Front wheel size with discs??

[doogievlg]

I know this has probably been answered a million times on here but I was struggling to find it with the search tool. I recently converted front brakes to discs. It has a different bolt pattern so now I need new wheels. I’m not wanting super skinny tires up front. What would everyone recommend for a good wheel size for a street car? Tire size is undetermined as well.

 

[dodge71demon]

presume you used oem 73 + brakes any 15 will work some 14 I have 14 American Racing on my 74 Valiant

 

[doogievlg]

presume you used oem 73 + brakes any 15 will work some 14 I have 14 American Racing on my 74 Valiant

Brakes are from a 1980 Aspen.

 

[72bluNblu]

I know this has probably been answered a million times on here but I was struggling to find it with the search tool. I recently converted front brakes to discs. It has a different bolt pattern so now I need new wheels. I’m not wanting super skinny tires up front. What would everyone recommend for a good wheel size for a street car? Tire size is undetermined as well.

Brakes are from a 1980 Aspen.

Ok, so you have the 73+ mopar brakes with a 5x4.5” pattern. What diameter rims did you have in mind? Or the planned use for the car?

With those brakes you can run anything from a 195/70/14 on a 14x5.6 to a 275/35/18 on an 18x9.5, or more. Obviously the requirements for that range are all over the place, so being a little more specific would be helpful.

 

[doogievlg]

Ok, so you have the 73+ mopar brakes with a 5x4.5” pattern. What diameter rims did you have in mind? Or the planned use for the car?

With those brakes you can run anything from a 195/70/14 on a 14x5.6 to a 275/35/18 on an 18x9.5, or more. Obviously the requirements for that range are all over the place, so being a little more specific would be helpful.

I was actually going to PM you. I would think a 215 would still offer decent driving on the street. I’m not building an auto cross car but it isn’t a drag car either. Would that be a fair assumption?

 

[72bluNblu]

I was actually going to PM you. I would think a 215 would still offer decent driving on the street. I’m not building an auto cross car but it isn’t a drag car either. Would that be a fair assumption?

It would, like I said it depends a lot on wheel diameter. For a 15” wheel a 15x7” with 4.25” of backspace would let you run a 215/60/15, possibly a 215/65/15 (26” tall) or a 225/60/15. I ran 225/60/15’s on my Duster on 15x7’s with a 4.25” backspace before I went to 18” rims. There’s decent tire selection in 225/60/15, and the car handled decently with the 1” torsion bars I had in it at the time.

Step up to a 17” and a 245/45/17 is pretty easy too on a 17x8 with 5” to 5.6” of backspace. Lots of great tires in that size too, and it would be a pretty significant improvement in handling, mostly just with better tire compounds and selection. But that’s more rim diameter than some people want.

 

[roccodart440]

I'd recommend a 15" wheel minimum and 7-8" wide depending on the tire you plan to run.

This is a 225 on an 16x8.5" wheel. You really can't go wider than this unless you add tire width.

 

[doogievlg]

It would, like I said it depends a lot on wheel diameter. For a 15” wheel a 15x7” with 4.25” of backspace would let you run a 215/60/15, possibly a 215/65/15 (26” tall) or a 225/60/15. I ran 225/60/15’s on my Duster on 15x7’s with a 4.25” backspace before I went to 18” rims. There’s decent tire selection in 225/60/15, and the car handled decently with the 1” torsion bars I had in it at the time.

Step up to a 17” and a 245/45/17 is pretty easy too on a 17x8 with 5” to 5.6” of backspace. Lots of great tires in that size too, and it would be a pretty significant improvement in handling, mostly just with better tire compounds and selection. But that’s more rim diameter than some people want.

I’m leaning toward a 15x7 wheel with a 215. I would just need 4.25” backspacing for that?

 

[72bluNblu]

I’m leaning toward a 15x7 wheel with a 215. I would just need 4.25” backspacing for that?

I’m leaning toward a 15x7 wheel with a 215. I would just need 4.25” backspacing for that?

Yup, that would work! That’s basically the factory set up, cop wheels are 15x7 with a 4.25” backspace.

With a 15” wheel the maximum backspace is around 4.5”, any more than that and a 15” starts hitting suspension and brake parts.