No Nub Wheels Not RPO

[Cecil L.]

I bought these about 20 years ago with NOS wide whitewall tires thinking they were 5.5 inch RPO wheels. The guy I bought them from said they came off a 56 Chevy. Since the tires were mounted, I didn't measure the rim width right away and they have been in storage ever since. I dug them out and dismounted a tire today to see what the markings inside the rim were. To my surprise,there were no markings that I could find. They are 15x5 with 3.5 inch backspacing, tube type and have no wheelcover retention nubs on the outer rim. They are riveted and otherwise look like 55-56 Chevy or Corvette wheels. The original color looks like aqua similar to 61-64 pass car.
Has anyone seen these or have any info?
All my old parts catalogs don't show anything that matches the description.

[Dennis C.]

No Nub Wheels Not RPO

Cecil, All I am able to offer is that this/these wheel are not an RPO 276 (wide base wheel) item. Best, Dennis

[Mike E.]

Re: No Nub Wheels Not RPO

My best guess is about 54 Chevy passenger car.

[Tom P.]

Re: No Nub Wheels Not RPO

Mike,
It's always been my understanding that the 54 Chevy pass car wheels DID HAVE the 4 nubs on the outer rim for retention of the full wheel covers, same as 54 Vette wheels.

The 51-53 pass car wheels are the same, BUT, the 53 pass car wheels did not get the 5 clips in the center hub, although the 5 holes are still in the 53 wheel centers for the rivets that attached the clips.
The center section of the 51-53 wheels is totally different from those pictured above.

Thus, with all of that said, I have always understood that 54-55 pass and 54-55 Vette wheels are the same, ie, 15x5in riveted, 3 nubs in the center section to retain dogdish caps and 4 nubs around the outer rim. Maybe so, maybe no.

[Cecil L.]

Re: No Nub Wheels Not RPO

My 58 Parts book shows wheel #3714744 for 54-56 Pass and 54-58 Corvette.