Wheels and tires for 55 F100
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Longwood, fl
Wheels and tires for 55 F100
Have a 55 F100 with stock suspension, well mostly stock. Reverse eyes on the front with 4 leafs. 3 leafs in the rear with the front hangers relocated higher on the frame. Stock rear fenders/drums all around. Am looking for info on what tire/wheel size I can get into place with adequate clearance. Have been looking at Coddington Smoothie II, Torque II, Cragar classic five spoke etc. Would like to get at least 17" wheels all around. Need input on tire/wheel size, offset, etc. for my configuration. Have between 1500 and 2k budget to work with. Thanks for the help.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Riverside, So Cal
Joe -
I wish I had your budget!!!
Judging by the wheels and tires on my 56, I would say that the biggest rims you'll get on the back under stock fenders will be 17X10 wide. You'll need 4.0 backspace to center them and P275/40R17 tires (26" tall with 11" wide). But that will be pushing it. That should give you about 1/2" clearance between tire and bed wall and just barely under the lip. Measure, measure, measure. An easier fit would be 17X8 rims, 3.5 BS and P245/45R17 tires (25.5" tall 9.5 wide).
On the fronts, you'll want 17X8 rims with 3.0 backspace and P245/45R17's, if you use the 10" rims on the rear. Or, you can use 17X6 rims with 3.0 BS and P225/45R17 (25" tall and 8.7" wide).
Of course, I'm a devout darksider and love fat meats on my truck. You may have a different look in mind.
Decisions, decisions...
I wish I had your budget!!!
Judging by the wheels and tires on my 56, I would say that the biggest rims you'll get on the back under stock fenders will be 17X10 wide. You'll need 4.0 backspace to center them and P275/40R17 tires (26" tall with 11" wide). But that will be pushing it. That should give you about 1/2" clearance between tire and bed wall and just barely under the lip. Measure, measure, measure. An easier fit would be 17X8 rims, 3.5 BS and P245/45R17 tires (25.5" tall 9.5 wide).
On the fronts, you'll want 17X8 rims with 3.0 backspace and P245/45R17's, if you use the 10" rims on the rear. Or, you can use 17X6 rims with 3.0 BS and P225/45R17 (25" tall and 8.7" wide).
Of course, I'm a devout darksider and love fat meats on my truck. You may have a different look in mind.
Decisions, decisions...
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Senior User
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From: Longwood, fl
Been talking with Ed aka"IMLOWR2" regarding his sweet setup and thought I was good to go until I found he has plus size rear fenders. Just thought I would send a note out to see what other guys are running with a semi stock setup. Thanks RJ. As far as the budget would gladly settle for something cheaper and use the left overs for something else. There is always something else$$$$$plus size rear fenders?? Turkey Rod Run is coming soon...
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From: Longwood, fl
No, not since I changed the shocks.Has a great ride for what it is. Don't plan to change the setup any furthur as far as suspension. Power steering is the biggest plus, also added new monroe shocks all around. Ed and I are running the exact same setup except he has gone to discs on the front. Will say reverse eye front main and three leafs was too much for me had to add the fourth leaf back in. I did add the liners from Mid-Fifties between the leafs when I had them out and they made a big difference.
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Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Bend, Oregon
right now I'm running three leafs. Was looking to get a reverse eyes for front and back. What is your ride highth now with your current mods? do you have any current picks besides the ones in your gallery?
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Santa Clarita
Joe, you don't trust me? LOL....... I did a lot of homework on finding rims/ tire combos. I think if you go with a 17X10 in the rear with the 4.0 offset you'll be fine. I have the 1.5" added to my rear fenders, but the tires sit tucked in by at least a inch. The stock fender has 8" distance total. My fender has 9.5" not much difference. My tire (255/55/17) measures 7 3/4" edge to edge. I wouldn't go smaller than the size I have. Buddy, you want my advise? Put some tubs on that truck and run some really wide rims and tires. LOL....
