Ok, I admit I don't know anything about steel wheels. I get the difference in lug patterns between car manufacturers. I have decided that I want to run 215/75/15 tires on front and 235/75/15 on the rear. Here's what I don't know is are these steel wheels available in the bone yards? I'd prefer to pick something up on the cheap and paoint them. What are the stock widths that came on cars? What are the differences from steelies ordered on-line to the steel rims that came orignally on cars? I want to run 15x7 on the front and 15x8 on the rear. Help!
its doo able..but like said above..what car .. or tuck? that is what will make the difference..also back spacing
For a 15X7 wheel 4" backspacing works on most cars. A 15X8 may be a problem to fit. Just a little wide for a stock fender. It took me over a year to find a set of 4 15X7 steelies in ford (5 on 4.5") pattern. I've been told time and again that utility trailer manufacturers got the small Ford wheels years ago. Seems that I was constantly finding Chevy wheels in any size I could ask for.
Here's a good guide on lug patterns. http://www.teufert.net/wheels/bolt-pat.htm If it is a 5x4.75 it's the same as the Chevy S-10. Should be east to find some base model steelies or spare steelies for that and they should be really cheap too. A lot of S-10s in the boneyard for sure.
Most of the 2wd s-10s had 15x7 if I remember correctly, with a backspace about 3.75-4" depending on the year. Some of the spares are a 15x6. Stay clear of the 4wd S-10 as they have a positive offset like a front wheel drive car. Chevy did that to fit larger tires under the same size fenders on the 4wd models. Also steer clear of the skinny space saver spares as they area a lot smaller. They were mostly used on the 90s s-10s and GMC Sonomas. I would say the cheapest route would be s-10 wheels all the way around with 15x6 spare in the front and a 15x7 base model steelie in the rear. The tire sizes you listed will work with those wheels. Below is a pic of a s-10 steel spare.
Yes, utility trailers, and any trailer manufactured in the old days (before axle/hub ***emblies being manufactured) got Ford hubs and wheels. This was due to Ford using the tapered, timpken bearing, while the Chevies had ole worn out ball bearings. My dad worked at a trailer manufacture in the late 1960's. You could not find hubs or wheels for Ford cars in any junk yards for miles around. They were all bought up to build these trailers.
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