55-59 Chevy Trucks--SHOW ME YOUR WHEELS!

[ysmitty]

Hi everyone. I am looking for some help selecting the look and the right size tire and wheel for the truck. So here is what I got.


It’s a second series 55 with a 75 Camaro clip in it with the stock Camaro front suspension and the Camaro rear axle with the original leaf springs. I have C-notched the frame and flipped the rear axle to get the truck low and level. I am pretty happy with the way that it sits. The bed is stock and I don’t want to tub it. I have a set of wheels that I hate that came with the truck. They are 15x8 with some offset and now that the truck is lowered they are just barely rubbing on the rear fenders. I want to get another set of tires and wheels and the choices in sizes and types are overwhelming. I am looking for the widest possible tire and wheel that will fit. I am hoping your experience will save me lots of time and aggravation.
Also anyone that is willing to post some pictures of your truck with the wheel sizes would be of great help. I would be curious to see what other people have chosen and the way that it looks, from old school steel to some of the new alloys…show me what you got!

The first two pictures are crummy shots from my cell phone. The third is Cal’s 58 GMC, an absolutely beautiful truck that I use for inspiration and I love the look of his wheels. (He is running air suspension and has the bed tubbed)

[OrrieG]

Stock steel, will probably run some dog dish caps this build. I like the 60's logger look on my truck.

[CAL 58 GMC]

Originally Posted by ysmitty

The third is Cal’s 58 GMC, an absolutely beautiful truck that I use for inspiration and I love the look of his wheels. (He is running air suspension and has the bed tubbed)

Thanks ysmitty!

[ysmitty]

Originally Posted by CAL 58 GMC

Thanks ysmitty!

Hey CAL,

Let me thank you personally for creating your build page. I got this truck delivered to me as just a big pile of parts with no clue of how they all fit together. Friends and family all thought I was nuts. The detail of your page helped me figure out how to assemble it and correct some of the huge mistakes made by the previous 4 people that tried to "hot rod" this truck. More important it gave me hope when I was sitting there staring at it and getting overwhelmed by all of the work that still needed to be done. I am sure that your page got a lot of people back in their garage and working on their project again.

[mixermike]

17x8.5

[ysmitty]

Wow.....that looks nice. May I ask what size tire you are running, if you are able to run a 8.5 front and rear, and is your suspension and rear axle similar to mine.

[mixermike]

sorry i lied to you!!!!!
i looked at my paperwork and they are 17x8...tires are 235/55-17...i have a mustang II front and leaf spring rear.mine do rub on the front sometimes when you turn and the suspension is compressed on that wheel. not bad enough to worry about .

[pro1955]

I'm not sharp enough to post pics. but I run 17x7 and 18x8 Coys both with 4" of back spacing they fit well. I have the same set up as you suspension wise. My bed is mini tubed I will be going to 20x10 on rear and moving the 8's to the front.

[ysmitty]

Thanks pro1955,

I just looked at the picture you have on the left of the page. That light gray wheel looks real nice too. Nicer than I would have imagined. These pictures are really a big help, thanks

[ysmitty]

thanx mixermike

[ysmitty]

Thanks everyone who posted the pictures. I have found a wheel that I like. It's the polished Coys C5.


Now I am trying to decide between a 18" or a 20" wheel. I would like all four to be the same size. I don't really like the staggered look. I am afraid that the 20" wheel on all four corners might look too ghetto on a classic truck. So I am wondering if anyone out there might have done it or have any pictures of one with 20s all around.

Thanks

[pro1955]

They are running a special on Facebook for 18x9.5 and 20x10 C-5's, free shipping on just those size wheels. I have only seen one 1955 pickup with 20's all around, I thought it looked killer. It had 235/35-20 on front 275/35-20 tires on rear, with 20x7" and 20x8.5" wheels with full air ride. Both wheels had 4" of back spacing, I liked how it filled up the front wheel well area with wheel.

[ysmitty]

Originally Posted by pro1955

They are running a special on Facebook for 18x9.5 and 20x10 C-5's, free shipping on just those size wheels. I have only seen one 1955 pickup with 20's all around, I thought it looked killer. It had 235/35-20 on front 275/35-20 tires on rear, with 20x7" and 20x8.5" wheels with full air ride. Both wheels had 4" of back spacing, I liked how it filled up the front wheel well area with wheel.

Thanks for the lead and the rim and wheel dimensions. I'll look into it.

[chevyrestoguy]

[IMG]Craigslist 012.jpg (34.6 KB[/IMG]


15X10 w/ 3.75 backspace American Torq-Thrust (Magnesium) 29X15.50-15 Mickey Thompsons

[sqrlnts]

Waking up a dead thread. Anybody have any pics of a staggered setup on our trucks? Would really like to see a 18 front, 20 rear. and a 20 front, 22 rear.
Thanks.

[OKGMC4]

I think CAL58 has the 18 and 20 combo. I am running stock 98 Vette wheels and tires. 17x8, 245/45 17 and 18x9.5, 275/40 18. You can get stock vette take offs pretty cheap and the C6 cars have the big wheels like 19 and 20's. You'd have to tub it a little to get the width to fit, though.

[dubie]

Corvette Ralley wheels 15 x 7 up front and 15 x 8 in the rear and is a 5 x 4-3/4" bolt pattern just like the Camaro

[waybad]

before



after

[Dan in Pasadena]

waybad,
I assume yours is entirely stock, suspension wise?

Mine:
Totally stock height (obviously). 15x7 Torq Thrust wannabe's from back in the day. Cheap; but new! 235/75 tires from takeoffs of a newer F150.

Closeup:


Old photos from before I rattle canned it:

[parkwood]

my two

[Kabwe]

Parkwood,

I'm really digging that primer gray 57. That thing looks good. The stance on that truck is wicked.

[andsonsvd]

Parkwood,

What wheels are on the primer truck?

I love them !!

Shane

[dubie]

the wheels on the primer truck are chrome smoothies.

[parkwood]

Dubie got it right, with baby moon caps...

Thanks Bam, yes it sits right with the help of bags in front and TCI spring kit in rear...

[Dan in Pasadena]

How much do you figure/does the TCI rear kit claim it lowers it from stock? I'm guessing 6"?
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