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New wheels for Dart Sport. 15x8- which tires up front? #2304228
05/14/17 11:10 AM
05/14/17 11:10 AM
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Connecticut, USA
MRGTX Offline OP
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I fell in love with a set of wheels that were not available narrower than 15x8.
For the rear, these have a 0 offset (4.5" backspace). The front wheels have a +10 offset (4.89" backspace).

The car is a '73 Dart Sport with front disk brakes.

I'm looking at 255/60/15 rear (which I'm confident will work) and 235/60/15 front. Would that work or would I need to step down to a 225 on the front?

Thanks for any advice!

Last edited by MRGTX; 05/14/17 11:11 AM.
Re: New wheels for Dart Sport. 15x8- which tires up front? [Re: MRGTX] #2304270
05/14/17 12:48 PM
05/14/17 12:48 PM
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TC@HP2 Offline
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Have you test fit those front wheels yet? I've never been able to fit more than 4.75 backspace on the front of E and B bodies with a 15" wheel. They hit the upper ball joint.

Re: New wheels for Dart Sport. 15x8- which tires up front? [Re: TC@HP2] #2304277
05/14/17 01:03 PM
05/14/17 01:03 PM
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Originally Posted By TC@HP2
Have you test fit those front wheels yet? I've never been able to fit more than 4.75 backspace on the front of E and B bodies with a 15" wheel. They hit the upper ball joint.


Tubular upper arms can give more backspace clearance for 15" rims. The factory upper has a lip, whereas the tubular have a straight sleeve.

What you could do in the front is just add some steel circle track wheel spacers. They come in 1/4", 3/16" 1/8"....

You need to look at lower front corner fender clearance. You can push out that corner for more clearance by lengthening the lower fender brace. May have remove or loosen the lower valance for that. And then see if it will bolt back on after pushed back.

Re: New wheels for Dart Sport. 15x8- which tires up front? [Re: MRGTX] #2304567
05/14/17 10:46 PM
05/14/17 10:46 PM
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MRGTX Offline OP
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Thanks, guys. I was more worried about fender clearance. I thought the extra backspace was what I needed...

Are spacers ok with stock lugs?

Any recommendations on tubular UCAs?

Re: New wheels for Dart Sport. 15x8- which tires up front? [Re: MRGTX] #2304593
05/14/17 11:15 PM
05/14/17 11:15 PM
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I've had 215 70 15 Michelins on 15 x 6 1/2 factory steel wheels from a 77 Chrysler on my 75 Sport and they rubbed the edges of the bottom lip of the fenders and slightly on the inner fenderwell. Haven't experimented with other larger sizes. 205 70 15 Michelins don't rub.

Re: New wheels for Dart Sport. 15x8- which tires up front? [Re: TC@HP2] #2304817
05/15/17 12:23 PM
05/15/17 12:23 PM
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MRGTX Offline OP
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So worst case scenario, a spacer that made up the difference between 4.89" and 4.75" should do the trick?

Thanks again, guys

Re: New wheels for Dart Sport. 15x8- which tires up front? [Re: MRGTX] #2304972
05/15/17 05:03 PM
05/15/17 05:03 PM
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Originally Posted By MRGTX
So worst case scenario, a spacer that made up the difference between 4.89" and 4.75" should do the trick?

Thanks again, guys


Yes. But the design of the rim may require a little less or more. A cast rim is a little thicker there and may require a little more.

Also account if you plan on putting clip on or stick on wheel weights on that closeted edge.

Re: New wheels for Dart Sport. 15x8- which tires up front? [Re: MRGTX] #2305370
05/16/17 08:49 AM
05/16/17 08:49 AM
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Thanks, autoxcuda.
Great point about the stick-on weights.

I'm in need of fresh ball joints and I'm thinking that this might be a good excuse to look into tubular upper control arms...QA1 seems to get good reviews.

Do these offer any additional clearance?

Re: New wheels for Dart Sport. 15x8- which tires up front? [Re: MRGTX] #2306552
05/18/17 08:54 AM
05/18/17 08:54 AM
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So I finally had a chance to test fit these 15x8 +10mm wheels...
so damn close!

3/16 spacers ought to do the trick. Pics forthcoming.

Thanks for the input, guys!

Re: New wheels for Dart Sport. 15x8- which tires up front? [Re: MRGTX] #2306924
05/18/17 06:58 PM
05/18/17 06:58 PM
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Originally Posted By MRGTX
So I finally had a chance to test fit these 15x8 +10mm wheels...
so damn close!

3/16 spacers ought to do the trick. Pics forthcoming.

Thanks for the input, guys!


Is that with stock upper control arms?

Re: New wheels for Dart Sport. 15x8- which tires up front? [Re: MRGTX] #2359781
08/25/17 06:05 PM
08/25/17 06:05 PM
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Well, with the stock UCA, the rim hit the trailing side of the arm. With the QA1 UCA, the trailing arm clearance was solved but the wheel hit the ball joint.

I said "eff it" and had a pair of the wheels narrowed. I'm happy with them...surprisingly, the 225/60/15 makes light contact on the passenger side fender when making a sharp turn and hitting any kind of a bump. I'm hoping that max negative camber might solve that? It doesn't hit on the driver's side.


RKR- narrowed.jpg
Last edited by MRGTX; 08/25/17 06:06 PM.






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