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With wide 15 inch wheels up front outer tie rod clearance is a big issue.
 

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I'm pretty sure to run a usable backspacing a 15" wheel will hit the upper ball joint also. I had been running 17x9.5" on our 66 and now 18x9.5" but the back spacing is 6.5 and the rim is over the upper ball joint. Just my .02 Maybe Derek will chime in since he has a later model Chevelle with front meats.
 

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15 inch wheels and pro-touring do not go together.
I am sorry, but was that his question? nobody on here asked your opinion of style bud

pro touring originated with 15" wheels there pal. This "new school" pro touring look with 20" wheels and lowering airbags is stupid. Pro touring is supposed to take inspiration from the professional "touring" series of muscle cars. Like the trans am series of the 60's AND 70'S. In this country, race cars use 15" wheels and take advantage of sidewall engineering. You need to rephrase your statement to "15' wheels and European inspired pro touring cars do not go together"

If 15" wheels dont mix with pro touring, tell that to these guys....

http://image.circletrack.com/f/feat...7-chevelle/28789646/smokeys-1967-chevelle.jpg

http://fallscitybeer.com/media/images/1966 Chevelle.png

http://www.catamountstadium.com/Images/dubrul_68_chevelle_color.jpg

http://bringatrailer.com/wp-content...let_Chevelle_Bobby_Allison_Tribute_Rear_1.jpg

http://www.2ndgenrestorations.com/images/926_Hemmings_022.jpg

I am sure Mr Allison and Mr Yunick would disagree with your "opinion"
 

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Discussion Starter · #8 ·
15 inch wheels and pro-touring do not go together.
I am sorry, but was that his question? nobody on here asked your opinion of style bud

pro touring originated with 15" wheels there pal. This "new school" pro touring look with 20" wheels and lowering airbags is stupid. Pro touring is supposed to take inspiration from the professional "touring" series of muscle cars. Like the trans am series of the 60's AND 70'S. In this country, race cars use 15" wheels and take advantage of sidewall engineering. You need to rephrase your statement to "15' wheels and European inspired pro touring cars do not go together"

If 15" wheels dont mix with pro touring, tell that to these guys....

http://image.circletrack.com/f/feat...7-chevelle/28789646/smokeys-1967-chevelle.jpg

http://fallscitybeer.com/media/images/1966 Chevelle.png

http://www.catamountstadium.com/Images/dubrul_68_chevelle_color.jpg

http://bringatrailer.com/wp-content...let_Chevelle_Bobby_Allison_Tribute_Rear_1.jpg

http://www.2ndgenrestorations.com/images/926_Hemmings_022.jpg

I am sure Mr Allison and Mr Yunick would disagree with your "opinion"
OWNED!

Thanks for the input from the guys who actually answered the question. Hope this "Derek" guy jumps on here to throw some input in here.
 

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It's not that 15s can't provide the "look", it's that 15s won't provide the "performance" because there's simply NO good 15" tires in anything bigger than Miata sizes.

The only "street" 15s available that would fit a 15x10 are the BFGoodrich Radial T/A and the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500. Both suck. ;)
 

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It's not that 15s can't provide the "look", it's that 15s won't provide the "performance" because there's simply NO good 15" tires in anything bigger than Miata sizes.

The only "street" 15s available that would fit a 15x10 are the BFGoodrich Radial T/A and the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500. Both suck. ;)
http://www.mickeythompsontires.com/images/products/et_street_radial_a.jpg

mickey thompsons? obviously not for a daily driver or driving to work during a rainstorm, but think they are fine for the purpose. Hoosier also sells a something similar but i've never tried them

and +1 to bf goodrich ta's sucking.
 

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Now back to the sizes... 15s will interfere with the tie rods beyond about 4" of backspace... not exactly sure, because I don't have any stock parts to measure off of. The tires would stick out way too far, and definitely rub.

When I had 15s and stock suspension, I tried it with 15x8" w/ 3-3/4" backspace and it was really tight. The outsides rubbed the fenders on big bumps, and the insides were close to the tie rods... how close, I don't remember, as that was 5 years ago.

