to stick to WWW radials), just lower it and see what it does? Especially with aerostar springs, you can have it back to stock in a matter of minutes, if anything were to not be quite right. Just a suggestion anyway.
yeah thats true. I just didnt wanna spend a whole lot of money to have to change it back ya know? But i looked at the car last night (it is sitting in my grandmothers garage while im off at school) and it does look like i could lower it maybe 2 inches with no problem and that is about how much i wanted to ,ower it in the front. But like Jeff said, looking up the rear wheel well, i would def have some rubbing issues. so once i wear these tires out, ill look into maybe some 195/75/r15 or something like that which is a little narrower. thanks guys!
The low priced radials sold at Wal-Mart (can't remember brand) and the Cornell tire sold at Pep Boys have a slightly narrower section width which will help fit,the Cornells actually wear quite well for the price.
nope. the wallmarts are douglas extra-tracs. wear out fast. make your own wide whites. latex house. paint. yea stupid i know but thats what most of the rat roders do.last longer that youd think.
i think id rather just pay a little more and get some good looking real white walls. My car is def no rat rod. lol
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