Need Help with 66 Dart Wheels and Tires

[Legacy]

My son and I are restoring a 66 Dart, 270, 4 door. It has the original 13", 5 x 4 steel wheels. The car has 4 wheel drum brakes and stock suspension.

We would like to update to a 14" or 15" wheel/tire combo. If anyone has experience or recommendations as to what size wheel and tire would work on the car we would greatly appreciate any information you are willing to offer.

Specifically we would like to know what wheel diameter, width and backspacing would work without any modifications to the stock suspension, brakes or wheel wells.

Thanks much
Legacy

 

[ragtopfury]

On Jake''s 65 B'cuda, we have 15x7 with 4.25 back space rallye from wheel vintiques and stock early 70''s 14" rallye up front. 235/60/15 and 195/70/14. in our opinion, it gives it that classic muscle car stance and look for the year. I don't have a profile pic of it on my phone.......

What part of MD are you in?

 

[Johnny Dart]

Look for a set of 14"×5.5" small bolt factory steel wheels.
Add a 205/70-14 or a 215/70-14. This size tire and wheel work real well on early A's.

 

[halfafish]

I'm already down this road. Here are the measurements and photos of my 66 Valiant. I'm going to KH discs in the front, so got the SBP 14" wheels/tires ahead of time. The fronts are stock 4.5x14 with 205/70/14's on them. The rears are 7x14 with about 5.5" backspace (it's a little hard to figure while mounted on the car) and 245/60/14's on them. The front wheels are stock. The rears were made by the guy I got them from - he took SBP centers and welded them to a set of Ford 14x7 rims. I'm guessing your Dart is about the same configuration as my Valiant in terms of size and shape. The fronts fit fine with plenty of clearance. The rears are for sure all the tire and wheel I can get under there without moving the springs, radiusing the fenders, or tubbing. I have about 3/8" clearance to the spring, and a finger's width to the fender well. However, I really like the subtle look as I'm building this as a sleeper.

Zach

 

[Legacy]

On Jake''s 65 B'cuda, we have 15x7 with 4.25 back space rallye from wheel vintiques and stock early 70''s 14" rallye up front. 235/60/15 and 195/70/14. in our opinion, it gives it that classic muscle car stance and look for the year. I don't have a profile pic of it on my phone.......

What part of MD are you in?

Ragtopfury
Thanks much for the info.
I'm down in Southern MD (St Mary's county).
Legacy

 

[toolmanmike]

The factory 14x5.5 wheels are a good choice. I used 195-14's on the front with 215's on the rear. (simply because that was available to me) Later I mounted 2.25-70/15's on 15x7 rallys with a 4'' backspace on the rear. They fit without modification

 

[Legacy]

Thanks to everyone for the great info you provided.

Have one last question. My son is looking at wheels that are 14 x 7, with a 5 x 4 bolt pattern. Backspacing is 4". Does anyone foresee any issues with putting these wheels on all four corners.

Thanks much
Legacy