putting 18" wheel on 1956 Customline

C

Customline56

Junior Member
I'm wanting to put 18s on my 56 Customline but I'm thinking they might scrub on the side and in the wheel well. Anyone else done this? Do you have to change the axle? What tire size did you use?
 
Find out the diameter of the 18" tires you want to use, and compare it to the diameter of the stock '56 tires. Should be fairly close to the same since 18" tires have a very low profile. Also have to consider the offset of the 18" wheels compared to the stock wheels as far as hitting the frame or something else.

Sal
 
Go to tire racks website. For most tires, under "specifications" you'll find rim width, tread width, diameter, and section width. Start with your stock size tire, write it all down, then go look at the 18's. My 55. Bird has 235/15 60 tires on 7" rims with 4" backspace. That's very tight, but clears.

You'd probably be better running a search for 15" tire/rim combinations, and see what fits. There a lot more of us running 15" performance tires than hoops on mid 50's cars. You can then use that info to check the dimensions.

Lots of people find that larger tires fit, but you have to drop the shock to get them off the car. Not much fun on the side of the road on a rainy night.

Around here, most Les Swabb stores can photo shop the wheels if you bring in a picture of your car. I'd suggest you do that. It's your car, and you should like it, but there's a reason most of us don't run hoops on our cars.
 
American mags website has a feature that will tell you what sizes are interchangeable for popular cars, and even show you a pic of it with that size wheel. Worked well with my '55 Bird.
 
If you have a stock front end I would be more concerned about the offset spacing of an aftermarket wheel. Where that spindle and upper ball joint sit on a stock suspension is already close enough with a stock rim and tire.
 
HRR is correct. I should have been more clear in my first post. The 235/60's with the 4" backspace are in the rear. The fronts are 225/60's with 3 1/2" backspace. They're about as close to the upper ball joint as you'd want to get. The pass car and bird's use the same A arms and balljoints. The wheels are American SaltFlats.
 
miker98038 said:
HRR is correct. I should have been more clear in my first post. The 235/60's with the 4" backspace are in the rear. The fronts are 225/60's with 3 1/2" backspace. They're about as close to the upper ball joint as you'd want to get. The pass car and bird's use the same A arms and balljoints. The wheels are American SaltFlats.
Click to expand...
:D Pictures would be nice !
 
View attachment 270388

This is my first attempt to upload a photo, hope it works.

This shows the clearance between the upper ball joint and the tire. 225/60 15, 15" American Salt Flats wheel, 3 1/2" backspace. The clearance is 3/8". The A frame and ball joint have been modified, but the Original clearance was just a touch more, maybe 1/2".
 
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thanks, and good job - we can see that photo.

That is tight for sure! 3/8" is super tight. Do you get any scrapes on the tire sidewall when you hit a deep hole or a speed bump? Maybe your tire sidewall is pretty rigid...
 
No signs of it touching. With a 225 BFG T/A mounted on a 7" rim, and 28lbs pressure it's all pretty stable. I've leaned on it pretty hard, but I don't autocross it. That would tell.
 
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