Hot Rods What is the widest wheel that fits in a tri five wheel tub?

My wife inherited her dads 55 bel air, she wants to keep it as her dad had it but I would like to do some things to make it hers(ours). I would really like to move the leafs into frame pockets because wide rear tires look kool. I don’t want to tub it just get the fattest tire in the stock wheel tub. The car isn’t a powerhouse but it’s a good dependable driver that my in-laws logged 75000 miles with.

 

Spoken like a true woman. Now be a good husband and listen to your wife before Daddy’s ghost comes to haunt you.

 

I squeezed 255-60-15 BFGs on 15x8 Cragars, and later on 15x7 Americans in the wheel wells of my '55.
I also had 2" lowering blocks on the stock rear axle and leaf springs and nothing rubbed.
HOWEVER...
To remove a tire, this combo required disconnecting the leafspring from its hanger.
I can't imagine the grief you'd get from your wife if she had a flat tire on *her* car 50 miles from nowhere.

 

8" are the widest you can usually go. These are stock 69 Corvette Rally wheels on our 55. To get them on though you have to take the shocks loose and let the rear hang down to get them out. The problem with a 55 is the exterior opening.

 

That car looks great as-is...why mess with what works?

 

Because I can! I ve built every hotrod that I’ve owned and I want tweek what’s already there.

 

Before you do anything, go sit on the bench you made for your late FIL and think about it. Just a thought.

 

I don't know if his daughter will have Phil's 55 at Vintiques this weekend or if she still has it but it has the widest tires I have seen on a 55 that I don't believe is tubbed. Built from a hulk that he pulled out of TeePee auto wrecking a number of years back and as nice a 55 as you will find. He passed away a few months after I took the photo.

 

The first part of the first sentence says all you need to know...........

I totally get that she wants it to stay 'Dad's car'.

 

Do a mini tub, move the springs in or do a triangulated 4 link and then put a 12” wide tire on a 10” wheel.

 

Mini tubs take cutting.

Truth is you can only get so much tire in the wheel well with stock axles without a lot of hassle. That may include deflating the tire or taking the shock loose and letting the axle drop or both.

I'm not a fan of super wide tires on a street car that actually gets driven because it is too easy to hydroplane with them if you hit a puddle. I have spun into the bar ditch twice with m y 48 when I had N 50 tires on the rear.

 

I had 8" Corvette Rally wheels, all four, on my "lowered", 56, 210.
I also had big tires on the wheels, same size on all four corners. The fronts rubbed the outer fender a little. I fixed that !!

Sorry, all of my 56 Chevy pictures are 35mm.

Mike

 

Is it your Wife 55
Or
Yours ??

First 3 sentences , She wants to keep car the way it is!!!!!

Maybe you should Look for another 55
For your self ,Change / Build the way you Like?

Her Dads, now Wife car looks Nice in pic shown

 

The best HAMB comment of the week..... I love this place.

 

Moderates you can delete this thread. I asked a tech question and it seems I’m only getting grief for want to change a car up a bit.

 

I did that to my first car, a 57 Convert. Moved the springs to under the frame rails, did not cut or modify the wheel tubs. Ran 15 x 10 rims, with (IIRC) L-50 tires. I DID have the rear end narrowed. I can't tell you how much to do a stock rear, as I installed a 12 bolt rear, when I did this. Cl ose fit, but no rubbing issues, and it sat only a bit higher than stock out back.

 

http://tri-5.chevyrides.com/rear_tire.php Pete

 

Moving the spring inboard is a big operation. I’ve seen several that ended up looking like they were butchered. Seen several that squeak. No fix. Opinion is mine!

 

Sorry if you think you're getting grief but this is the HAMB after all. That said it's obvious that some mods are in the future for the '55. And with your talents I'm sure whatever mods you do will be well done. Personally I wouldn't do it but you didn't ask for my opinion.

 

Is it your wife's car or yours? Sounds like the former just from the first sentence of this post. If that is indeed the case then you need to pump your brakes and leave HER heirloom alone, it is not yours to make changes to just because "you always built every car you've owned". From where I, and others, are sitting it sounds like you don't own this one.

 

Your wife's '55 looks perfect now. I'd let her leave it as it is, and not change it unless she asks for a change.

 

Making changes to her father's car without asking is no different than going through your wife's clothes and throwing out the things you don't like.

 

8" in rear, watch your wheel back spacing. No cutting, narrowed 9" in rear.

 

Don't touch it.

 

Think about a compromise. Go one size up on the tire (wheel and tire) aspect but without hacking any metal anywhere. This is a "bolt-on only" change that is less likely to ruffle your wife's feathers. And you are getting wider 'meat on the street'. Even if it's just a 1/2" more, it is wider and will be noticeable.
It seems like your wife has made her sentiments pretty clear. Don't pout or pressure. Being talked into something she doesn't want to do is not the same as being 'on board' with the idea. You could win the battle but lose the war.

 

This car, her car, makes her happy.

Only a fool tampers with his wife's happiness.

Be not that fool.

 

I want everyone to keep there opinions to themselves. I don’t give a shit what you all think! I asked a tech question and That is all I need to know!

 

I’m not the first to mention them, but the 8” vette rally wheels fit well.
This was one of my ‘56 projects (210) with 255/70r15 rubber.

 

my 56 I had when I was 19. 15x8 corvette rallys with L60 15s