71 Dart Swinger wheel/tire combo suggestions

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Belvedere66

Belvedere66

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Hey guys, posted this on the A body FB page, figured I'd ask here as well. So right now I have 14" rallyes all around and I am in need of new rear tires. Instead of replacing them I would rather upgrade to 15" on the whole car. So I found some black steel wheels from Wheel Vintiques on SummitRacing.com that are 15x7 sbp with a 4" backspace. My question is: with these wheels what would be the ideal tire size front/rear? I have all stock suspension, nothing modified, as well as an 8 3/4 rear end. I would prefer the rears to be wider than the front. Probably going to go with a Cooper Cobra brand tire and buy them from Summit as well.
 
Running 255-60-15 on 15x7 police wheels on back of my 72 they look great and the fit is nice. Im running 14" Torque Thrust D on front so can't help with best 15" front size.
 
Measure twice. Biggest I can fit on my 72 scamp is 245. Leaves 1/2 on each side. Measure from the "contact points" the inner fender lip and the leaf spring. To the mounting surface on the axle. That will tell you your total possible width. Find a rim that takes that in half and you're on your way. Make sure you leave 1/2 on either side for side to side motion and what not.
 
I wouldn't plan on going wider than 245/60/15 in the back. Some cars can manage a 255, but most can't. With a SBP 8 3/4 you might be able to get away with a 15x7" and 4" backspace, but really you should have more like 4.25" of backspace to fit a 245 even with the SBP.

In the front a 225/60/15 would be about the most you would want to run, especially with a 15x7 and a 4" backspace. That would be a no-go with BBP brakes, but with the SBP it would be about the max.

If you could find SBP 15x7's with 4.25" of backspace you'd be in better shape.
 
Lustle said:
Measure twice. Biggest I can fit on my 72 scamp is 245. Leaves 1/2 on each side. Measure from the "contact points" the inner fender lip and the leaf spring. To the mounting surface on the axle. That will tell you your total possible width. Find a rim that takes that in half and you're on your way. Make sure you leave 1/2 on either side for side to side motion and what not.
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Ok, good advice, thank you. I haven't messed with wheel/tire stuff a lot so I don't want to make any mistakes. I was looking at a 245/60 rear with a 215/65 front.

Currently running 235/60r14 and 215/65r14 with zero issues.
72bluNblu said:
I wouldn't plan on going wider than 245/60/15 in the back. Some cars can manage a 255, but most can't. With a SBP 8 3/4 you might be able to get away with a 15x7" and 4" backspace, but really you should have more like 4.25" of backspace to fit a 245 even with the SBP.

In the front a 225/60/15 would be about the most you would want to run, especially with a 15x7 and a 4" backspace. That would be a no-go with BBP brakes, but with the SBP it would be about the max.

If you could find SBP 15x7's with 4.25" of backspace you'd be in better shape.
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Well I could get the more expensive rallyes from Summit, they are 4.25 bs. I just really like the black steelie/dog dish look on a green car. Would I be safe with a 235/60 rear and 215/65 front? Its about what I have now but one wheel size bigger so they will fill in the well a lot more and not look so wimpy.
 
I have the 245/60/15 - 215/65/15 Cooper Cobra's on Summit's SBP Wheel Vintique Rallye wheels. 15x7 in back - 15x6 in front. Fronts do not rub at all. Backs rub a little only when I pull into a steep driveway at an angle.

DSC01830.JPG


DSC01839.JPG
 
Rear suspension matters also. On my 70 dart, I'm running 255/60r15 out back on a 15x7 4.25 bs rallye wheel. 002/003 s/s springs, absolutely no rubbing at all ...

20130526_161143.jpg


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are you sure you don't want to move rear springs in? 275s out back are hard to beat.
Picture is a little washed out, but those are 225/60-15 fronts, and 275/50-15 rears. Fronts are V-rated Accelera brand, rear are Nitto Drag Radials. 15x7 front, 15x8 rear. Custom backspace on all.
 
You guys have some nice looking cars! I need to do other things before messing with any suspension. For now my stock setup works perfectly, maybe down the line :p

So I guess if I want bigger than 235 I need to go Rallye with more backspace. If steelies then 235 it is. Thank you all for your input, greatly appreciated. Definitely gonna save this post for later down the road
 
1969reddart said:
I have the 245/60/15 - 215/65/15 Cooper Cobra's on Summit's SBP Wheel Vintique Rallye wheels. 15x7 in back - 15x6 in front. Fronts do not rub at all. Backs rub a little only when I pull into a steep driveway at an angle.

View attachment 1714947275

View attachment 1714947276
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Do you think a 15x7 would be too wide for the front with a 215 tire? Haven't bought anything yet so I can always switch two out for 15x6
 
There is a place called specialtywheel.com that have 15x7 4 1/4 back spaced steel wheels for mopar, big or small bolt pattern.

Jeff
 
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jeffnmo said:
There is a place called specialtywheel.com that have 15x7 4 1/4 back spaced steel wheels for mopar, big or small bolt pattern.

Jeff
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They do have a nice selection, about $100 more but the backspacing would be better,,,,,hmmm. I could just get my two rears from them to be able to run a 245.
 
After some consideration I think I made a decision. I'm not looking for a 70s street machine look so I don't mind the 235/60, 215/65 combo. Buying the set of 15x7 steelies from summit to go on all four corners. So now I need to find a set of dog dish caps near me to complete my sleeper look.
 
Good choice. I kept my 14" inchers on the front but used 15x7 (4.25 backspace) on the rear with 255-60's. No rub but my rear springs have a extra leaf added. Please post some pics when you're done. tmm
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toolmanmike said:
Good choice. I kept my 14" inchers on the front but used 15x7 (4.25 backspace) on the rear with 255-60's. No rub but my rear springs have a extra leaf added. Please post some pics when you're done. tmmView attachment 1714947470
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The vintiques steelies are 4" BS which is why I'm sticking with a smaller size, the 4.25 bs steelies from wheelspecialty.com are $100 more after shipping
 
Yea quite a bit more, but they are what I wanted so what are ya goin' to do!

jeff
 
Ok got them on today, will have pics hopefully tonight. The 215s fit really well, the 235s actually leave a lot of room, about an inch on either side. So 245 would have been ok. But I love the look regardless! Dog dishes coming soon from a member here, @twister360
 
Nice, as long as you like the way it looks thats all that matters, can't wait to see the photos.

Jeff
 
Its dark so had to take it in the garage but looks good so far. Now I have six 14" rallyes sitting against the wall haha. I told her one day she gets her garage spot back!
20160702_223757.jpg
 
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