Wheel and Tire Help

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67BBCuda

67BBCuda

'67 Barracuda Fastback
Joined
Mar 24, 2022
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Location
California
Hey Folks,

We're finishing up the front suspension and brakes on the '67 Barracuda and I'm looking for some guidance on the wheels and tires. I have very little knowledge in this realm, so forgive any silly questions.

We are putting Wilwood Disks on the front.Wilwood Disc Brakes - 1967 Plymouth Barracuda Disc Brake Spindle - Front Brake Kit No.: 140-15459-DR

Right now we're looking at the Crager 390C Series. https://www.cragarwheel.com/wheels/product-detail/series-390c-street-pro/


Right now we have the pizza cutter wheels on the front, but want to go wider. We'll definitely go even wider on the back, probably as wide as possible without modification to the wheel well.

For the wheel size, does 15×7 work on the front? Also, my dad said he wants a 70 series tire on the front and a 50 series on the back. Do those work

Any guidance or personal experience would be helpful!
 
I'm more of a "big & little" guy, so i prefer a 6" wheel myself on A bodies. Especially with a 70 series tire.
 
67BBCuda said:
Hey Folks,

We're finishing up the front suspension and brakes on the '67 Barracuda and I'm looking for some guidance on the wheels and tires. I have very little knowledge in this realm, so forgive any silly questions.

We are putting Wilwood Disks on the front.Wilwood Disc Brakes - 1967 Plymouth Barracuda Disc Brake Spindle - Front Brake Kit No.: 140-15459-DR

Right now we're looking at the Crager 390C Series. Series 390C Street Pro Wheel for Classic Hot Rods and Muscle Cars


Right now we have the pizza cutter wheels on the front, but want to go wider. We'll definitely go even wider on the back, probably as wide as possible without modification to the wheel well.

For the wheel size, does 15×7 work on the front? Also, my dad said he wants a 70 series tire on the front and a 50 series on the back. Do those work

Any guidance or personal experience would be helpful!
Click to expand...

Those Crager 390C 15x7 have 3.5" backspace. A factory Mopar 15x7 rim is 4.25" backspace that will fit your brakes and suspension. So the Crager will push you tires out toward the fender lip 3/4"... that's not good. The most narrow 70 series 15" common tire I found was a 195/70/15 (7.7" treadwidth, 25.7" diameter). That's too tall and wide with that rim pushed out 3/4"

With a 15x7 rim with 4.25" backspace you can fit a 215/60/15 tire fairly safely in front. 215/60/15 is 8.5" treadwidth and 25.2" diameter. Some (including myself) have fit 225/60/15 but that is very close and dependent on alignment setting, panel repair, etc.

That Crager is a 2-piece rim. Ask Crager if they can make a 15x7 with 4.25" custom backspace for you for the front trims. Or if you want a fat 70 series tire, ask for 15x6 rim with 4" backspacing and run 195/70/15's

In the back a 15x8 with 4.25" backspacing with factory rear axles (5x4 pattern) tend to allow a the widest tires. Should be able to fit 245,255,265/60/15 at factory ride height with original leaf springs. If rear is higher, you can fit wider.

Or are you running aftermarket 5x4.5 bolt pattern in the rear and front?
 
Last edited:
autoxcuda said:
Those Crager 390C 15x7 have 3.5" backspace. A factory Mopar 15x7 rim is 4.25" backspace that will fit your brakes and suspension. So the Crager will push you tires out toward the fender lip 3/4"... that's not good. The most narrow 70 series 15" common tire I found was a 195/70/15 (7.7" treadwidth, 25.7" diameter). That's too tall and wide with that rim pushed out 3/4"

With a 15x7 rim with 4.25" backspace you can fit a 215/60/15 tire fairly safely in front. 215/60/15 is 8.5" treadwidth and 25.2" diameter. Some (including myself) have fit 225/60/15 but that is very close and dependent on alignment setting, panel repair, etc.

That Crager is a 2-piece rim. Ask Crager if they can make a 15x7 with 4.25" custom backspace for you for the front trims. Or if you want a fat 70 series tire, ask for 15x6 rim with 4" backspacing and run 195/70/15's

In the back a 15x8 with 4.25" backspacing with factory rear axles (5x4 pattern) tend to allow a the widest tires. Should be able to fit 245,255,265/60/15 at factory ride height with original leaf springs. If rear is higher, you can fit wider.

Or are you running aftermarket 5x4.5 bolt pattern in the rear and front?
Click to expand...
The hubs that come with the Wilwood brakes allow for 5x4.5 or 5x4.75 but I imagine we'll stick with 4.5. Does that change things?

Would a 15x6 work on the front?
 
67BBCuda said:
The hubs that come with the Wilwood brakes allow for 5x4.5 or 5x4.75 but I imagine we'll stick with 4.5. Does that change things?
Click to expand...

Nope.

What rear end is in the Barracuda if you are running 5 on 4.5" wheel pattern?
 
67BBCuda said:
We haven't touched the rear end yet, can't speak to that unfortunately... learning as I go.
Click to expand...
Then you have 5 on 4" pattern on the rear, and wheel choice is severely limited.
If you have an 8 3/4, you can get large pattern axles and drums, if you have a 7 1/4, I wouldn't bother to try to change the pattern.
 
If this is a street car, you better not lock up the brakes with such a small front tire. Big and littles are ok going straight like at a drag strip but for cornering and hard stopping, not so much.
A 195/70-15 tire is just 1 size up from a VW Beetle sized tire. Similar load to a 165-15. The tires tread is what actually stops the car. The brakes are absorbing the momentum with the tires grabbing the pavement.
Big brakes and little tires don't make a lot of sense.
 
I would be very interested in your solution to this problem since I'm going through the same situation. I also have a 1967 Barracuda and am swapping in a 8 3/4 rear diff w/3.23 posi and the discs are 11' as well.

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20221011_123304.jpg
 
Stock was a bit small, so go at least a bit bigger for better
ride and handling. Looks are a personal thing and the wheel tire
section has most every possibility but too far out of wack can ruin
braking and handling.
I would go 21570R14 all the way around but i like them to look 'kinda
stock.
 
15x7 front wheels will work but you need at least 4.25 B.S. FYI, all factory Chrysler 15x7 wheels were produced with 4.25 B.S. Look for a wheel with a minimum of 4.25 B.S. 4.5 even better.(positive offset) As already mentioned, consider a 215/60x15 front tire. Your main point of interference is the lower corner of the fender opening right in front of the tire. You generally need to stay under 26" outer diameter and your dad's suggestion of a 70 series could be too tall.

Cragar wheels have always been biased towards GM cars (lowest common denominator) which is why you have to be careful as they usually do not fit Mopars.

Your rear bolt pattern is probably the factory 5 on 4". Good luck with that. Far less selection unless you convert to 5x4.5.
 
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