I think I've decided on the wheels I want for my '68 SS396. They're the Stockton Wheels SWS TQs found here:

http://www.stocktonwheel.com/TQ_aluminum_wheels.htm

http://www.stocktonwheel.com/images/SWTQ_LG.jpg

For the rear wheels, I'm looking at the 15x8.5 with 4.25 backspacing mounted with BFG 255/60R15 T/A Radials.

Normally, the common wisdom in TC's 'Wheels & Tires' forum is a 15x8 rim with 4.5" backspacing for a 255 tire. Once again, these rims from Stockton are 15x8.5 with 4.25 backspacing. Do these dimensions seem unusual, or am I just imagining things?

So, what's this dimension going to do to me? If the Stockton rim is a half inch wider than usual, and the backspacing is a quarter inch less, what can I expect with a 255/60R15 tire in the rear wheelwell of a '68 GM A-Body?

Also, the front rims I'm looking at are 15x7 with a 4.0" backspacing mounting a 235/60R15 tire. Isn't that 4.0" backspacing more than the usual 3.5" backspacing we're normally used to?

I'll talk to Stockton Wheels tomorrow, but can someone here give me the lowdown on what I need to know?

TC tire experts, please help. I need to order and have these shipped out rapidly if I have any chance of getting what I need by the Route 66 Rendezvous I've already registered for.

Don't know if you ever figured this out but I can offer the following.

15 x 8.5 w/ 4.25" BS is comparable to what I run as far as the wheel centerline. I have 15 x 10's w/ 5" BS on my '69 so your wheel would be spaced inward 3/4" on both sides effectively placing the tires in the same location. I currently run a 275-60/15 and just the clear the fender wheel house moulding. With a 255-60/15 tire you would have an additional .40" of clearance.

You should have no problem running this setup.

Thanks for the reply. This worried me for a few moments in the wee early morning hours right when I was about to go to sleep -- right when I was getting punchy.

So, now I know that I have +0.40" well-lip clearance. It struck me as though I was going to be over by one inch, so I guess that I added to a negative value (So much for 8th grade Algebra: "A negative plus a negative equals a positive") and came up with the idea that these rim dimensions weren't going to fit the wells.

The next morning, I called Stockton Wheel Service and spoke with 'Frank' who really knew his stuff -- and he should since he's been there for a number of years and owns an awesome red truck-rod. He told me that the 8.5" rim width with backspacing would be perfect with P255/60R15s, and even come out with more clearance if I were to mount a P275 on that rim. He tells me the P275 is where Mopar guys run into trouble, but GM A-Body guys have no difficulty. That settled, I ordered these rims and some Diamond Back Classic redline radials (255 back; 235 front) to go on them.

I made a few quick and dirty mock-up pictures in Photoshop of what this rim/tire combo looks like:

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Pvt.Cowboy/redlines2.gif http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Pvt.Cowboy/redlines.gif

I've always wanted the vintage 'Mattel Hot Wheels®' look on my car since I was a kid. :D

That is a good looking idea. I had competely forgotten all about the redlines. Stay with the 255's in the rear though, would want to take any chance on scuffing "those" sidewalls.

Good luck.

By the way, I have some pictures of my car with the wheels/tires on it, just need to be directed how to post pictures here.

There are two outfits that I know of that are making radial redlines -- Coker and Diamond Back Classics. Of the two, the only vendor that has these redlines in a wide array of sizes and tire types is Diamond Back Classics (http://www.widewhitewalltires.com/). I chose their performance version in P235/60R15 for fronts, and P255/60R15 for rear tires. They also have blueline and goldline tires available.

http://www.widewhitewalltires.com/2004catalog/tread_systems_lg/tread_systems_catalog_2004_04.jpg http://www.widewhitewalltires.com/2004catalog/tread_systems_lg/tread_systems_catalog_2004_13.jpg http://www.widewhitewalltires.com/2004catalog/tread_systems_lg/tread_systems_catalog_2004_26.jpg

Diamond Back carries them up to P275s, but they say that they can do any custom job with any tires you choose.

Coker seems to have redline radials in very few tire sizes, and I think that they generally only offer P195/75R14s at the widest -- tall and skinnies. The Diamond Backs are more 'street machine'-like tires. I've always wanted redlines and think they look best, but I never knew that you could get them in P275/15 radials. I thought they were all skinny bias-plies until I saw a member here that put them on his '66 SS396's steelie rims with dog dish caps. :cool:

I haven't yet seen anyone else mixing redline tires and modern rims, judging by the shows that I've been to and the fact that I can't find any pictures on the Internet. I doubt that I could be first, but maybe I'll help set a trend.

I can help with the photo site setup. You're a team member, so you can request a photo vault as part of your membership:

http://www.chevelles.com/members/showroom.shtml

1. Request a 1mb personal webspace by sending an email to 'members@chevelles.com'.
2. They'll give you a website with this address:

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/GRN69CHV

Then, you upload pictures to it by going here: http://www.chevelles.com/cgi-bin/showroom/upload.cgi

So you are a Cowboy and a gentleman,

Thanks,

Joe