Widest tire on 8 3/4 rearend - 1972 Dodge Dart Swinger

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Manny Valencia

Manny Valencia

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Hello all,

I rarely post on here, but I took this project car with my dad and there is a lot to learn about these older cars for me.

This is my 1972 Dodge Dart Swinger which originally had a 225 Slant 6, but since has been swapped with a SB LA 318 motor. Apparently my particular car came with a 8 3/4 rear-end! I am not entirely sure why, but I won't complain ha.

Now I am wondering if anyone has the knowledge of what is the widest rear-tires I can fit on my stock 14in rims, 5x4, and 8 3/4 rear-end?

Thank you!

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I put 15's on mine but used a 15x7 with a 4 1/4 backspace and a 255 60. It is close to the fender lip but no rub.

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toolmanmike said:
I put 15's on mine but used a 15x7 with a 4 1/4 backspace and a 255 60. It is close to the fender lip but no rub.

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Man that's a nice Dart. Twin of mine. I too was wondering what's the largest tire I can fit in my car without cutting any metal. What size are you running on the front? My car has 14's now. I was looking at those coker wheels. Same style. What brand are your wheels? Also what brand are your exhaust tips. My car has 3 inch turndowns that I want to cut off and put the chome tips on. That's exactly the look I want for my car.

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Need to look at the tire section width (SW) side wall to side wall Tire Rack is a good source to find this information just look at the specs for any given size it will then bring up every size available for that brand you can use your tire - wheel for reference distance from side wall to leaf spring - quarter panel lip but you need to look at the suggested wheel width on the tire specs there's someplace to figure the change in SW if your wheel width is different than the size suggested do the same for the OD I have done this several times and can get down to fractions of clearance never failed lets say your tire has a SW of 8" and the closest your are to either side is 1" times this by 2 so you could be a little under 10" on the SW
 
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I put 225/60 R15 on my Swinger w 15x7 cop rims. There was a spare 10mm either side with all stock setup.
I had the car sitting low, was not going to elevate the back for clearance.
 
Manny Valencia said:
Hello all,

I rarely post on here, but I took this project car with my dad and there is a lot to learn about these older cars for me.

This is my 1972 Dodge Dart Swinger which originally had a 225 Slant 6, but since has been swapped with a SB LA 318 motor. Apparently my particular car came with a 8 3/4 rear-end! I am not entirely sure why, but I won't complain ha.

Now I am wondering if anyone has the knowledge of what is the widest rear-tires I can fit on my stock 14in rims, 5x4, and 8 3/4 rear-end?

Thank you!

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I have 255/60 r15's on the rear of my 70 Dart, with 8.75 rear n small bolts...

But I had relocated the spring perches in a bit, and also had 5 1/8 backspaced steel wheels made, so it is centered nicely. I can actually fit 275/60 r15's now if I want...

The fronts are 215/65 r 15's to fit well up front turning-wise...
 
Gregor said:
Man that's a nice Dart. Twin of mine. I too was wondering what's the largest tire I can fit in my car without cutting any metal. What size are you running on the front? My car has 14's now. I was looking at those coker wheels. Same style. What brand are your wheels? Also what brand are your exhaust tips. My car has 3 inch turndowns that I want to cut off and put the chome tips on. That's exactly the look I want for my car.

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I kept the stock 14's on the front. The tires are 225 60's if I remember correctly.
 
Manny Valencia said:
Thank you all for the information.

I can't seem to find 15in rims in my area
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if your on a budget ,You can get 15x7 dodge diplomat wrecking yard steel wheels for the back ,and just to be safe, put on 245/60/15's ,and use a 1/4 inch spacer on back rims ,for the front' look for old 60s C-body/or 60's 70's dodge truck 15x5 rims for the front ,and run a 205/70/15 on the front 'good rims for dog dish hub caps/rings etc
 
matt717 said:
if your on a budget ,You can get 15x7 dodge diplomat wrecking yard steel wheels for the back ,and just to be safe, put on 245/60/15's ,and use a 1/4 inch spacer on back rims ,for the front' look for old 60s C-body/or 60's 70's dodge truck 15x5 rims for the front ,and run a 205/70/15 on the front 'good rims for dog dish hub caps/rings etc
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'crap' i forgot you got the small bolt pattern' Forget about the tires update that car with the BBP
 
I think you're going to need to replace your rims too as they are probably only 5.5" wide? You wouldn't want to put anything wider than a 225 (235 max) wide tire on a 5.5" rim.
 
H22A4 said:
I think you're going to need to replace your rims too as they are probably only 5.5" wide? You wouldn't want to put anything wider than a 225 (235 max) wide tire on a 5.5" rim.
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H22A4 said:
I think you're going to need to replace your rims too as they are probably only 5.5" wide? You wouldn't want to put anything wider than a 225 (235 max) wide tire on a 5.5" rim.
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Either that? or? he could save some money and eventually buy some aftermarket Small bolt pattern 14" Magnum 500's 'or? Sell the 8-3/4 rear end for the big bucks to pay for the Magnum 500's and find a 8-1/4 BBP rear to uh? wain't a minute i'm lost
 
Gregor said:
Man that's a nice Dart. Twin of mine. I too was wondering what's the largest tire I can fit in my car without cutting any metal. What size are you running on the front? My car has 14's now. I was looking at those coker wheels. Same style. What brand are your wheels? Also what brand are your exhaust tips. My car has 3 inch turndowns that I want to cut off and put the chome tips on. That's exactly the look I want for my car.

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I'm sorry for missing this whole thread. My rears are Wheel Vintiques 15x7 with a 4.25" backspace. I mounted 255-60/15 BFG's with no trimming or rubbing. My rear springs have a extra leaf added and I would say they are at least 1" over stock. The fronts are the stock type 14x6 Vintiques with 205-70/14 BFG's. The exhaust tips are stock 340 tips. I believe you can get reproductions now days.
 
matt717 said:
Either that? or? he could save some money and eventually buy some aftermarket Small bolt pattern 14" Magnum 500's 'or? Sell the 8-3/4 rear end for the big bucks to pay for the Magnum 500's and find a 8-1/4 BBP rear to uh? wain't a minute i'm lost
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Magnums aren't made in small bolt. (I wish they were)
 
matt717 said:
Your blue dart is small bolt pattern Can't even hardly tell 'looks great
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been so long since i had the small bolt pattern' i forgot all about it 'used to have it on my 64 barracuda but i changed it ,back in 2002 when there was a few 73-76 A-body's floating around at the pic n pulls, Nowday's cant find hardly anything in the wrecking yards But? i heard it through the grapevine 'people are taking the BBP spindles and brake caliper mounts off of M-body's Diplomats/5th Avenues etc: and converting them to A-body's
 
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