Thread: Just wondering........

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I know pro touring has been around for some time now. I was wondering if there are guys/girls who are pro cruising.
Pro touring put those huge wheels and tires on with sidewalls that are 2" and then think they are Dale Jr and can road race cause they have low profile tires. What they find out is that if the chassis is stock and you thrash with cornering tactics like a road racer,what happens is premature bushing failures.
I do not put down what someone likes or dislikes. I personally do not like to see 18,19,20' rims on older muscle cars or street rods, but that's me. They were not built with large rims from the factory. I have never been one to follow trends and since the show Overhaulin everyone thinks Foose is the god of big wheels. If he puts them on a car then that's what is cool.
I put 15" rims on my 50 wagon cause they look good and if I hit a pothole, I won't break a rim. I have talked to guys at shows who bitch about a cracked or broken 19 or 20"rim on their 67 Camaro or 65 Mustang cause they hit a small hole in the road.
I don't know about other states but here in Pa, we have potholes.
Ok enough rant about big rims..........I think pro-cruising should be a tab given to guy/girls who like 15" rims cause they ride nicer and you can hit a hole without destroying an expensive rim.
I guess I'm just old school but also give the right to everyone to choose what they like.

I like the "look" of 15's too, and firmly believe that the ratio of sidewall to wheel OD is a critical value - I'm running 15's with 70series. That said, the market has migrated away from 15's, they can make it tough to fit disc brake rotors and it's almost impossible to find speed rated tires in 15's (pointed out by Jerry). I love the look of my highboy "pro-cruiser", but I can see a pair of 16x10 or 17x10 Cragar's in my future as tires become harder and harder to source. You'll never see 20's or 22's on it unless it's owned by someone else!

I still like the old 15'' look. 16'' maybe for slicks.

Glad I'm not the only one here who has a (small)dislike for cart wheels..I would consider 16's for any of our cars,but in saying that,we have a brand new set of American Racing 15x7 Daisies for my wifes Customline..I have always thought that most 50's and 60's cars look dorky with anything bigger than 17's,,but in saying that,I have seen a few cars/trucks with 18's or even 20's that dont really look too far out of place..And,yeah,,potholes...Try some of ours...hehehe..

Lam................I also am running the 200s polished spoke on my wagon. I have also heard them called coke bottle spoke.
They only come in either 15" or 17".............so thank god I will never see them in 20"or bigger

Originally Posted by lamin8r

Glad I'm not the only one here who has a (small)dislike for cart wheels..I would consider 16's for any of our cars,but in saying that,we have a brand new set of American Racing 15x7 Daisies for my wifes Customline..I have always thought that most 50's and 60's cars look dorky with anything bigger than 17's,,but in saying that,I have seen a few cars/trucks with 18's or even 20's that dont really look too far out of place..And,yeah,,potholes...Try some of ours...hehehe..

Hmm first set of rims i pickup for the GTO new in 1981 and there staying on that car

Pat....................good looking goat..........those 200S Americans are a nice wheel and not as common. Go to any local car show and see half the cars there with torque thrust wheels...............maybe 1 or 2 with 200S

To me, Pro Touring is a whole lot more than just the wheels and tires. A full package also includes significant brake, chassis and suspension updates. Here is our friends 68 Camaro complete with updated front subframe and a-arms, 4 link rear suspension and pretty huge brakes. And the 427 is an LS7 all aluminum Gen IV small block.

DSC_2294 small.jpg

Pat

Pat, that's a good looking 'Maro but for my eyes it would be even more stunning with wheels two inches smaller more sidewall showing with tires the same OD. I just cannot get comfortable with proportion of the new, super low profile tires on oversized wheels on classic rides, but to each his own. That's what makes the car hobby so dynamic.

Originally Posted by pat mccarthy

Hmm first set of rims i pickup for the GTO new in 1981 and there staying on that car

Nice,Pat..Those wheels look good on just about anything..I like torque thrusts too,,but so do half a million other folks... Anyway..The 200s were Lyndas choice..and I like them too..

Stu Cool,,the Camaro looks good with them,,but I personally wouldnt want them any bigger..Proportions get all screwed up for me..and yes..So much extra has to be done for a safe fitment of bigger wheels,I'm told..Taller rolling stock,I believe means bigger brakes,etc for safety..What size are they??18''??

Thats a nice shot of Tahoe Pat as well as the Camaro, that would be my limit size wise on the wheels.

Stu..........I do know that "true" pro touring does require upgraded suspension and brakes. What I'm talking about is the guy you see with 20" rims on a 96 Taurus. I can say that cause I was coming out of the local Wawa one morning and this kid pulls in next to me with that car. beat up, rusty, dented but wheels and tires worth more than the car. He got out and gave me a nod like........hey check out my ride. Those are the guys I'm talking about.

50_blown.jpgthanks that when i had the 548 iron head engine in the GTO now has the all alum 632 donovan in it with the Q A coil overs . time of photo had still 90/10 shocks on it so it took some time to sit down after i just nail it . my cars are not pro touring more like pro kicking your butt around town if you get me in the right mood hear some Hals 5 fives on the chebby

I believe they are 18s. Any smaller and they would not fit over the brakes. They actually had them custom made to fit the car. Sunset I agree with you on Big wheels on otherwise stock cars and also on the rubber band tires that barely cover the wheels.

Pat

I just can't get used to the 20+" tires on cars unless they are 1920s with spokes.