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Hot Rods 1955 Cadillac rims & tire question

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by aquaelvis, May 9, 2025.

  1. aquaelvis
    Joined: May 14, 2007
    Posts: 129

    aquaelvis
    Member
    from N. Idaho

    IMG_8491.png Hey all, I just got my 55 coupe on the road (kinda) and it needs new shoes.
    I just realized I have 2 correct rims and 2 random smoothie style 15x6 and one 15x5.5 on it now.
    The hub caps I have will only fit on 55 rims. (Little clips on the inside)
    I have another 55 here which I can’t really get to but it appears the one rim I can see is also not a factory 55. (Another generic smoothie)
    I do have a couple rims (also generic smoothie style) on a tri-5 rear end under my 40 ford I could steal for the caddy. (Think those are 15x7)

    Im at a loss, in a hurry to get this ready for a show in a week.

    I don’t know which way to go, look for standard generic smoothies and run beauty rings? (Can’t find a pic of a caddy on steelies)
    What caps will fit on those generic 4 tab steel wheels?
    Lastly, anyone have any input on tire size? I lowered it 2.5 inches in the front and 3 in the rear. I did the math and ordered 235/75’s (Coker 3.25 inch white walls) but I’m thinking they are too big.
    I’m exhausted and trying to get this on the road for this show/parade… any help would be greatly appreciated. My brain is fried. Everything on this car is an issue and there is no info available online relating to these cars.

    All the Cadillac forums are full of old men with Hawaiian shirts, Jean shorts and new balance tennies who don’t know anything but concourse cars. Help!
     
    Last edited: May 9, 2025
  2. aquaelvis
    Joined: May 14, 2007
    Posts: 129

    aquaelvis
    Member
    from N. Idaho

    Here are the generics I have.
     

    Attached Files:

  3. aquaelvis
    Joined: May 14, 2007
    Posts: 129

    aquaelvis
    Member
    from N. Idaho

    Here are factory correct 55 rims. (Little clips and no 4 tab) Down side of these is so far I only have 2 and if I can scrounge 2 more from the other caddy I’d still need new clips- $65 a wheel for those.
     

    Attached Files:

  4. Sits perfect

    Caddys need full caps
     
    bobss396 likes this.
  5. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 14,070

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

    Exactly. Are those 15 5 1/2” even correct?
     
  6. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 14,070

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

  7. aquaelvis
    Joined: May 14, 2007
    Posts: 129

    aquaelvis
    Member
    from N. Idaho

    So I looked at my other 55. One has a hubcap. (Looks like a 55 but it’s super hard to see- I used a scope to get a look)
    The other two look like later caddy? I’ll post pics. I’m wondering if the other 2 rims on this 55 are the same, if so I’d have a full matching set. They would accept caps but not sure if that includes 55’s or just 56 and later? (I think 56 is when the stopped using those clips?)
     

    Attached Files:

  8. aquaelvis
    Joined: May 14, 2007
    Posts: 129

    aquaelvis
    Member
    from N. Idaho

    Rear
     

    Attached Files:

  9. aquaelvis
    Joined: May 14, 2007
    Posts: 129

    aquaelvis
    Member
    from N. Idaho

    Wouldn’t be such a big deal but to dig that orange 55 out enough to get to the rims it’s going to cost me a day of moving firewood and stuff just to get those off. (Then I need to clean it all up)

    If it was accessible it wou,d be easy to check things out
     
  10. Tow Truck Tom
    Joined: Jul 3, 2018
    Posts: 3,236

    Tow Truck Tom
    Member
    from Clayton DE

    If you did the car right you don't need any caps .
    Just show up, not having them on, will be a great free ad at the show for WANTED.
    ***
    **`:D:cool: Just a reminder this is 2025
     
  11. aquaelvis
    Joined: May 14, 2007
    Posts: 129

    aquaelvis
    Member
    from N. Idaho

    if I had a set of 4 matching rims I’d be ok with that, but at this point I don’t. So getting caps down the road won’t help if they don’t all fit on the mix match rims I’m running. Also I don’t think caps fit on the 4 tab style steels (the ones that take center caps and beauty rings) I may be wrong.
     
    Tow Truck Tom likes this.
  12. Tow Truck Tom
    Joined: Jul 3, 2018
    Posts: 3,236

    Tow Truck Tom
    Member
    from Clayton DE

    To each his own.
    I would be there, no regrets.
    :rolleyes:*:p*:rolleyes::eek:
    ----me--------
     
  13. I learned about Caddy wheels/hubcap when I was slinging tires as a summer job.

    Tire customers with Cadillacs would come in and want to mount a new tire on the spare in the trunk. All great until the wheel cover wouldn't fit it.

    Likely from another year Caddy or a Buick. So I would tell the customers from there, humor me... let's try the wheel cover on the spare first. It headed off some irate customers more than once.
     

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