[bryanw47]

Any idea if a 15 x 10 wheel with a 4" backspacing will fit under the rear of the car?


Will

[gtoroadracer]

The back spacing sounds correct, depending on what size tire you are looking to run , you will probably need to flare out the 1/4 panel. I do not think you will be able to stuff that much wheel in the stock area.

[65gto69]

I have a 65 GTO, pretty much the same chassis and 1/4's, and unless you have skyjacker air shocks on the back with the rear end pointing to the stars, or you are mini-tubed, you are not going to fit 15x10 on that car. It is tough enough trying to get an 15x8 rim to fit, but that can at least be done with the proper backspacing.

15x10's doubt it.

Mark

[chipster]

I have 15x10 Cragars with 5 1/2" backspacing and 295/50/15 BFG Radial TA's on the back of my '65 Tempest. There is about one quarter of an inch between the tire sidewalls and the frame on the inside, and if the rear was not lifted three inches or so, the outer sidewalls would be contacting the wheel well. I used '66 springs to raise the car, and air bags in the rear to keep the springs from compressing very much. I have still not had the car on the road yet, so I am not even sure if this will work, but I think it will.
With a 4" backspace, the tires would be sticking out beyond the outer lip of the wheelwells, and the lip would be resting on top of the tire tread, or at least scraping on every bounce.

[Dick Boneske]

If you need to raise the rearend more than 1-2" above stock, rear wheel hop will be a problem if you have stock rear suspension--upper and lower control arms. Wheel hop never happens with stock or a little higher-than-stock height, but once you go beyond about 2", wheel hop will be violent whenever you spin the tires.

This has been discussed many times on this board. Yes, you can modify the upper and lower control arms, add traction control arms, etc. Running just a little smaller width tire and rim eliminates the need for this. I ran 9" wide Firestone drag slicks X 28" diameter on my '64 GTO on 7" Corvette rims without problems. I don't recall the offset.

[bryanw47]

Lot's of good info. I certainly appreciate the insight. With all that has been said, can anyone recommend a 15" size wheel and tire that would fit in the rear and not have to modify anything. I was thinking of a 15 x 8 wheel with a 275/60R 15 tire and 4.25 backspacing.

Thanks

Will

[b-man]

Originally Posted by bryanw47

Lot's of good info. I certainly appreciate the insight. With all that has been said, can anyone recommend a 15" size wheel and tire that would fit in the rear and not have to modify anything. I was thinking of a 15 x 8 wheel with a 275/60R 15 tire and 4.25 backspacing.

Thanks

Will

You'll need an 8" wheel with 5" of backspacing to pull that off with a 275/60-15. This assumes you still have the '64 rear end in the car, or at least one of the '64 through mid-'66 rear ends.

The late-'66 and up rears are 1" wider overall (1/2" per side), if your car has one of those you'll need 5-1/2" of backspace with an 8" wheel.

This '64 has an 8" wheel with custom backspacing to fit with the narrowed Ford 9" rear end. The rear was narrowed 1.8125" (1-13/16") from stock per side, so the wheels were made with 3.25" of backspace. Same fit (within 1/16") as a wheel with 5" of backspace on a stock width '64 rear end.



A minor modification to the rearmost portion of the inner wheelwell was done with a 2-pound hammer for clearance when the car had 10X28" slicks (on 8.5" wheels with 3-3/8" backspacing). This probably would have been needed for the 275/60s as well, it's a tight fit in this spot especially on my lowered car.

Driver's side inner wheelwell mod, from inside the trunk:

[INJUNTOM]

Bart's right on that one as far as tucking the tires in the fenderwell are concerned.

May get away with 5.5" backspace if you feel safe with spacers.

[INJUNTOM]

My buddy runs 275/60-15 on his '65 with Rally IIs BTW

[65gto69]

I have the 275/60/15 on my car also with a 7" rim and I can not get anymore width under that 1/4 without some mods.

That is a plenty big tire for a street/strip setup, almost a 10" patch of rubber on the street. Works fine for me no problems or interferences.

Mark

[AG]

I have a '65 with a 1969 12-bolt and 8" rims, 5.5" BS with an 11.5" Hoosier QTP and had to use a 7/16" spacer to work. An 8" rim with 5" BS would be perfect. When I wear down the tires, I will get new rims with 5" BS and tires.

[tempest455]

15 x 10, with a stock well, not a chance.