Mismatched Wheel Sizes - Need Advice

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e50095

e50095

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I’m curious if anyone ever ran 14” wheels on the front and 15’s on the back. If so, did it look okay, or did it look like something was amiss? I’m starting to put my 68 Barracuda together. It has a stock 8 3/4 and I have a really nice KH brake setup for the front. I have 14” rally wheels for the front with a 215-70 tire, and an opportunity to pick up a pair of 15x7 small bolt rally wheels for the rear. I already have a pair of good 235-70 tires if I go that way. The car is a convertible so I’m not looking for a big rake look. I guess my concern is whether the front wheel wells won’t look filled up where the rears do. Does anyone have any experience with this? I appreciate any input/advice. Thanks guys….
 
e50095 said:
I’m curious if anyone ever ran 14” wheels on the front and 15’s on the back. If so, did it look okay, or did it look like something was amiss? I’m starting to put my 68 Barracuda together. It has a stock 8 3/4 and I have a really nice KH brake setup for the front. I have 14” rally wheels for the front with a 215-70 tire, and an opportunity to pick up a pair of 15x7 small bolt rally wheels for the rear. I already have a pair of good 235-70 tires if I go that way. The car is a convertible so I’m not looking for a big rake look. I guess my concern is whether the front wheel wells won’t look filled up where the rears do. Does anyone have any experience with this? I appreciate any input/advice. Thanks guys….
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It's going to look a little different but the real issue is how you like the look. For me, I would run it as is and make changes later. I did this with my Duster. The rear tires I had made it have a little rake.
 
I ran 14" Daisy 200s I picked up at a swap meet. 40 bucks....new in the (really old) box, had some ol 15" keystones from a passed Bro. I ran em staggered. Looked Killer, 205/70/14 front, big fat tall tires rear. That was my 66 Satellite

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e50095 said:
I’m curious if anyone ever ran 14” wheels on the front and 15’s on the back. If so, did it look okay, or did it look like something was amiss? I’m starting to put my 68 Barracuda together. It has a stock 8 3/4 and I have a really nice KH brake setup for the front. I have 14” rally wheels for the front with a 215-70 tire, and an opportunity to pick up a pair of 15x7 small bolt rally wheels for the rear. I already have a pair of good 235-70 tires if I go that way. The car is a convertible so I’m not looking for a big rake look. I guess my concern is whether the front wheel wells won’t look filled up where the rears do. Does anyone have any experience with this? I appreciate any input/advice. Thanks guys….
Click to expand...
Yes I run 2 different sizes. 14 and 15"

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What are your plans for a spare? You gonna carry two?
 
215-70-14 on x5.5 rallyes in front

255-60-15 on x6.5 rallyes in back.

Looks like it was supposed to come from the factory that way.

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What body/model is your car?

71-74 B has a real generous wheel well, as do 67-69 Barracuda, and Dusters, Demons, and Dart Sports.

It takes a whole lotta tire to fill those out.
 
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It’s a carryover from the gasser era, which is why it looks so bitchin’ cool. They did it for built in deep staging in the glory days of the three pedal era. Usually with Volkswagen sized 12 or 13 inch micro tires.
 
A 26"-26-1/2" diameter tire pretty much fills the front WWs .

5-1/2 - 14 SBC front, 10 - 15 LBC rear from the waaaaaaaayback scans (early '80s) if it helps..............

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It would look OK. And if you don't like the rake you can always put a small spacer between the leak springs and axle. Always check your clearances.
 
15's all around on this combo but I ran 14/15's for many years on this car.

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I also have a 68 Barracuda
on the front are 235/60-14s on 7.5s, 4.0bc
on the rear are 295/50-15s on 10s, 4.5bc
I wouldn't have it any other way.
I do not run a spare, because, since this car hit the road in 1999, it has only ever had one flat; and that was just 3 miles from home. I hitch-hiked home and got something. Air-tank I think it was. Flats are to my car as sickness is to me; namely, extremely rare.

235/70-15s are nearly 28" tall, and so are about the tallest tires you can fit back there.
215/70-14s are about 25.9 tall, also about as tall as you can fit on the front at a reasonable ride-height, and still turn all the way to the steering stops, without rubbing on something. My 235s are ~25.1 tall, and I had to trim the forward corners of both fenderwells. Mind you, my car is lowered quite a bit; the K has been as low as 5.5 from the road, but currently is closer to 6 inches.

IMO,
1) on your convertible, all that tallness would not be the look for me. and
2) the Barracuda in Post #12, sits at a good ride-height.... for tires a lil taller, but I can see why it is where it is, lol.
3) for me; I think BrianT nailed it pretty good in Post #7
4) Back in 1970, I had a Swinger340 set up like Toolman's in Post #5, so I'm partial to that rake; or rather, was. On the factory tires it was a seriously dangerous car to drive. I was very glad to put it on radials.
 
14" X 5 1/2" factory Rallyes (P195/75R14) up front & 15" X 7" WheelVintique Rallyes (P245/60R15) on the rear. All wheels are small bolt pattern (factory installed 8 3/4" sure-grip 3.23:1) and SSBC front disc brakes.

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