Anyone had experience running 15X8 wheels with 4 1/2" back spacing and say a 255/70R 15 on the rear of a 40 Ford Tudor? The rear suspension is stock. Front is dropped 3". I have the wheels ready but don't want to buy the tires if they won't fit. Thanks.
I do not believe that big of a tire will clear the spring ... AND ... stay under the fender . This 40 coupe had the stock rear spring, a 7 inch rim and a 237/75/15 rubbed on the spring. The above photo shows the coupe with a 225/75/15
My coupe runs 285/70R15s on 8 inch wheels. The fenders are radiused slightly, and the inner panels tubbed a touch. There is evidence that the tire still catches the lip occaisionally, but not too often. Rear end is a '59 Ford nine incher, about 57 1/2 inches wide.
IF I remember correctly ... a stock 40 Ford rear end is 60 inches wide. Measured this way. The stock spring is what rubbed on mine ... a KIT to convert to a open rear end with dual leaf springs from CE or one of the other companies would free up a good bit of room.
Heres an idea !!!!! If you are READY to buy tires .... Drive to the tire store & take yer wheels. Have the tire of your choice mounted on 1 wheel and TEST FIT it on the car !! Then you will know FOR SURE if it will fit your car.
I measured mounting face to mounting face, although it was, ahem, a few years ago, so I might be off by a little..... My coupe does have parallel leaves in back.
That opens up a LOT of room ... so the tire does not rub. The parallel leaves run under the frame rails ... with the stock, original transverse spring ... it goes past the frame rails ...
I'd love to try 'em on before I buy, but they'll have to be ordered. I'm wanting to run some wide whites from Diamondback. I'll like to use 255/70R 15s but looks like I'm going to have to go with something smaller.
OK, here's the straight scoop. With STOCK suspension the biggest ya' can run is a P235/75R15 on a 6" rim. And that rim better have the same backspacing of a 15 x 5 or 5.5" stock rim. You'll have the tire sidewall scraping the rear spring hangers if ya' go too far inboard. If you're running stock lever action shocks, you'll have to heat and bend the arms inboard for clearance. I've been down this road. Bought rims that were supposed to fit. Nope. I'm running stock 15 x 5.5" rims on the rear with the P235/75R15's, and it's still close.
So what 15" front wheel width will clear using the CE front suspension? What back spacing? What tire size?
Kinda depends on bolt pattern if you're running those funny modern brakes like me. The 5x4.5 brakes came out about an inch wider than the 5x4.75 setup. I have 185-60s up front with 15x5s and 1/4" neg offset. It's a little wide and rubs the fenders on the Rh side in a sharp turn. It did not rub with the same tires and 5x4.75" brakes. 165R15s work well on these cars too but were too tall for my fenderwell headers.
Thanks 40Tudor, my buddy Mikes '39 has fenderwell headers, and I was going to take my 15x6 wheels w/ 165R-15's on them over and see if they will clear or not when he get's his engine back and installed.
Thanks Modifieddriver! That's what I need to know. I'll run the 15x6s(with 235/75R15s) on the rear that I actually bought for the front and use some old matching 15X5s that I have in the shop for the front. I know 205/75R15s will work on the front. I've painted these rims with "Hammered Copper"Rustoleum and they look pretty cool. Thanks for all of the info! Norris
I like 165R15 for the front, with 3 1/2-5 inch rims. The 205s will work fine, but are a little tall for my taste. I am sure it will work out fine, whichever you choose.
I run 165R15's on the front on 15x5 and P235/75R15's on the rear on 15x5.5 with a Magnum dropped front axle and a stock rear end. Measuring from the shop floor to the highest point of the wheel well openings I look for 24" in the front and 28" in the rear. That provides a very traditional "rake". You'll still have to be careful as to not bottom the chin on the grill out exiting driveways, etc.. You may have to reverse the arch on the rear spring to get the rear end down. I did, it's work, but the results are worth it.