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Senior User
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From: Longwood, fl
The pics from my 56 grill gallery are pretty current, just added turn signals assemblies since but the ride height is the same. Can just see the tops of both front and rear tires. I won't go any lower just because it gets too costly and I really want to keep the stock front end. Do like the look but do want to keep the old truck feel to some degree. Ed, yea your right man just gotta bite the bullet and do it. Plan to go talk with the guy today about the 18"s to see if they will work. He seems to think so and says if they don't we will go to something else. Gotta get her back together first, installed a Lokar 23" floor shifter last night and still have to hook up the linkage and button her up. Hopefully in the next week or two I will have some updated pics with some new tires/wheels.
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From: Bend, Oregon
Yeah, I want to keep the front stock as well, But I've been kicking around the idea of putting a 4 link in the rear. Mid fifty has the drop axel which "tech'lly," keeps a stock straight axel...Oh so many options 
I really want to keep it simple as this is my first project. I've got steelies 16" 5x5.5 to put on waiting to get some cash to media blast them and powder coat them its about 65$ a rim here. Here's another question, would you suggest powder coating the 54' grill. My color's for the truck are Harley gunmetal grey metallic with deep red rims/beauty rings/ford caps. I guess I could just break down and get a chrome grill...But
I really want to keep it simple as this is my first project. I've got steelies 16" 5x5.5 to put on waiting to get some cash to media blast them and powder coat them its about 65$ a rim here. Here's another question, would you suggest powder coating the 54' grill. My color's for the truck are Harley gunmetal grey metallic with deep red rims/beauty rings/ford caps. I guess I could just break down and get a chrome grill...But
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From: Santa Clarita
Joe, personally, I think if I were get new rims/tires again. I'd go with the 18's in the rear and 17 in the front. That's a good combination for the streetrod look. With the 18's, you'll have to choose a thinner tire, (like a 45 series tire) You can use the 18, but your concern is the overall height of the tire. In otherwords you want to keep the height to 26- 27" overall. Being that the 18" wheels is bigger, the tire is smaller. Most guys don't go with the 18's because they have the excuse that they can't rotate the wheels. Then again, my truck would look pretty ridiculous with 10" wide rims in the front and 7's in the rear. I'm still looking for the chrome grill also. They aren't cheap though. BTW- I can't tell you how many compliments I get on the truck still having the straight axle front end.
LOW 54- Stay away from the drop axles. I've heard nothing but bad things about them. Even suspension guys don't recommend installing them. Don't know why though?
LOW 54- Stay away from the drop axles. I've heard nothing but bad things about them. Even suspension guys don't recommend installing them. Don't know why though?
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Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Bend, Oregon
Really, Okay, thanks for the warning, wonder why that is. any ways with reverse eyes I can get low enough...Its balancing the stance that is important to me. Also, tires play into that as well. I'll have to figure that one out when I come to it. Right now I belive I have 235/75R15's on the front and 255/75R15's on the back
Last edited by low54; Sep 8, 2006 at 11:14 AM.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Riverside, So Cal
Low -
Are you sure of those tires numbers? I've never seen a 235/35R15 tire before. That tire would only be 21-1/2 inches tall. A P235/60R15 would be 26" tall, which is about where you want to be. A P255/35R15 would only be 22 inches tall. Maybe you want a P275/50R15, which is 28 inches tall and fits on an 8" wide rim.
Hint: the first number is the tread width in mm (P235 = 235mm). The second number is a percent number. "35" means the sidewall is 35% of the tread width high. Add 2X the sidewall height + the rim size and you'll get the tire standing height, i.e.: P235/60R15 = 2(.60 X 235) / 25.4 + 15 = 26.10 inches tall.
Are you sure of those tires numbers? I've never seen a 235/35R15 tire before. That tire would only be 21-1/2 inches tall. A P235/60R15 would be 26" tall, which is about where you want to be. A P255/35R15 would only be 22 inches tall. Maybe you want a P275/50R15, which is 28 inches tall and fits on an 8" wide rim.
Hint: the first number is the tread width in mm (P235 = 235mm). The second number is a percent number. "35" means the sidewall is 35% of the tread width high. Add 2X the sidewall height + the rim size and you'll get the tire standing height, i.e.: P235/60R15 = 2(.60 X 235) / 25.4 + 15 = 26.10 inches tall.
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