This is quite a subjective question, but I am wondering about your thoughts/opinions on wheel size selection for fenderless cars. I have heard guys talk about running a smaller wheel in back (i.e. 20" in front, 18" rear) in order to get a bit more tire in the rear, and I have also seen larger wheel in rear (i.e. 20" rear, 18" front). Finally, some people run all four wheels the same size. I guess I am just wondering about functionality, your preference, consequences of the different size combinations, and overall "looks". What do you run and why? EDIT: Just for clarification, I am talking about diameter as opposed to width. Width will be a whole different question...
The reason for a smaller wheel in the rear is to copy the look of a race setup. The short wheel gives way for the big rear slicks to make up the difference. ultimately the overall diameter is much bigger in the rear, but the rear wheel is smaller.
I am not going to say anything about tradition, because my primary basis for comment is what I have seen or done myself... On a fenderless car, I think the size difference should be taken up in the tire sizing, with not much more than an inch difference in wheel diameter. Just my opinion though, as I am sure someone will show me an exception to that statement here shortly. BRT
Same diameter all around is pretty safe. *But larger in front if you are a ****. Anybody remember that cartoon from an old RnC where the guy switched his bigs and littles "just to be different"? *The only automotive application I can think of where a larger diameter wheel belongs in front is the 18 inch dragster wheel.
You start alot of threads..... TIRES should always be taller in the rear than the front on Hotrods......regardless of wheels used or nature of said hotrod...... There have been dry lakes racecars with larger WHEELS in front....but the tires were always the same size or smaller than the rears....
Alright, I understand what you're trying to do but in my opinion you're trying to define and categorize something that inherently defies it. Maybe it's just the mood I'm in today and I apologize if I come off wrong, but I feel like wheel/tire combinations should fit the specific car they are going on, period. Even narrowing it to your example of Lakes Style leaves it wide open... and Harrison's reply doesn't work for me as I have seen plenty of early lakes cars running 16 inch Keley's or similar in the back and 18" Buffalo style wires in the front and it looked really neat. For me it's about lakes style cars... not lakes style wheels and tires. All wheels same diameter? Sounds GREAT... depending on the car.
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