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I have a 1972 Cutlass Supreme Convertible, lowered 2 inches, and have the stock 14 inch SSII wheels. I want to keep it as original looking as possible, but the skinny wheels/tires on the rear looked tedious to me.
McWheels is making me a pair for just the year wheels for better stance and performance. They will be SSIIs that are 15in x 10in wide. 5.5 inch backspacing.
The question; what's the largest and widest tire I can put on the rear without modifications?
275 60 15. they look great. I'm not a fan of the 295 50 profile. Everyone whats to stuff the widest tire but to me it has to be proportionate. They are tucked in wide but don't stick out and look dumb imo.
That's what a few others have said, too. Thank you!
Originally Posted by coppercutlass
275 60 15. they look great. I'm not a fan of the 295 50 profile. Everyone whats to stuff the widest tire but to me it has to be proportionate. They are tucked in wide but don't stick out and look dumb imo.
Car looks great, thanks! I have some wide tires in the front, so 295s do not look too wide for me. They are actually still the skinniest tire I've put in any of my RWD cars
I have a 1972 cutlass supreme convertible, lowered 2 inches, and have the stock 14 inch ssii wheels. I want to keep it as original looking as possible, but the skinny wheels/tires on the rear looked tedious to me.
Mcwheels is making me a pair for just the year wheels for better stance and performance. They will be ssiis that are 15in x 10in wide. 5.5 inch backspacing.
The question; what's the largest and widest tire i can put on the rear without modifications?
Not many choices in that size outside of drag radials, DOT bias ply drag tires in that size, or M/T Sportsman S/R or Pro type tire @28" diameter. The M/T tires are expensive and nor great for the street.
5.5" is a lot of backspace, my 295s are close to the inner wells at 4.75".
Mine are 5" backspacing with 295 and they are not even close to the inner wells. I think 5.5" is perfect. Occasionally I run my 18's and they are 18x10 with 5.75" backspacing, 305/40/18 tire and there is still plenty of room.
I'm in the middle, rather the beginning, of a 9in rear end swap w/ 3.73s. I'll post photos of both the rear end and wheels/tires installed once completed in a month or two!
I tried the 275/60’s on mine and was not happy with the look, I thought the tire was simply too narrow for the wheel. I went with Mickey Thompson pro street radials 28 x 12 x 15, I choose these over drag radials due to new tread depth comparison, drag radials are soft rubber and come with 5/32, Nitto might be 6/32; the flame tread pro street radials only have 8/32 but the rubber will likely wear longer and mine were for visual appeal only, my car is all stock.