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View Full Version : Wheel/Tire combo for a '64 Malibu



btop
10-19-2004, 06:27 PM
I'm new at this, so please bear with me...

What's the widest 17" wheel/tire combo I can get on the front of my 64 Malibu and not have it rub. I plan to use Hotchkis 1" drop springs and I'm replacing the stock drums probably with an SSBC kit (no drop spindles).

I saw the pix of Scott Gillman's '64 and it looks like he has 275/40's on the front. Am I correct?

TurboLark
10-20-2004, 07:39 AM
I'm new at this, so please bear with me...

What's the widest 17" wheel/tire combo I can get on the front of my 64 Malibu and not have it rub. I plan to use Hotchkis 1" drop springs and I'm replacing the stock drums probably with an SSBC kit (no drop spindles).

I saw the pix of Scott Gillman's '64 and it looks like he has 275/40's on the front. Am I correct?
From the cars i have seen, 245 in the front and 275 in the rear is about max. Even those are tight.
I'm planning on 225's for the front of my Skylark because i want to be a bit lower.

btop
10-20-2004, 09:21 AM
Actually, I was planning on 225/40-17 on 8" front and 275/40-17 on 9.5" rear. I know the rear is pretty tight and I don't want the front to rub, especially w/1" drop springs. Have you calculated backspacing yet?

TurboLark
10-20-2004, 09:32 AM
Actually, I was planning on 225/40-17 on 8" front and 275/40-17 on 9.5" rear. I know the rear is pretty tight and I don't want the front to rub, especially w/1" drop springs. Have you calculated backspacing yet?
Nope, havnt gotten that far yet. waiting for the rain to stop so i can get car back from bodyshop. I'm planning to take the car to the Budnik factory to have them measure it up so i make sure to get the right size. I was thinking of using a 7" wheel with the 225's. But after calculating, maybe the 8" would look better.

btop
10-20-2004, 10:10 AM
I was just checking tire sizes for the tires I'm planning on, Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3, and my choices are a 215/40, 215/45 & 225/45. All 3 call for a 7" or 7.5" wheel.

Upon further review, I'd probably go with the 225/45 on 7". I've seen too many wheels beat up by curbs because it was a little to wide for the tire. I'd rather have the sidewall of my tire rub the curb than the lip of the wheel.

TurboLark
10-21-2004, 10:40 AM
I was just checking tire sizes for the tires I'm planning on, Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3, and my choices are a 215/40, 215/45 & 225/45. All 3 call for a 7" or 7.5" wheel.

Upon further review, I'd probably go with the 225/45 on 7". I've seen too many wheels beat up by curbs because it was a little to wide for the tire. I'd rather have the sidewall of my tire rub the curb than the lip of the wheel.
That sounds like a good combo for the front. I was looking at pictures and sizes last night, and came up with the same size to run.

deak350
11-20-2004, 02:38 PM
I have 17x8 w/4.5" bs 235/45/17 and 18x8 w/4.5"bs 245/40/18 on a 65 chevelle. The car is lowered. The fronts will hit the fender if I am making a tight turn while going over a bump. The top of the tire rubs the lip of the fender. Its not bad but you need to pay attention going into driveways.

TurboLark
11-20-2004, 03:46 PM
I have 17x8 w/4.5" bs 235/45/17 and 18x8 w/4.5"bs 245/40/18 on a 65 chevelle. The car is lowered. The fronts will hit the fender if I am making a tight turn while going over a bump. The top of the tire rubs the lip of the fender. Its not bad but you need to pay attention going into driveways.
Any pictures available?

socalfandabodys
11-20-2004, 04:42 PM
Hey turbolark. Just wondering if you have any pictures of your car from magnolia street auto body. I would really like to see how that color combo came out because it was in the booth when I went there.

TurboLark
11-20-2004, 09:32 PM
Hey turbolark. Just wondering if you have any pictures of your car from magnolia street auto body. I would really like to see how that color combo came out because it was in the booth when I went there.
That was Larry's car(RadLark), not mine. I love that blue you had put on yours.
Here is mine at the moment -
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2004/11/LowRear2JPG-1.jpg
Need to get wheels/tires for it so I can adjust the stance a bit. Need to lower the front a tad or raise the back a tad.

socalfandabodys
11-21-2004, 12:10 AM
Sorry I always bet both cars confused. Same body style. I need to do the opposite of yours. Lower the back and lower the front. I love that body style lark

Torbjorn
11-26-2004, 01:14 PM
275/40 in the rear is to much for the 64 malibu, but vill fit a Skylark. Unless you modify the fender lips 245 or maybe 255 is the widest.
you need 8,5 inch with about 18-20mm offset (typical BMW 5 or 7 series). I`ve got 18x10 with 20mm offset on mine but there is no lip on the fender at all and the inner fender os welded on to the outer.
Got 265/35 on them, but could maybe changed to 275/35