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Who's running skinnies on their streetcar? 15x4? 15x3.5?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by 2dr_sedan, Jan 29, 2012.

  1. 2dr_sedan
    Joined: Mar 25, 2005
    Posts: 265

    2dr_sedan
    Member

    I'm wanting some wheels for my car... '64 Fairlane
    Here's how the car currently sits, 15x7 rear, 15x5 up front..
    [​IMG]

    Here's another '64 I had about 15yrs ago running 15x 7 out back and 15 x 3.5 up front. Sorry for the old, small pic, but you get the idea.
    [​IMG]

    I'm wanting to get another set of wheels to swap out from time-to-time. Now that I'm older I'm having second thoughts about such a skinny front wheel on a street car, although I do love the look.

    Any thoughts?
     
  2. 1950 silver bullet
    Joined: May 11, 2011
    Posts: 176

    1950 silver bullet
    Member
    from Austin, TX

    other than going around curves to fast you shouldnt have any prob.i have always ran 15x4 on everything exept my vette. less rolling resistance = better mpg. and the LOOK !!! I LOVE
     

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  3. 1320/150
    Joined: Oct 9, 2009
    Posts: 647

    1320/150
    Member

    Me personally..... I wouldn't change a thing on your front wheel set up. I have ran skinnies on my (streetcar/driver) for years. I have had recent luck with running the 165/15 on 15x5 wheels,and you can barely tell they are not 15x3.5 wheels.

    Oh yah cool car by the way. If I ever own a 60's ford that would be the one!!
     
  4. tommyd
    Joined: Dec 10, 2010
    Posts: 11,993

    tommyd
    Member
    from South Indy

    Untill I got this set I alwas ran 15x3.5's up front. Got 15x5's now and I have a much better feel for the road. Before it always felt loose like the steering wheel was kind of foating in my hands.
     
  5. chop32
    Joined: Oct 13, 2002
    Posts: 1,077

    chop32
    Member

    Ive run modern 15x3.5's, 15x4.5's w/165/15 or 6.40/15 tires on a bunch of cars over the years with no worries. As said before, high speed hard cornering isnt an option, you just have to remember which car you are driving.
    Ive also run 15x5.5's w/165/15's and you couldnt tell the difference between them and the narrower version...they probably have a higher load rating also.

    I did have an issue with the set of 15x4.5 U.S Indy slots that came with my ex drag car '57 Chevy which sat since it was last run in the early '70's. After about a year of occasional street driving to shows (and a couple 4-500 mile round trips) one wheel began losing air due to a hairline crack along the bead area. After measuring I found that the rim was only about .060 thick in this area...Now Im a bit spooked about running earlier wheels.
     
  6. pont406
    Joined: Feb 1, 2010
    Posts: 62

    pont406
    Member

    I run the Mickey Thompson Sportman pro front tires on my 66 Lemans, with TT 15x 4 1/2, these are bias tires, handle much better on the street and on the track (drag strip) than 165 radials i was using. however they don't have a period correct look if thats important for you. i maybe changing to a painted steel wheel and 7.75x 14 redline repo tire this summer.
     
  7. BAD PENNY
    Joined: Aug 22, 2011
    Posts: 1,251

    BAD PENNY
    Member
    from mass

    I'm running these 15X4 Team III wheels on the front of my coupe w/ 5.60X15 bias ply firestones. I think they call them the Classic 5's. They are an exact copy of the old American Racing torq thrust 15X4 magnesiums.
    P6051869.JPG

    putnam 003.JPG
     
  8. 2dr_sedan
    Joined: Mar 25, 2005
    Posts: 265

    2dr_sedan
    Member

    Thanks for the input fellas.
    Anyone else?
     
  9. HotRodHighley
    Joined: Feb 12, 2008
    Posts: 395

    HotRodHighley
    Member
    from cincy, oh

    I ran 15x4 rally's on the front of my 64 nova wagon with 165/15 tire for several years with no issues. I drove the car year around except for days when it snowed. No problems, I would do it again.
     
