185/60/15's on 15x4.5 rims

[rbucklin]

Hi All,

I'm redoing my 68 dune runner. I have a choice between 13x6 slots or stock size 15x4.5 slots on the front. The rear has 15x8 with 355 tires. My issue is the 165/80/15's are taller and narrower than I'd like and the 13's interfere with the calipers, even with the spacers, and would require me to grind some material off the calipers.

One solution is to mount 185/60/15's on the 4.5 inch wheels. Has anyone done this and how did they work? Are they too wide for the rims?

And no, I have not been able to find and appropriate replacement in a 14 or 15x6 rim.

Any thoughts or experience welcome, thanks.

[DerrickfromNC1]

[johnnyvw164]

I ran into that when I decided to run 185/65-15 tires on my 69 Bug. Some shops will decline to mount them. But I know a lot of people run the opposite, tires WAY to narrow for the rim width. To me it looks stupid and dangerous

BTW, there are plenty of places to get 15 x 5.5 wheels

[Mike Fisher]

I've run 185X60 on 4.5" wheels on my square without any problems.
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69 FI/AT square Daily Driver
66 sunroof,67,70,71,71,71AT,72,72AT,73 Parts
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'68 Karmann Ghia sold

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[rbucklin]

I really don't think it would be a problem, but everyone today has to be so cautious and just work off their chart without common sense or experience. I might just go get a Harbor Freight tire mount machine ($50) and do it myself. I'll try the 165's first though, see if I mind the look. The rears are 275/60 so those 165's look pretty thin.

And, yes, I can find 15x5.5 or 6 but they don't match the rears or they are more expensive than I want to go. I did see that American has chrome smoothies in a GM bolt pattern. Tempting to sell the slots and go that route. Love the look and the differential cost would not be prohibitive. Got to give that some thought.