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what would be the widest wheel and tire that i could fit in these small wheel wells
The rear is the smallest imo. I was able to stuff a 10" section width tire in there with 1/2" to spare on either side. I needed a 5.5" backspace rim to do it. 
Most people would call it a 5" backspace, but most all the wheel MFG's want 1/2" added on either side for the rim lip when giving the the backspace specs for custom wheels. They want you to measure from the edge of the rim, so an 8" rim is 9" in their world when talking backspace.
It's hard to see in the pic, but there is alot of rubber on the ground with a 10" section width tire. I needed 18" rims to clear the upper ball joint with 5.5" of backspace in the front. 18x8" wheels and 255/45/18" tires on all four corners. You can check the tire manufacturers web site to find other size tires that have a 10" section width. 
so whats on the front, or whats the widest wheel/tire combo you could put on the front? backspacing?
On my 67 coronet with stock wheel wells I installed 15X7 with a 4" backspace w/ 225-60-15 Radial ta's... On the rear I used 15X8 with a 5 1/4" backspace using 245-60-15 radial ta's..
I had some slight rubbing on the right rear inside fender well.. In measuring again, my rear end is an 1/8" further to the left contributing to the rub.. I installed a rear (firm feel) sway bar and ( something I disdain) a 1/8" spacer on my right side and it fixed the rubbing..
I agree with Lefty and to do it over again I would have used 5" backspace on the rear.. Remember that your wheel, lip to lip measurement will be appx 1" wider than stated.. ( 8" lip to lip will measure 9")... Personally without doing anything to the car I don't think you could go much wider on the rear wheel/tire combo than mine.... If you want to raise the rear, cut out the outer lip, move your springs, then your talking other options.... I see alot of people on here talking about wider tires and personally I have never liked the looks of "rear shackles" even from "back in the day"...
The fronts could probably go larger ( wheel and tire) and the "standard" 3 3/4 inch back space would work.. I wanted a basic cruiser that wouldn't walk all over the road and drive nice..
My 2 cents after having my wheels and tires on for 1200 miles....
Last edited by minivan; 10/19/09 02:56 PM.