  10. I'd run 15x4 or 15x3.5's no problem, I had done that with OT cars that were in the 3200-3500 raceweight range. I'd just make sure you run a decent tire, no VW cheapy tires I was running the MT Sportsmans reccomended for heavier cars. I blew out a VW skinny once on the street.
     
  11. AllthenamesIpickaretaken
    Joined: Mar 26, 2009
    Posts: 37

    AllthenamesIpickaretaken
    Member

    I run them with no problem ,my 55 Chevy has them and I have a couple of 67 Coronets both running them..... But as others have said Cornering isnt really fun........
     
  12. lorodz
    Joined: Jul 26, 2009
    Posts: 3,727

    lorodz
    Member

    15x3.5 up front 15x10.5 in the rear no problem just have to drive a little more careful in the rain
    [​IMG]
     
  13. SmokinBill
    Joined: Sep 18, 2009
    Posts: 865

    SmokinBill
    Member

    15x4 front and 14x6 rear
    [​IMG]
     
  14. Gasr57
    Joined: Sep 3, 2007
    Posts: 236

    Gasr57
    Member
    from Ohio

    I have run skinnys on all my hot rods for the last 15yrs with no problems and one was a 2 ton full size wagon with no problems.
     
  15. HuskyV8
    Joined: Apr 30, 2010
    Posts: 540

    HuskyV8
    Member

    I've got 15 x 4's on the front of my Hillman. Backs are 15 x 6 3/4. It hasn't been driven yet. Need to put in the 392 first.
     

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  16. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 25,288

    Deuces

    Nice HEMI.... :D
     
  17. Igosplut
    Joined: Jan 1, 2011
    Posts: 158

    Igosplut

    Never a problem with mine....

    [​IMG]
     
  18. Ask anyone with a t-bucket about running skinny tires up front. Probably not quite the same as a full-sized '60s car, but I've never had a problem.
     

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  19. bonez
    Joined: Jul 16, 2007
    Posts: 3,487

    bonez
    Member
    from Slow lane

    Well, not exactley the same, but just to let you know, i run 155/80s on my 5" wide 13s cragars, cause i really dig the skinny thread look, just like on this Nova. I think they are awesome on old cars, more than fat wheels.
    Anyway, what i wanted to say is that under the rain they are kinda scary. Sometimes it feels like drivin on wet leaves.
    Of course knowin it is an advantage, but i still get my rear end sideways on roundabouts sometimes...
     
  20. killer-D
    Joined: May 26, 2005
    Posts: 1,689

    killer-D
    Member

    drove it alot
     

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  21. I've run them on a bunch of my cars including my latest build...

    [​IMG]

    Just don't drive it like an idiot and you'll be fine.

    Great looking car by the way!!!


    .
     
  22. brandon
    Joined: Jul 19, 2002
    Posts: 6,369

    brandon
    Member

    Only time I was ever white knuckled while running skinnys, was when I had some 4" cragars on the front of my 61biscayne....running a 215 pro trac tire.....real interesting ride. They came off and regular steel wheels went back on.....those et's would be my pick
     
  23. young'n'poor
    Joined: Jan 26, 2006
    Posts: 1,281

    young'n'poor
    Member
    from Anoka. MN

    It was in a car craft a few years ago but a guy with a fairlane wagon I think running 15x4 studebaker front wheels from a early to mid fifties stude. It was a drag car that was occasionaly street driven. I don't know what he was running for tires on them but he had mickey thompson slicks in back so I would assume they were front runners of the same brand. If I find the article ill give you more info.
     
  24. Muttley
    Joined: Nov 30, 2003
    Posts: 18,501

    Muttley
    Member

    I'm running 15x4's with Pro-Trac Front Runner 5.60-15's on my Comet.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

     
  25. Pluck
    Joined: Nov 3, 2007
    Posts: 39

    Pluck
    Member

    I have a T Bucket with a Big Block Chevy. I am running 15 X 3.5 Fenton Gyros in the front, Hurst cheater slicks out back and she handles just fine. I just have to remember that she's not a road course car!!
    Pluck
     

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