Ridler 652

[gtome]

So I really like the look of these Ridler 652 and the US Wheels Bandit, but they are only 9.5" wide and 9" wide respectively. Anyone seen something super similar I could get it a wider size with an 18"? I think they would look great on my 70 Judge. My biggest draw with these is the cost. I think both are less than $300 each. I even thought about having the wheels widened. I think it's around $350 each to have them done. Still be in them for less than $700 each for the back ones. Fronts should be fine. What have you seen like these for the same sort of money?

https://www.ridlerwheel.com/652-gloss-black-diamond-face

[Jk918]

What size tire do you plan to run or what actually fits 70 judge.

[gtome]

That's a good question that I am not 100% certain on. I'm planning to run at least a 295 or maybe a 305, probably in a 40 series. I've heard of people running a 295 on a 9.5" wheel, but it doesn't appear to be recommended. If I can stuff a 305 in there I would like to.
I really like the look of this, but with that deep dish I'm sure that's a $1200 custom size wheel.
Edit: my mistake a custom 18x11 is $1528, not $1200.
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[mikewoods]

I have 285/40/18s on a 18x9.5 with 5.5" bs the back of my 69 Tempest. I don't think a 305 would fit unless you shorten the axle and went to a custom offset wheel.

[gtome]

I am having a custom 9" made for it, which is why I want to pick the wheels first.

[dhutton]

Will a 305 fit without minitubs? I would have thought that would require minitubs and that usually means narrowing the frame.

[gtome]

With my rough measurements it looks like it would without mini tubs.

[gtome]

Dang. Only tire I see in a 305/40r18 is a Nitto 555. That's crazy!

[Jk918]

I've seen 305 on 18x10 on the back of a few chevelle's, but those had mini tub and custom rear. I'd buy the Ridlers and have them widen for the price you noted above as I don't think anything similar will be even close to that price.

[gtome]

Agreed. I guess I need to decide how bad I want 305's. I could probably get away with 295's on a 9.5" wheel.

[dhutton]

That’s a lot of effort for an extra .4” of tire width.

[dhutton]

Then again…

[gtome]

Yes it is.

[gtome]

I want to run a 255/40r18 in the front. Would I want an 8" with 4.5" BS or 9.5" with 5.25" BS wheel for that? That's the only 2 options I have in my wheel choice.

[Jk918]

Although lots do it 255 on 8" its not ideal why not go with a 245 in the front. Will the 9.5 fit without frame interface

[gtome]

I have no idea what will fit.

[gtome]

I know guys run a 9.5 in the front, but they seem to all have more back space than 5.25".

[dhutton]

Post number 7:
https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/130647-1970-GTO-wheel-tire-fitment

Real world experience from Andrew.

[gtome]

Ok that's awesome! Seems like either might work. If he had 6.5" backspace on a 9.5" wheel with a 1/2" spacer (putting it at an effective 5.5"), these at 5.25" are only 1/4" difference. Although surely he's not running stock type suspension or brakes, so there will be a bit of variance.

[dhutton]

A half inch spacer on 6.5 inch backspacing makes it 6 inch backspacing not 5.5. 5.25 is not going to cut it imo.

[gtome]

Math is hard!

[dhutton]

6.5 - .5 = 6 :)

[gtome]

I'm going to take some measurements tomorrow. I have the body off the frame so can't check the fender clearance, but I can see what it looks like to the frame and suspension.
Maybe i could run those 9.5's with the 5.25" BS and use a 265/35 tire. That would be almost half an inch narrower than a 275/35.
Also my factory front inner fenders are pretty rough, so I wouldn't mind doing some modifications to them to help gain some clearance.

[dhutton]

I'm going to take some measurements tomorrow. I have the body off the frame so can't check the fender clearance, but I can see what it looks like to the frame and suspension.
Maybe i could run those 9.5's with the 5.25" BS and use a 265/35 tire. That would be almost half an inch narrower than a 275/35.
Also my factory front inner fenders are pretty rough, so I wouldn't mind doing some modifications to them to help gain some clearance.
Fender clearance will be your issue with those wheels and backspacing. You will likely be contacting the wheel lip unless you run a lot of negative camber or your ride height is sky high.

[gtome]

Bummer. Oh well, I guess an 8" it is. Not a huge deal really. I was just hoping to have a wider wheel so I had the option of running a 275 out front if I wanted.

[gtome]

Put a 275/35/18 on the frame today. Just to get an idea what I was looking at. This one is a 9.5" with 6" BS.
Turns out I don't love the wheel with that much back space. From most angles you can't even tell the tire is wide. This is the car I pulled the wheel from.
215096215097

[gtome]

Well 305's for the rear aren't looking possible either. Like I said I have the body off the frame for another week or so, so I can't get a super accurate measurement. I bent a 12" wide aluminum rod today to simulate a tire. I was hoping to run the wheel just to the bottom of the high part of the rear wheel openings. In that scenario, it looks like i would only have 2-3" of travel before it would hit. I can massage the outer wheelhouse some, but I don't know if I would get enough to make it worth it.

[gtome]

The 305/35r20 is super tight in there. I may try to roll the lip and see what that gains me.
The first one is about where I want it for rife height, and the second is about where it hits the lip. Not more than 2" of travel there.
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