Wheel width on early front fenders

[cbez]

Hey guys,

Most of the pictures I've seen have wheels sticking out past the front fenders on 66-67 cars with the smaller fenders. I realize there is not a lot of room in the front to go wider. What is the widest wheel / offset combo in the front that will still be tucked or maybe even with the wheel well? I am thinking a 5" or a 6" with extra offset.

[Alvin]

Hey guys,

Most of the pictures I've seen have wheels sticking out past the front fenders on 66-67 cars with the smaller fenders. I realize there is not a lot of room in the front to go wider. What is the widest wheel / offset combo in the front that will still be tucked or maybe even with the wheel well? I am thinking a 5" or a 6" with extra offset.

6' width is the safest, tire width will also influence how much will stick past the fender flare.

I just posted "Devo"s setup on his '66:



Here are the Rota RB 15X6 on my '66. +20 offset, Large Caps. 195/55R15. I've since put on 1 inch lowering springs in front and body sits right down on the tires with no rubbing even in spirited driving.

[/quote]

Here are some shots after the lowering springs with zoom in.

[cbez]

Nice. To my eye/taste that 6" 20 offset is still sticking out a little bit in front. Although the height and wheel well clearance look perfect. Maybe it is more the tire diameter throwing me off. And once you offset further than that you start to run into clearance issues with suspension components right?

[spl310]

Roadsters have a wider track in the front than the rear. If you want them to match, you'll have to run staggered offsets.

[Alvin]

Nice. To my eye/taste that 6" 20 offset is still sticking out a little bit in front. Although the height and wheel well clearance look perfect. Maybe it is more the tire diameter throwing me off. And once you offset further than that you start to run into clearance issues with suspension components right?

Post pictures of your current setup. The 195/55/15 tire shown on Devo's car is quite generous. You could run a 185-width or even skinnier tire and have less tire bulge.
Alternatively, higher offset, like +25 that Rota makes could be used. Have not heard of suspension/brake clearance issues with those wheels.

EDIT:
ps to be clear, this is not what you want, right? The tire and wheel are well-past the fender lip as viewed from the front:


This is more like what you want, visually?

[cbez]

Not necessarily match, but I just liked a more tucked look in front. I guess with the early fenders that is pretty hard to do. I know the front is wider stock.

I still have stock 4" wheels with 185s but I probably want to go to an aftermarket wheel at some point (some cool vintage JDM or libres maybe).

I guess even going up to a 6", the tire diameter isn't changing much.

[Alvin]

Not necessarily match, but I just liked a more tucked look in front. I guess with the early fenders that is pretty hard to do. I know the front is wider stock.

I still have stock 4" wheels with 185s but I probably want to go to an aftermarket wheel at some point (some cool vintage JDM or libres maybe).

I guess even going up to a 6", the tire diameter isn't changing much.

Run a 6", high (relatively) offset wheel with 175 or 185-width tires. It will appear more sucked-in.

[cbez]

Would the same offset (like a 25) clear in the rear? I probably wouldn't go higher than a 15" diameter.

[Alvin]

I forgot but the ARLibre was made in 5.5", if so talk to John Baker he's running 165s (as opposed to the comon 195/60) they look great.




Another car, but note that these are 185/70/14 tires, super chunky.

Would the same offset (like a 25) clear in the rear? I probably wouldn't go higher than a 15" diameter.

I'm sure it would, 15" wheel also opens up more selection over the 14"

[cbez]

See those look perf to me in terms of how much they stick out, but that's a wider flare car. Guess I'm trying to recreate that on a small flare.

[Alvin]

See those look perf to me in terms of how much they stick out, but that's a wider flare car. Guess I'm trying to recreate that on a small flare.

Great!
Buy some Libras and thinner tires, you'll be golden!

[cbez]

See those look perf to me in terms of how much they stick out, but that's a wider flare car. Guess I'm trying to recreate that on a small flare.

Great!
Buy some Libras and thinner tires, you'll be golden!

Well yes but the same setup will be back to sticking out on an early car lol

[Alvin]

See those look perf to me in terms of how much they stick out, but that's a wider flare car. Guess I'm trying to recreate that on a small flare.

Great!
Buy some Libras and thinner tires, you'll be golden!

Well yes but the same setup will be back to sticking out on an early car lol

No, run a thinner tire than what's shown above. Huge difference.

[cbez]

Great!
Buy some Libras and thinner tires, you'll be golden!

Well yes but the same setup will be back to sticking out on an early car lol

No, run a thinner tire than what's shown above. Huge difference.

thinner than the 165s on Johns?

[devo]

Top and front shots of my 195/55R15 on Rota RB, 15X6, +20 for reference