Thread: Wheel & Tire ideas???????

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Hello everyone.....I am in the process of lowering my 1957...using 2" lowering spindels & 2" lowering spring on the front...the rear I may take out a spring and lower 2" using blocks...I don't have a clue on what kind of tire and wheel set up I could use and keep within the wheel wells lowered like I plan to do...Does anyone have an idea of what will work or have a 57 lowered that could guide me in the correct direction>???Wheels and tires cost to mutch to hit and miss on the correct size. George

ummm, George, a '57 what?

oops....1957 Chevrolet Belair...forgot the most important part.

Sorry to highjack the thread, but I also need info...
I got a 57 bel also and I want to know if anyone has experience with putting an 18", 20" combo on their 57. I need to know what backspacing or offset I need for the 20X10 or 20X9 in the back. I tried to get tires from american racing, but they said they needed to know what offset i needed cause there might be some clearance problems.

I'm not sure about the wheel tire sizes either, maybe we can both get some direction....

IMO tall wheels and rubberband tires look ghetto and I think anything taller than 17" ruins the look of a classic car. What's more, it works against any lowering, meaning that you will have to lower more radically and possibly create more wheelwell height to get the same lowness. And then there's the steering clearance to consider!
If you REALLY like the tall stuff and it culturally suits you, it might be better to sell your 57 to someone with classic taste and go get yourself a Hummer

Originally posted by AzDon
IMO tall wheels and rubberband tires look ghetto and I think anything taller than 17" ruins the look of a classic car. What's more, it works against any lowering, meaning that you will have to lower more radically and possibly create more wheelwell height to get the same lowness. And then there's the steering clearance to consider!
If you REALLY like the tall stuff and it culturally suits you, it might be better to sell your 57 to someone with classic taste and go get yourself a Hummer

Why even post if that is all you have to say......this isn't the 80's and there is cooler stuff than 17's

We have a 57 belair in the shop right now...It is wearing 20x10 18x7's on air ride

I can tell you for sure that an 18x7 w/4.5 bs will work on the front infact you could probably get by with a 18x8 w/5 bs as far as the rear I am not sure ours has a currie 9in under it that we ordered after we had the wheels because we wanted teh deepest look possible!

And just for arguments sake both tires have a 40 series sidewall which is more than enough rubber for comfortable driving

here is a 55 that we put 20x8 and 18x7 , it had springs and blocks ,and it drove great !

The main limiting factor for the width of your rear wheels will be your rear springs and wheelhouses. you can get a kit to move the springs inboard. if this dosen't give you enough room you can mini tub to the frame, but you will have to modify you back seat. Carlg

Here is a site that walks you through measuring your car for wheel fitment...
http://www.rsracing.com/tech-wheel.html
Go to the Wheel Fitment link on the left.
Look the site over as it has all of the info you need to this yourself...
Mark

kennyb....how did you lower the car?????

I don't even like Hummers...

TravisB....... you couldn't have said it better.

kennyd....... thats a nice ride.......I had planned if possible to use 15 on front 16 on back. I understand it is all in the backspace and I can get that after the insatll of the 2" lower springs and 2" drop spindels. In the rear I plan to removce1 leaf and use 2" lowering blocks. As of now I'm grinding and smothing and priming the spindles, calipers, & caliper bracket. I have a 12 bolt 1968 camaro rear and think 8 " wide tires on the rear will fit under the rear wheel wells. As far as the front maybe 7" wide will work. I can adjust additional lowering with tire profile.

astroracer....thanks for the download I will use it in the decision making process.

It is always good to hear from people who have lowered the cars as to not reinvent the wheel again and learn from their experience, ( if they choose to share that)

My only thot is WHY?

Why what....?

all it had was lowered springs in front ,and drop blocks in rear ,that car was a unrestored 35k mile ,factory interior, only thing re-done was the green was repainted by us . i dont remember what the rear backspacing was , the front was a 18.7 with 4.5 back. the rear was 20.8 with a ??? backspacing