Hey guys, I'm about to make a wheel and tire purchase for a 54 Chevy 2 door sedan and I have questions. The car will be getting bagged so I want to get it right the first time and not have to get different tires later. I was looking at a 6.70-15 on a 15x6 smoothie all the way around but was told that I would have to do a whole lot of cutting to the floors, wheel wells and back seat to fit that combo. I was just recently told that if I run a 165R15 on the same 15x6 smoothies that I would be able to keep the wheel wells intact and cut less on the floors and seat. What do you guys think, and those of you with the same car what are you running and what did you have to do to make it fit smooth. Also, my main concern is that the wheels and tires don't look to small and era correct (somewhat).
That spec looks good on the front of an A or deuce highboy, bit slight for a fat sedan. It was a VW bug size.
Like X38 said. A lot of guys use that size for front runners on hot rods. They would look silly on your Chevy. Just sayin'.
I went with 195-75x15s on 15x7 rims and 205s on the rear the same width rims with no problems. I thinks there is 4" back spacing. Tight but doable. Cut front springs and dropped uprights with de-arched leaves outback.
165/15's are WAY too small for that style of car. Put your numbers in this calculator and see what might work. It'll give height, width and tread contact. You can also plug in wheel sizes to see what back spacing may work. It'll also give recommended wheel sizes. http://www.rimsntires.com/specspro.jsp
205/70R15 are the Ticket for Chevy Sedans. Pretty much the biggest tire on a 7" wheel you can get in a 55 Chevy. And I like the look of the stock 53-54 Wheels. Go with the 205/70R15's you will be happy.
Do you think that will be my best bet bagging the car too? Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
That's what we are running on our bagged 51 Chevy pickup. Not sure about 53_54 bagged never done one bagged yet. Sent from my XT1585 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I wonder how much of a difference between a truck and a car in this situation. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
It lays the frame. We can't go any wider on the front or it rubs while turning, in fact I think it actually has 195/70R15s on the front. Sent from my XT1585 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
165 R /15 's are Volkswagen size tires , commonly used as front runners. You're "bagging" the front or the rear?
^^^^^ what tfeverfred said^^^^^......way too small of a tire for that size of car. Bagged or not.......as Schwanke said, you need to be looking at 205's or bigger.
Okay, been thinking about this today. 6.70-15's bagged but not concerned about laying frame. How low will that be without cutting the trunk? Any pics would be helpful. Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
If it doesn't lay the frame, what's the point in baggin it? Just saying coil overs are a much better ride if you just want to lower it and enjoy. Also why go with bias tires when radials are cheaper and again have a much better ride. Sent from my XT1585 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
In was just wondering how low it would be, I had a 64 Impala with hydraulics but it didn't lay frame, looked real good too. Also I like the look of the bias ply tires and the ride don't bother me too much, I had 5.20-13's on my impala and it wasn't that bad. Here my impala I did, recently sold it. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Hope for a heavier car with 165SR15 tires to not having much braking or turning needs, or city driving. I can make the front tires of my fenderless A Tudor chaw at the road while on the brakes. I can grab down gears and throttle brake because I'm using a manual transmission. I have had reality braking problems, not due to tire size and weight. A VW bug doesn't have the sideload of a stock, pick it, '50 Chevy or Ford during a turn. Looks are one thing, reality is another. Just my OP. Math.
The OP's car, without modified wheel houses, and 6.70-15 tires, will be about 3-1/2"-4" off the ground, all the way down.
Thanks man, That's all I'm looking for. I think I'm going to focus more on the motor trans and rear right off and just lower the car or do a basic air ride setup. Later on when I have the funds back up I'll finish the chassis and get it lower. I appreciate you.
I'm running 205/75/R15's on the rear 8" wheel the fronts are 165/R15's mounted on 5" wheels The car rides, brakes, stops and corner's just fine
I've got 215/75/15's on my bagged chevy. I'm happy with the size, but did cut the rear wheel wells. This topic comes up once in a while, do a search to see some other threads. Here is one of them. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ire-size-lowering-help.1055186/#post-12034529
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