Newbie here, hope I'm not duplicating an old one here but how wide can the rear tire/wheel be on the 65 Cutlass . I know it may involve some measuring and backspacing but I figured maybe someone knows already.
thanks in advance.

p.s. nice site !

 

Welcome to our site. I can't specifically answer your question but would guess about ten inches. Hope you get something more specific soon.

 

You should be able safely run a 255-60-15 on an 8" with the right BS
I would be willing to bet a 275-60 will go but you need to be dead on with measurements.

Personally I would never trust what someone else says you can or can't use when it comes to maxing out a tire size. These cars were not exact and what fits on one 65 Cutlass might not fit on another. In addition if you measure do so on both sides. I have seen almost 1/2" difference from side to side space ava. in the same car.

 

Just getting ideas ! This car has had a 15x8 wheel under it with a not so wide tire . I think to run the wheels I want (15x8.5) it may require some mini tubs.
And this is one of those cars that you have hairs clearance on one side and a fingers worth one the other .

We'll see ?

 

I purchased my car with 15 X 10's on it.....the body is lifted a bit and there is a spacer plate in there...slight touching over heavy bumps which could be eliminated by shaving the spacer plate a bit....you have to play with plates but 10's work

 

Have any picts?
I haven't even begun working on my '65 and have the same questions.
But a friend of mine who is said mini-tubs won't do much on these models.
It's not a question of wheel well height but width between frame & quarter lip.

 

2nd the "got pics?" what size tire are on those 10s ?
I remember an issue of some chevy magazine where they narrowed the frame on a 65 ElCamino . if I recall correctly they sliced off a bit on the outside of the frame and reinforced the inside .
I am not sure I want the risk of the car never seeing the road again trying something like that.

Anybody trim the wheel lips ? Yet to look close but am thinking about a 1/4 " to gain ?

 

I found this site when fitting tires for my Delta: http://www.rims-n-tires.com/rt_specs.jsp

The online tool helped me figure out what would fit based on knowing what was originally on the car. I went from 225/75/15 to 275/60/15 on my new AR rims and everthing clears easily. You will need to do measurements, but this can give you confidence on what will fit. The 275's look awesome on my car.

 

275/60R15 BFG T/A's....if I could shave 1/16 off the spacer plates they would never rub ever...

 

picture of the car is on this site...yellow 65 442 with the police ca behind it

 

I put on 235/55-17 on an 8" rim and they look great. Rims-N-Tires.com said I could go as wide as 245/55, but I played it safe and still had a clearance issue on the drivers side. Definitely measure BOTH sides as Gearheads78 mentioned. I have less than 1/2" gap between the sidewall of the tire and the inner fender on the driver side and almost 1 1/2" on the passenger side. Also, check alignment, sometimes that might solve a small clearance issue.