I am wanting the look of a big tire in back and a small tire in front.
I got a good deal on a couple 15 x 8 with 4.5" backspace wheels for the rear and was hoping to find a set of 15 x 7 for the front. I'm not able to find the 15 x 7.
If I use 15 x 8 with 4.5" backspace front and rear,along with 295/50/15 rear and 225/60/15 front tires,
will this give the look I'm going for?
will I have any rub problems?

Car is a 1971 Cutlass with stock ride height.

thank you

 

I don't think 225/60/15 on a 8" would work well on the front - too short & too much wheel width

 

Thank you, that 8 inch wide wheel on the front was my concern.

 

I'm not sure the 8" wheel on the front is a problem?

my comment was more about a 225/60/15 tire being too small for a GM a-body & too small for a 15x8" wheel

most 8" wide wheels (inside bead-to-bead) measure ~9" wide outside-to-outside
the section width of a 225 is less than 9" - tread width is less than 7-1/2" (tire is smaller than wheel) IMO not the muscle car "LOOK"
the 225/60/15 is about 25-1/2" tall - the factory installed G70-14 is about 26-1/4" tall (short tire in a big wheel well)

ask the question - what tire can I run on the front of a '71 Cutlass with a 15x8.0" 4.50" backspace wheel without rubbing?

I think the 245/60/15 (~26-1/2' dia.) & 295/50/15 (~26-1/2" dia.) should work for you

the '69 Hurst/Olds had 15x7.0" wheels & F60-15 (roughly 235/60/15) tires all around
the early '70s STAGE I GS Buicks had 15x7.0" wheels & G60-15 (roughly 245/60/15) tires all around

 

That's great info I can use!
The way you explained it,I learned from it also,I see what numbers are important and make a difference.
Thank you very much for taking the time to explain.

 

Currently I am running 15 x 8 Repop SSI's on all four corners of my 1970 W30. I have 265-50-15's on the front and 295-50-15's on the rear. I have no rubbing issues, BUT... I put this same set on my 1967 Cutlass convertible and did experience rubbing at full lock on the front. So I popped this set on my 1971 Cutlass Convert and experienced even more rubbing on the front.


So just a word of caution, just because someone says it fits 'their' Cutlass or 442 without rubbing does not guarantee they won't rub on 'your' Cutlass/442!

Next time I am tire shopping I plan on the 245-60-15's for the front as no one makes the 265-50-15's anymore Unless I change wheel sizes of course.


I would have thought someone would repop the 265-50-15's as they are the PERFECT tire for all those Cobra kit cars running around. Well at least the ones that use 15" wheels.

Jim

 

Not endorsing them but Hankook of all companies just came out with a 265/50. Koreans trying to get a piece of the hot rod market


https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...omCompare1=yes