I’m looking for some help in selecting a rear tire size to best go with what I’ve chosen for the front for my 55 Fairlane. This is what I have so far... Front: 15x4.5” wheels with 165/15 tires with a 2 1/4” whitewall This will be a 25.2” tall tire Rear: 15x7” wheels Tires Option 1- 255/70/15 with 3” whitewall. Would be 29.1” tall and 10.2” wide Tire Option 2- 235/70/15 with 2 3/4” whitewall. Would be 28” tall and 9.5” wide
why such a skinny tire in front? That is a VW size tire and insufficient for a car the size and weight of your Ford. Are you trying for a specific theme....i.e. 'Gasser' or? In front, I would think at least a 195 or 205 would be a better choice.....rear with 235's will be tight in the stock fender well....and I'd think you'll find a 255 a 'no go'. That era Ford has relatively narrow wheel housings in stock form. A 225 70 or 75 would come closer to fitting and a wheel less than 7" unless you have carefully accounted for backspacing to position the wheel in the well.
Thanks for the input. While my front end won't be up in the air like a gasser, the look I'm going for is similiar. I'm going to run a skinny front tire for two reasons, I plan to lower it quite a bit and the turn clearance will be helped with a narrow tire, and second the skinnier the front tire, the easier it will be to turn without power steering. As far as the rear I have a "wheel fit" tool and know for sure the 15x7 with a 235 will fit with plenty of room to spare, but the 255 would be pretty tight and may rub when going around corners. I've decided to go with the 235. Thanks for your input.
I agree with Hstray. The load rating on the 165R15 is only 1170lbs. You will be very near the maximum load for you front tire. Consider a 185/70R15, which is 1270lbs. https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Coker-Tire-568741-Firestone-F560-Radial-Tire-165R15,138848.html https://www.cokertire.com/p185-70r15-bf-goodrich-2-1-4-whitewall.html
Go With: 205/75/15 Front 235/70/15 Rear The 205/75 tire is the max size that will fit your 4.5" wide wheel. I'm running same size combo as front runners on my 62 Catalina.
If you keep your stock diameter steering wheel and your front suspension is in good shape and properly aligned the 205 cross section tire shouldn't be a problem at all. Even a 14-15" steering wheel will probably be just dandy. Man up!
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