I'll have to look at my '66 tonight to see how close the tie rods really are, as that car still has stock spindles, and 15s w/ 3-3/4" backspace (15x7s)
 

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http://www.mickeythompsontires.com/images/products/et_street_radial_a.jpg

mickey thompsons? obviously not for a daily driver or driving to work during a rainstorm, but think they are fine for the purpose. Hoosier also sells a something similar but i've never tried them

and +1 to bf goodrich ta's sucking.
I've considered that, but I think the sidewalls would be too soft for decent handling.

It's hard enough keeping my 265/40/17s from rolling over, even with a lot of camber and running 45psi (cold)
 

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Discussion Starter · #13 ·
I've considered that, but I think the sidewalls would be too soft for decent handling.

It's hard enough keeping my 265/40/17s from rolling over, even with a lot of camber and running 45psi (cold)
Well let's be honest, I won't be on a road course anytime soon so performance isn't a massive issue. That is the end goal in a couple years but for now I just want the look.
 

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I took a look at the '66 tonight, and there was more tie-rod clearance than I had remembered... looks like you could get 5" of backspace so a 9" wheel should fit without any trouble.
 

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I took a look at the '66 tonight, and there was more tie-rod clearance than I had remembered... looks like you could get 5" of backspace so a 9" wheel should fit without any trouble.

interesting. so if you go for a 10" wide wheel in the front, you would have to either:

A. do 6" backspace and possibly have to modify the tie rods. no concerns with the control arms/ball joints?

B. do 5" backspace, and do some sheet metal work to the wheel opening to the fender. Maybe move the opening up an inch or 2, also maybe extending the wheel flare outwards.
 

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I am sorry, but was that his question? nobody on here asked your opinion of style bud

pro touring originated with 15" wheels there pal. This "new school" pro touring look with 20" wheels and lowering airbags is stupid. Pro touring is supposed to take inspiration from the professional "touring" series of muscle cars. Like the trans am series of the 60's AND 70'S. In this country, race cars use 15" wheels and take advantage of sidewall engineering. You need to rephrase your statement to "15' wheels and European inspired pro touring cars do not go together"

If 15" wheels dont mix with pro touring, tell that to these guys....

http://image.circletrack.com/f/feat...7-chevelle/28789646/smokeys-1967-chevelle.jpg

http://fallscitybeer.com/media/images/1966 Chevelle.png

http://www.catamountstadium.com/Images/dubrul_68_chevelle_color.jpg

http://bringatrailer.com/wp-content...let_Chevelle_Bobby_Allison_Tribute_Rear_1.jpg

http://www.2ndgenrestorations.com/images/926_Hemmings_022.jpg

I am sure Mr Allison and Mr Yunick would disagree with your "opinion"
I am sure Mr. Yunick would want the wheel and tire which would give the greatest performance he could get away with no matter where the influence was from. At the present time 17-18" wheels and tires have the best tire options, can clear the widest amount and best brake clearance.

If you want 15s for your style that is great. I don't want a cookie cutter car or a car built to someone else's defintion and can admire well executed builds of many styles.

BTW European F1 cars run on 15s. SCCA Trans Am cars went to 16s if not 17s before the series died. Mickey Thompson also started the low profile tires:

In 1963 he introduced the first wide-profile, low-aspect-ratio tires at the Indianapolis 500.
http://www.automotivehalloffame.org/honors/index.php?cmd=view&id=790&type=inductees

Wide low profile tires are American Innovation.
 

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Discussion Starter · #19 ·
I took a look at the '66 tonight, and there was more tie-rod clearance than I had remembered... looks like you could get 5" of backspace so a 9" wheel should fit without any trouble.
Thanks for the info man. Your name is awesome btw.

-Derek
 

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id look into some 17's or 18's and call it done. way more tire choices, allows for bigger brake packages and looks much better imho.

This "new school" pro touring look with 20" wheels and lowering airbags is stupid.
i thought he wasnt asking for opinions ;)
 
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