Looking for some front wheel tire help on my 64 Barracuda

[Ryan 64 Cuda]

Hey all thanks for having me, I’ve been doing some reading and I haven’t found a definitive answer, anyway I’m trying to see if anybody is running 18” wheels on there early A body and if so what’s the widest I can get away with on a stock suspension set up. I am running later model spindles and Willwood disc brakes. But other than that the suspension is stock, for now. The car is set up for drag week style events but I also wanna try my hand at some local auto cross events, (I mean why not make my life harder by trying to get an early A body “drag car” turn left and right and brake hard)

 

[66fs]

Your problem is the 25-26" max hight and width restrictions in the early A fenders. I don't see the appeal of 18" wheels on a 64 Barracuda. There is not much room for tires in that car. They can handle and brake very well, but to do both is a compromise to a drag or autocross car.

 

[Ryan 64 Cuda]

Your problem is the 25-26" max hight and width restrictions in the early A fenders. I don't see the appeal of 18" wheels on a 64 Barracuda. There is not much room for tires in that car. They can handle and brake very well, but to do both is a compromise to a drag or autocross car.

Understand completely, The reason On the 18” is the tire requirements and availability for the certain class that my car falls in for auto cross events that are in my area. My car is a street/strip car, and I’m gonna make an attempt to try and make it turn, instead of go straight. The 15x4’s that are on it really don’t hold up well under hard turning.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Spend the money on a Percy's tire and wheel fitment tool. That's the ONLY WAY to see exactly how much tire and wheel will fit on YOUR car. All these cars were a little different car to car for fit and finish, so what fits on one person's car may not on another. I have one. Best money I ever spent.

 

[66fs]

Understand completely, The reason On the 18” is the tire requirements and availability for the certain class that my car falls in for auto cross events that are in my area. My car is a street/strip car, and I’m gonna make an attempt to try and make it turn, instead of go straight. The 15x4’s that are on it really don’t hold up well under hard turning.

They will turn just fine. I had one for years. Those tires will never handle, but there are available road racing tires that will. Good Luck.

 

[Ryan 64 Cuda]

Spend the money on a Percy's tire and wheel fitment tool. That's the ONLY WAY to see exactly how much tire and wheel will fit on YOUR car. All these cars were a little different car to car for fit and finish, so what fits on one person's car may not on another. I have one. Best money I ever spent.

Thank you for the tip, I’ve been eyeing one of those for
Years, I might have to pull the trigger!

 

[33IMP]

I would consider late mustang wheels, or aftermarket for late mustang. Same bolt pattern, as opposed to late Mopar, and lots of backspace to get a fat tire under the front. You might have to use long studs and spacers to fine tune location.
@72bluNblu is the guru here for wheel fitment for large diameter wheels.
Edit: late model spindles/wilwoods, assuming 5 on 4 1/2. Rears too?

 

[Ryan 64 Cuda]

I would consider late mustang wheels, or aftermarket for late mustang. Same bolt pattern, as opposed to late Mopar, and lots of backspace to get a fat tire under the front. You might have to use long studs and spacers to fine tune location.
@72bluNblu is the guru here for wheel fitment for large diameter wheels.

It has long studs already, and I think I’m gonna switch the bolt pattern so front and rear match, it currently has Mopar/Ford up front and GM out back even though it has a 9” Ford rear lol, but I think switching the BP won’t be bad because it does have willwood hubs up and rotors so they are multi pattern, but not sure if axles are, I just recently got that car and haven’t dug to deep into it yet. But that’s a good tip on the mustang wheels thank you!

 

[33IMP]

If your nine has aftermarket axles, it might have screw-in studs and both Chevy and mopar/Ford patterns. Pull a drum off and look.
One of my narrowed nines has both, Strange axles, the other has 5 on 5. (Old summers bros axles.)

 

[pishta]

If you try and put meats on the back, they may possibly fit per the fitment jig but you wont be able to put them on! remember you have to get the tire up into the well, then OVER the studs (long studs will hurt here), and then bolted up. I just put 235-75R15's on the back of my 65 with a 8.75 rear (wanted a taller tire) and they clear with millimeters at the leaf and the front part of the rocker trim piece. And they were difficult getting on for the fact that they are so tight up in the well when mounting. Screw in lug bolts would be great here.


235/75R15
Diameter : 28.9"
Width : 9.3"
Wheel : 15" x 6-8"
Sidewall : 6.9"
Circum. : 90.7"
Revs/Mile : 699

 

[Keith Mopar]

I'm running 17's on my 65 Cuda, 275 40R17 in the rear and it fits, wheel wells are all stock with the springs moved in and the rear end set back 3/8's of an inch to centre the wheel in the wheel well. I'm running an 8 3/4 with wilwoods disc's on the rear.

The trick seems to be to get the right offset, my rear rims are +24mm with a 5.95 back space. On the front I have 225 45 17's., with wilwwod Disc brakes on the 10" drum spindle. Rear rims are 17 X 9, and front 17 X 8. And yes I have a Percy's fitment tool, and it really helped figure the offset out.

This were purchased from American muscle, yea a Mustang place and found to be very helpful when ordering.

 

[Ryan 64 Cuda]

If you try and put meats on the back, they may possibly fit per the fitment jig but you wont be able to put them on! remember you have to get the tire up into the well, then OVER the studs (long studs will hurt here), and then bolted up. I just put 235-75R15's on the back of my 65 with a 8.75 rear (wanted a taller tire) and they clear with millimeters at the leaf and the front part of the rocker trim piece. And they were difficult getting on for the fact that they are so tight up in the well when mounting. Screw in lug bolts would be great here.


235/75R15
Diameter : 28.9"
Width : 9.3"
Wheel : 15" x 6-8"
Sidewall : 6.9"
Circum. : 90.7"
Revs/Mile : 699

Yhea even the 15x8’s with a 275 60 tire I have to raise the body and let the rear drop to get them on and off. I have a could over set up so I have a ton of space but the rear really isn’t narrowed very much and the car was setup for 10.5” drag class.

 

[Ryan 64 Cuda]

I'm running 17's on my 65 Cuda, 275 40R17 in the rear and it fits, wheel wells are all stock with the springs moved in and the rear end set back 3/8's of an inch to centre the wheel in the wheel well. I'm running an 8 3/4 with wilwoods disc's on the rear.

The trick seems to be to get the right offset, my rear rims are +24mm with a 5.95 back space. On the front I have 225 45 17's., with wilwwod Disc brakes on the 10" drum spindle. Rear rims are 17 X 9, and front 17 X 8. And yes I have a Percy's fitment tool, and it really helped figure the offset out.

This were purchased from American muscle, yea a Mustang place and found to be very helpful when ordering.

Thank you for taking the time to reply, and thanks for all the insight on your wheel sizes and such! I hope to get out there tomorrow and see what I can figure out.