Rims and Tire Size

Dale M. · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 6:30 am Post subject:

I have P225/60R14 on front and P255/60R15 on rear...

Rims are 14x7 on front and 15x8 on rear... Wheels are actually UNI-LUG MAGS, the predecessor to some TEAM III wheels...

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Dale
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All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

Glasser · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 6:56 am Post subject:

What is the steering like on the buggies with super wide front tires? Hard?
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EMPIImp69 · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:06 am Post subject:

Dale M. · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:06 pm Post subject:

Glasser · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:01 pm Post subject:

Thanks guys.. Cool

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eschmi · Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 3:25 pm Post subject:

has anyone with an empi imp had problems with hitting or rubbing on the fenders? I'm rebuilding an imp and curious about putting bigger tires up front but havent heard if theres much issues with rubbing or destroying the fenders

67dude · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 5:51 pm Post subject:

[eschmi]

I have a Empi Imp with 2"drop spindles & wheel adaptors. I was running 215/70R15 on the front and they rubbed if I was turning and braking at the same time. They didn't rub before I dropped it I hope this helps. I went to a shorter tire and solved the problem.

eschmi · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2014 9:51 pm Post subject:

thanks! i'm going to be keeping mine stock up front, was just curious how big I could go in the front without causing issues, I know if I hit a Huge pothole and somehow manage to bottom out the shock absorbers i'll probably have an issue but as light as it is and i dont plan on doing much of roading (at least not at high speeds) I hope i wont have a problem with it xP

Nick2k · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2014 10:02 pm Post subject:

Where are you guys finding matching wheels that are 5.5" in front and 10" for the rear? I've been searching, and can't find that combo!

Iguana · Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 4:31 pm Post subject:

I just finished a Meyers Manx Kick-Out SS which is running a set of American Racing Mags front and back that turned out pretty sweet.
Rear - 20 x 10 Custom with 295x45x20 Dunlop 9000
Front - 17 x 8 Custom with 215 x 45 x 17 Dunlop 9000

Link

Glassy Guy · Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2014 8:20 am Post subject:

I have 8" wide rims on the rear with P245/60/15's and 6" wide with P205/6015's on the front. I prefer the look of the tires not sticking out beyond the fenders. My buggy is street driven only. I wanted P195/60/15's for the front but were not available at the time.

andygere · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2014 3:59 pm Post subject:

Glassy Guy, great looking buggy, and I like the look of your wheel and tire choices. Do you have any photos showing directly from the front and from the back? Also, do you know the backspacing on those wheels?

I'm getting close to making a decision on wheels and tires, and I'm trying to narrow down the options. Thanks in advance.

pylnrcr · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2014 5:07 pm Post subject:

18's Front (255/50/R18) and 20's Rear (305/50/R20)

Glassy Guy · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2014 2:50 am Post subject:

Thank you so much Andygere. Sorry for the late reply. Yes I do have a few pics of those angles. I'm trying to remember the backspacing. I want to say 3.75" on the rear and 3.5" in the front. I may have to pull the wheels off and measure them. Funny I had them made to order and I wanted 4" of backspacing on the rears I think and the gentleman said they would rub the spring plates. I still have plenty of clearance but I thought I would take his advise so we meet in the middle. Nice folks to deal with too. I can look for the info on them for you too. I'm not an expert by any means but I also believe that the different years of axle lengths may come into play too. The knowledgeable folks here will correct me if I'm wrong.

Glassy Guy · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2014 3:09 am Post subject:

Success. I found the invoice.

Custom and Commercial Wheel Company 909-357-3505
www.customcommercialwheel.com

So yes my first guess was right. 3.75" on the rears and 3.5" on the fronts. I still say 4" would have fit on the rears. Lol. Again I just didn't want the tire tires to stick out beyond the fenders. I almost think the gentleman's advise was correct suggesting 3.5" on the rears and still the tires would not have stuck out beyond the fenders. I hope this helps and good luck. Post some pics when you get them on your buggy.

Glassy Guy · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2014 3:42 am Post subject:

I found a better pic of the rear too

joescoolcustoms · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2014 5:11 am Post subject:

Your wheel guy was spot on Glassy Guy.

I have found that I can squeeze a 5.25" backspace rim on the '67/'68 swing axle and IRS. I have to trim about 1/4 inch off the upper bump stop, but they will fit.

So, the earlier '65 and down short axle swing can take a 4 inch back space and be very close depending on tire cross section width.

I have also found out the body's vary a lot in fender-to-fender width on the rear and the "newer" the body is, the wider they seem to have gotten. My Viper is 3 inches wider than my Manx or Sears Rascal.

Here is the 5.25" back space running a 275 60 15 on a real narrow body. (A backspace of 5.5 on the rim, but a 1/4 spacer on the hub to give the 5 1/4" backspace) Both the front and rear rim have the same 2.5" front space. Both the front and rear tread is under the fender lip, but the bulge of the sidewall sticks out.

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andygere · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2014 8:49 am Post subject:

Glassy,
Thanks for the response and additional pictures. Those 245's really look sharp, might get me off the 275/295 dilemma. Also, thanks for digging up the detailed info on the backspacing. I'm converting my 4-lug rear drums to Chevy 5-lug pattern drums, and I'd like to tuck as much of the tire under the body as possible, but still go as wide as I reasonably can as well. I'm also worried that the taller 275s may make the low end on my stockish 1600 a bit sluggish.

I'm hoping to source some T/As in 195 60R15 but it seems like they are getting harder to find? Like you, I want them tucked inside the front fenders but I may have to run the 4 lug to Chevy adapters on the front for a while. They add 3/4 an inch of width, so I may have to live with the overhang until I bite the bullet on drilled front drums. Final word, I just love the simplicity and execution on your Manx, it pushes all the right buttons for me.

Joe Cool, thanks for the additional data point as well. Are you running discs up front, adapters or drilled drums? Great looking buggy as well.

joescoolcustoms · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2014 8:59 am Post subject:

andygere · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2014 10:47 am Post subject:

Joe Cool,
I have sourced blank BJ front drums from BBT via CIP1 (special order). These would need to be drilled and studded at a local machine shop. By inspection, they look like the stock 4-lug drums I have, but I'm assuming there is uniform material for drilling and studding on the inside face of the drum. They will run $86 each shipped, plus the cost of the machine work.


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