What is the max rear rim and tire size for a 72 Cutlass

BigAl72 · March 14th, 2009, 06:28 AM

Hello,
I just picked up a street/strip 72 Cutlass. Would like to know if I can fit a 15" by 10 wide rim on the back and what back spacing is best to do it. Also what size tire would work best that rim size? Thanks Al

2blu442 · March 14th, 2009, 08:20 AM

Al, welcome to the site. If you would do a search you should come up with several threads where this has been discussed in the past. My personal experience was with a set of 15X10 wheels I had made with zero offset. 295/50/15's looked really nice, but would rub the inside sidewalls when I drove into driveways or anything that made the body roll significantly. I think 275's would work without rubbing, I know 255's won't rub. My 2 cents worth! John

Oldsguy · March 14th, 2009, 08:30 AM

Al, welcome to our site.

BigAl72 · March 14th, 2009, 02:47 PM

Gents,
Thanks for the welcome. I did do a search but did not come up with much. I know that this topic has had to have been discussed before. The info that I have now is that I get a 15 by 10 with 5.5 BS to fit. It has been suggested that a 325/50/15 was used and fit. It seemed a little large to me. Al

2blu442 · March 14th, 2009, 03:02 PM

Hello Al
If you only went straight down the track it may work. My measurements showed 14" from the wheewell lip to the inside of the inner fenderwell. The 295 has a 12" footprint so that gives one inch on each side with the backspacing centered. The problem is when the body rolls that space changes. For a daily driver you might get away with a 275 but I don't think anything larger than that will work without rubbing on one side or the other.

If you could come up with a tire and rim you could try bolting it on, then jacking up one side of the rear end to see how much travel you have before the tire hits. John

gearheads78 · March 14th, 2009, 08:11 PM

10" with 5.5"BS with a 275-60-15 works well from my experience

BosMobile · March 15th, 2009, 08:33 AM

i ran 10" with 6/ 4 offset . 275/60/15 .can fit but have to be careful in the turns.a centered wheel should be perfect. i have 8" now,centered ,running 28/10.50/15 mickey thomson slicks they dont rub,and they look killer!! BO

kaz442 · March 15th, 2009, 08:20 PM

I'm running 15x10 with 5.5" BS and a 295/65 15 MT drag radial. I tried a set of 5" BS but the would rub on the outside. This is on my '70 F85.
JKaz

72greensupreme · March 16th, 2009, 07:16 AM

hi, just wanted to let u know that i have 10.5 inch tires on my 72 supreme and they work well. 295/50r 15 firehawk indy tires with centerline aluminum wheels. lots of meat, and they look awesome. good luck brother. Jay

March 14th, 2009, 06:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
BigAl72 New User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2	What is the max rear rim and tire size for a 72 Cutlass Hello, I just picked up a street/strip 72 Cutlass. Would like to know if I can fit a 15" by 10 wide rim on the back and what back spacing is best to do it. Also what size tire would work best that rim size? Thanks Al

March 14th, 2009, 08:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
2blu442 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Medford, Oregon Posts: 2,260	Wheel Width Al, welcome to the site. If you would do a search you should come up with several threads where this has been discussed in the past. My personal experience was with a set of 15X10 wheels I had made with zero offset. 295/50/15's looked really nice, but would rub the inside sidewalls when I drove into driveways or anything that made the body roll significantly. I think 275's would work without rubbing, I know 255's won't rub. My 2 cents worth! John __________________ 1964 Cutlass Factory 4spd 1965 442 4spd 1967 442 Auto 1967 Cutlass Convertible 1967 Cutlass four door daily driver 1968 442 Auto 1969 442 W30 Auto 1970 442 4spd 1971 Cutlass Flat Top Wagon 1973 Che*vy 3/4 Ton 454/TH400 Tow Vehicle Only the tow vehicle is finished!

March 14th, 2009, 08:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
Oldsguy Hot Rodder at heart Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 5,360	Al, welcome to our site. __________________ Dan '77 Cutlass Supreme '46 2 door "The rocket 455.....it's a sledgehammer approach to a thumbtack world" LuxBlue of HAMB.

March 14th, 2009, 02:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
BigAl72 New User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2	Thanks for the welcome Gents, Thanks for the welcome. I did do a search but did not come up with much. I know that this topic has had to have been discussed before. The info that I have now is that I get a 15 by 10 with 5.5 BS to fit. It has been suggested that a 325/50/15 was used and fit. It seemed a little large to me. Al

March 14th, 2009, 03:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
2blu442 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Medford, Oregon Posts: 2,260	Hello Al If you only went straight down the track it may work. My measurements showed 14" from the wheewell lip to the inside of the inner fenderwell. The 295 has a 12" footprint so that gives one inch on each side with the backspacing centered. The problem is when the body rolls that space changes. For a daily driver you might get away with a 275 but I don't think anything larger than that will work without rubbing on one side or the other. If you could come up with a tire and rim you could try bolting it on, then jacking up one side of the rear end to see how much travel you have before the tire hits. John __________________ 1964 Cutlass Factory 4spd 1965 442 4spd 1967 442 Auto 1967 Cutlass Convertible 1967 Cutlass four door daily driver 1968 442 Auto 1969 442 W30 Auto 1970 442 4spd 1971 Cutlass Flat Top Wagon 1973 Che*vy 3/4 Ton 454/TH400 Tow Vehicle Only the tow vehicle is finished!

March 14th, 2009, 08:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
gearheads78 Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 1,565	10" with 5.5"BS with a 275-60-15 works well from my experience __________________ -Richard 66 Cutlass ragtop my way Keep watching your cotton candy coated TV while your world falls apart around you...

March 15th, 2009, 08:33 AM	#7 (permalink)
BosMobile Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: n. alabama-heart of dixie Posts: 209	i ran 10" with 6/ 4 offset . 275/60/15 .can fit but have to be careful in the turns.a centered wheel should be perfect. i have 8" now,centered ,running 28/10.50/15 mickey thomson slicks they dont rub,and they look killer!! BO

March 15th, 2009, 08:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
kaz442 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 176	I'm running 15x10 with 5.5" BS and a 295/65 15 MT drag radial. I tried a set of 5" BS but the would rub on the outside. This is on my '70 F85. JKaz __________________ 72 442 conv. 455 +.060 th400 3.31 12 bolt 70 F85 490 stroker, th400 3.73 Strange S60 87 Buick GN

March 16th, 2009, 07:16 AM	#9 (permalink)
72greensupreme Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 17	reply to the biggest tire size qeustion hi, just wanted to let u know that i have 10.5 inch tires on my 72 supreme and they work well. 295/50r 15 firehawk indy tires with centerline aluminum wheels. lots of meat, and they look awesome. good luck brother. Jay

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