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- Joined
- Sep 12, 2022
- Thunderbird Year
- 1957
Any recommendations for 15x5 57 Bird wheel and spoke tire packages
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'57s came originally with 14" wheels. If you change size you will need to change the speedo cable gear in the trans. to compensate if you want an accurate reading.Any recommendations for 15x5 57 Bird wheel and spoke tire packages
Actually a change is needed only if the diameter is different.'57s came originally with 14" wheels. If you change size you will need to change the speedo cable gear in the trans. to compensate if you want an accurate reading.
He wants to go from 14'Actually a change is needed only if the diameter is different.
Nothing wrong with that look. A talking point as it was standard. Why 15's?Everyone has opinions ...and I respect all of them!...now having said that.. I am not a fan of spoke (wire) wheels, for a variety of reasons.
I have a '57 with 15 (not 14) inch wheels and "dog dish" hubcaps ...fortunately I am able to use 215 x 75 American Classic radial tires...with no problems with skirt clearances.
This works great for me ...thanks for reading this response...Ken
That is exactly why we switched to 15 inch wheels...KenI have read that if you add disc brakes to the 14" there is not enough room and you may have to grind the calipers or make other adjustments. That is the reason.
Well that explains the why. Carry on.That is exactly why we switched to 15 inch wheels...Ken
When you replaced your 14" wheels with 15's, what was the back spacing you used. I'm considering doing the very same thing. I believe my current 14's have a back spacing of 3.75". I want to add disc brakes myself and avoid any interference issues.Everyone has opinions ...and I respect all of them!...now having said that.. I am not a fan of spoke (wire) wheels, for a variety of reasons.
I have a '57 with 15 (not 14) inch wheels and "dog dish" hubcaps ...fortunately I am able to use 215 x 75 American Classic radial tires...with no problems with skirt clearances.
This works great for me ...thanks for reading this response...Ken
Hi Rich...I did not have to use any back spacing...a friend gave us 5 original steel rims from his '65 (he wanted to have wire wheels). The wheels he gave us had 215 75 tires mounted on them...so we were able to test drive and make sure we had clearance for the skirts ....we did... but I understand that this is sometimes a problem be careful!!!When you replaced your 14" wheels with 15's, what was the back spacing you used. I'm considering doing the very same thing. I believe my current 14's have a back spacing of 3.75". I want to add disc brakes myself and avoid any interference issues.
I apologize for my lack of clarity. I was referring to the tires and overall size, not just the wheels. I a 15 inch wheel and tire that has the same diameter and/or circuference at the previous tire and wheel combination, no gearing is affected.He wants to go from 14'
Nothing wrong with that look. A talking point as it was standard. Why 15's?
Hello Ken,Hi Rich...I did not have to use any back spacing...a friend gave us 5 original steel rims from his '65 (he wanted to have wire wheels). The wheels he gave us had 215 75 tires mounted on them...so we were able to test drive and make sure we had clearance for the skirts ....we did... but I understand that this is sometimes a problem be careful!!!
As an interesting side note..when I first bought the car it had 14 inch wire spoke wheels...they fit just fine over the disc brakes...I then bought new 14 inch steel wheels ...they did not fit...that was when we were given the 15 inch rims...by the way the 15 inch rims, with the wider tires, do not fit into the original space in the trunk...so I mounted our spare tire flat (like in a '955)...you could use a narrower spare that would fit...hope that all of this makes sense!!...Ken ?