1955 wheel and tire help

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Nov 6, 2019 | 09:47 PM

HkyswiM

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Tuned

Joined: Sep 2011

Posts: 309

Likes: 9

From: Northern IL

1955 wheel and tire help

Hey guys,

I am looking at some wheel and tire combinations for my 1955 f100. I am running stock springs and axles. I found these and like the style so I checked the mid fifty website for wheel clearance but am confused. I am looking at the 15x8 size with 5x5.5 bolt pattern, which comes at -6 offset. The website says 5.25in backspace but when I entered the info into the mid fifty site it says -6 offset is around 4in backspace.

can anybody help me with whether these will fit without truck modifications or tire rub for front and back?

second question is what tire size for these wheels? I want a regular appearance look, nothing to slim.

heres the link for reference....
https://www.performanceplustire.com/...lver-with-cap/

thanks

Nov 7, 2019 | 12:32 AM

Taymo

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Joined: Aug 2019

Posts: 204

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From: Gilbert, AZ

Not sure if it helps, but the previous wheels on my 55 F100 were 15x8. I measured one in the garage just now & get 5 1/4" backspace. I had 31 x 10.5 tires on them & never had an issue rubbing fenders, front or back. That was w stock suspension. These are what's on my profile pic from before I took everything apart for reference. I think I have the same pic in my photo album, but can repost here if you want.

Nov 7, 2019 | 12:38 AM

Taymo

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Joined: Aug 2019

Posts: 204

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From: Gilbert, AZ

Actually, I went back & looked & realized the pic I have has the 31x10.5 on the back only. (The fronts were flat & I threw some smaller ones on just to get it home. So ignore the fronts in the pic for reference.) Wish I had a better pic w the fender to gauge how it looks.

Nov 7, 2019 | 07:56 AM

HkyswiM

Thread Starter

Tuned

Joined: Sep 2011

Posts: 309

Likes: 9

From: Northern IL

Thank you for the reply. Did you find the the wheels were harder to turn because of the width of them without power steering? I’m wondering if the extra couple inches of width over the stock wheels size would be that much harder to turn.

Nov 7, 2019 | 12:10 PM

Taymo

Senior User

Joined: Aug 2019

Posts: 204

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From: Gilbert, AZ

Yes, they were harder to turn. I was a kid at the time & didn't care, though - I thought it was tough - ha. I started rebuilding the whole truck in March & am lowering about 3 inches, keeping the springs/straight axle, & going back to the original 4.5 x 16 wheel size, in part to ease the steering up. The 31 x 10.5s are quite a bit wider than stock, though - so maybe there's a sweet spot in between.

One thing I've wondered, too - & I cannot say for sure if this is just coincidence or truly related - but I just took my stock steering box apart for a rebuild & it was all full of metal, so I'm wondering if the oversize tires puts any extra strain on the steering components in there? I honestly don't know, but might be worth getting others' opinions. Mine may have been a fluke/unrelated.