A66 Wheels/Tires....almost there and could need some help before placing order

[kawahonda]

For future reference, I weighed a 14 x 5.5" Rallye w/ ring and cap mounted on an old Goodyear F70 polyglass tire.

44.6-45lb on the mark total.

I weight it with myself (subtracted my weight) and I weighed it by itself. Bathroom scale. Very similar results.

According to the internet, a Legendary Magnum 15 x 7 wheel is 16lbs. A Mickey Thompson Sportsman S/T 235/60/15 is 25.76lbs. This leads to a combined weight of 41.76lbs.

Pretty cool that I'll lose about 13lbs unsprung by going bigger and badder!

OK, enough talk from me about wheels and tires....whewww!

[RUNCHARGER]

Cool stuff: I remember reading about the light wheels on the newer Shelby Mustangs. It was quite impressive the performance increase that lighter wheels make.

[kawahonda]

Sheldon, you're right on the 15 x 7 Rallyes. I had someone also confirm that they're about 30lbs right on the mark. With the same MT tires, that would be a total weight of 55.76lbs. Compare that to my upcoming 41.76lbs. 14lbs per wheel has got to "feel" different I would think!

Whether or not it matters to the person is one thing, but at least the facts are out there!

[kawahonda]

Wondering if you guys can help me. I'm likely going to be forced to order lug nuts.

I need 10 right-threaded, and 10 left-threaded ET conical lugs.

My wheel bolt length is 1" from the drum to the tip, and it's 1/2" size.

The Magnum 500 wheels are .875" (including bevel) thick around the bolt holes. That leaves not so much bolt protrusion.

It seems like I'm going to want something with some shank length. Seems to me that 1/2" shank length would be "optimal".

Must ET conical nuts i've been seeing have .3-.33" shank length, which would be the BARE minimum acceptable, and I think I can do better than just "skating" by. I don't want to be worrying about lug nuts.

I'm assuming I should be 13/16" Hex Head, 3/4" hex, and 1/2-20 thread size.

Is there a lug nut place online that can get me what I need? Or perhaps made-to-order?

I didn't know that lug nuts are one of the biggest pain in the butts.

[HP2]

For future reference, I weighed a 14 x 5.5" Rallye w/ ring and cap mounted on an old Goodyear F70 polyglass tire.

44.6-45lb on the mark total.

I weight it with myself (subtracted my weight) and I weighed it by itself. Bathroom scale. Very similar results.

According to the internet, a Legendary Magnum 15 x 7 wheel is 16lbs. A Mickey Thompson Sportsman S/T 235/60/15 is 25.76lbs. This leads to a combined weight of 41.76lbs.

Pretty cool that I'll lose about 13lbs unsprung by going bigger and badder!

OK, enough talk from me about wheels and tires....whewww!

RE the bolded above, I'd really question that a 15x7 Magnum is only 16#. That is less weight than my Aero race weight wheels that are not D.O.T. approved.  If a 15x7 Rallye is 30#, I don't see where there is so much less metal for a Magnum to be half the weight. I'd guess it  to be a few pounds lighter, but that's about it.

[kawahonda]

Measured my Alloy 500 wheel & 235/60 tire, fully inflated including center cap (which weighs practically nothing), and wheel weights from balancing. 42.6lbs. So yep, the Magnum 500 alloy is indeed 16lbs raw.

You may be thinking of an OEM steel version?

Now if I can figure out who the hell can make my lug nuts to mount them.....

The old steelies are certainly cool, but my point is you should be mindful of how much rotational weight you are adding to the car by adding 15" steel wheels...

Then again, if my car was born with 15" Rallyes, I would have left them on. 14" Rallyes look puny and just had to go...in my attic in safe keeping!

[HP2]

Missed the alloy part of the conversation. My mistake.

[kawahonda]

Wild RT is hooking me up. Hopefully he can post some cool pics of his lathe job soon. Stay tuned....

[Mark_B]

An old topic but did you end up getting 235/60/15s fronts and 255/60/15s rear on 15x7s?  If so would be great to see some photos please?

[kawahonda]

I still currently have 235's all the way around on 15x7s. It really looks good!

After the stroker kit, I'm probably going to want some more tire eventually. 255's is a bit borderline on 15x7s though. I may be compelled to get a wider rim...still debating. I think it will "work", but it won't be optimal.

I do have some pictures of 255s on a challenger on the rear (and 235s) and I think it looks really good. It's on my friend's car. I'll ask him if he can send me some pictures.

I find that 275s always overtake the styling given the mid-section bodyline. Cudas seem to be able to visually get by with 275s.

[Mark_B]

Thanks for your reply.  I have 15x7s all around on my A66 and have just bought 255/60/15s for the rear, so will take a photo of what it looks like when done.  There are 225/60/15s on the front so hoping for some stance to the car.  They're going to be a job to fit as new rear quarters were fitted to the car and there are huge lips on the wheel arches, with spot welds, so am going to have to be careful grinding them back.  I have a 1/3 of an inch I can cut back.

I'm guessing 255/60/15s on a 15x7 will have an arch in the centre of the tire, rather than be flat like on a 15x8? 

Thanks again for the information.

[kawahonda]

With the correct backspacing, 255s should fit easily in the challenger's wheel well with room to spare--that is on the stock rear-well.

Please take a photo when it's mounted. I was surprised at how good 255s looked on my friend's car. It was meaty, but also "well kept and contained". From all angles it looked basically "stock" until you got in the very rear then you could tell they are wider than stock. I think you will be very happy. 235-255 IMO "looks right" on a challenger on the rear that still give it a sleeper/stock look.

255's on a 15x7 will have more sidewall bulge for sure. the tire will look more "flat" on a 15x8. It would be nice for others to chime in, but from the research I've done, it is "borderline" at best to put 255x60x15 on a 15x7. It means you'll have more sidewall flex. If you're rallying the car, it won't be very ideal. But if you're just going for cruises, and hitting the drag strip, it will probably be "fine", al though I'd worry about if it would wear consistently.

If money isn't an option, and if you are not already running the original wheels, you can easily just order 2x 15x8 wheels and then feel much better about mounting 255s. That's probably what I will do when I eventually upgrade.

Don't forget to replace your speedo gear.

btw, nice Les Pauls. I still have mine stored in cases.

[Mark_B]

Yes, that's the look I'm after, tire bulge, a bit like El Hemi's 70 Challenger.  He has Polyglass G60-15s on the rear of his 70 Challenger, which are similar in size to the 255/60/15s.  Yes will post some photos. 

Here's El Hemi's car:

[kawahonda]

Yep...that's about what 255s will look like. Perfect size as the tire doesn't poke out at you.

[6bblgt]

 
E60-15 ~ 225/60/15
F60-15 ~ 235/60/15
G60-15 ~ 245/60/15
H60-15 ~ 255/60/15
J60-15 ~ 265/60/15
L60-15 ~ 275/60/15