After market rims

[David T.]

Have 64 coupe want to replace wheels:

1. What is correct off set?

2. What is max. width i can use (15x?)?

3. Tires are 205/75.15 would like wider tire.What is the wides tire i

can can get safely on the car (205/?.15)?

Thank You for your help:

Keep on cruising!!

David

[Duke W.]

Re: After market rims

The OE '64 wheels are 15 x 5.5 x 0.44" offset, however finding either an original '64 wheel or something exactly the same may be difficult/expensive, and you cannot run much over a 205/75R-15 tire, all of which are low performance.

The best bet would be a set of '67 Rally wheels - 15 x 6.0 x 0.060" offset. You can install the OE wheel covers, and I recommend the 215/70R-15 Pirelli P4000 Super Touring, which is the best performance tire available in a size that
has nearly the same rev/mile as the OE tire.

They appear to be out of production, but The Tire Rack and other suppliers still have stock.

This combination will clear the fenders and provide excellent handling.

Duke

[Paul L.]

Re: After market rims

I followed Duke's advice when I was shopping for wheels and tires last winter. These are the Pirellis of which he speaks.

[Dean Bailey]

Re: After market rims

Duke: Could you explain the term "offset", and how is it measured?

How is this different than what is commonly refered to now days as "backspace", which is somewhere around 3 3/4" to 4"?

Thanks, Dean B.

[John H.]

Re: After market rims

Dean -

"Offset" is the OEM measurement method - it's the difference between the plane defined by the center of the rim cross-section and the plane defined by the wheel mounting surface. If the wheel mounting surface is outboard of the center of the rim, that's positive offset; if the wheel mounting surface is inboard of the center of the rim, that's negative offset.

"Backspacing" is the measurement from the inboard edge of the rim flange to the wheel mounting surface.

See the link below for more wheel measurement trivia.




Wheel Technical Information

[Patrick H.]

Re: After market rims

Paul,

How did you get the rims to clear the brake calipers?

Patrick

[Paul L.]

Re: After market rims

Patrick,
Modern American Racing (AR) Torq Thrust D wheels will not clear the calipers. My wheels are AR Torq Thrust (TT) IIs that will. Last winter I took Duke's specs for my ralleys and asked AR to fabricate a set of TTS to those specifications. They came very close with a 15 x 6" size with 3 3/8" backspacing and +1/8" offset. To those I added the Pirellis about a week ago. My DC ralleys are in storage. I am going to have them sandblasted and painted.

Modern Ds have straight spokes and they do hit the calipers. The TT IIs have spokes that are bowed or curved. The pic below illustrates the caliper clearance. I like the look but can fall back on originality with the refurbished ralleys and skinny tires if need be. As I drive the 1967 I feel a greater margin of safety with the Z-rated tires.

[Patrick H.]

Re: After market rims

Paul,

did they actually have to be custom built to fit? Or does AR make them in the correct size and you just had to order them in? And if so, how much extra did they cost?

Thanks,

Patrick

[Paul L.]

Re: After market rims

Patrick,
They are two-piece wheels. They pick the centre and outside sections off the shelf to match the specs you give. Then they are welded together to give you a "custom" wheel. I would imagine they are geared to provide just about anything you need from their shelf inventory. But I suspect that persons such as myself looking for a 6" wheel are in the minority these days. Delivery time is about 8 weeks. The price was $216.00 each plus shipping. That includes the standard AR caps. The spinners were $300.00 extra.

[Mark H.]

Re: After market rims

'64 hubcaps will fit on '67 rally wheels?

[Terry F.]

Re: After market rims

Duke, this is slightly off the subject. But, do you know if the offset of the 68 7" rim is the same as the 69 and later 8". Thanks, Terry

[Duke W.]

Re: After market rims

To the best of my knowledge the answer is yes.

Duke

[Duke W.]

Re: After market rims

No they are different. The '68 15 x 7 Corvette Rally wheel offset is negative 0.28"; 15 x 8 Corvette Rally wheels plus the optional C3 aluminum wheels are negative 0.50".

The negative offset of the seven and eight inch wheels is required to clear the rear springs, and since this pushes the tire centerline outboard, you can't run the seven inch Rallys on a C2 without fender lip interference with a tire near original OD/revs per mile.

Duke

[Terry F.]

Re: After market rims

The reason I asked is, I was wondering if the 8" wheel would give me more clearance to the frame on a 68 when in a sharp turn? Regards, Terry

[Terry F.]

Re: After market rims

Patrick, American Racing is making the Torque Trust D wheels again after popular demand. I believe they are making them in 16" and 17" also. The don't require the spacer that the others did. Regards, Terry