55.2-59 Wheels on a dropped axle

[jeffs56]

Hey guys I’m getting close on my 56 Chevy truck. I’m currently running 15 inch chrome smoothies with bias whitewalls. I need new tires. So I thought I would get bigger wheels since I’m buying new tires. I have a 3 inch dropped axle in the front with lowered springs and the speedway disc brake conversion kit. Can I run a 20” wheel in the front? Or maybe a 17 or 18 inch. Thank you very much

[_Ogre]

i consider the sidewall of your tire to be half the suspension on any old truck
that is why 58truk runs P235/70R15, it has 6.5" sidewall
18-20" tires dictate a low profile sidewall, in michigan that means bent rims
our potholes need bridges

[jeffs56]

I agree. In California the whole wheel would be a taco with our potholes. Should I go to a size 16 or should I be ok with keeping my brand new chrome smoothies

[jeffs56]

It’s hard to tell from that pic but the shock mount looks too be lower then the wheel

[jeffs56]

Couple other pics

[my56chevytruck]

Originally Posted by jeffs56

Couple other pics

Dam Jeff, that side shot looks great leave it and drive it. What have you done to the rear to get that stance? The taller the wheel, the less sidewall meaning WHAK when you find your 1st pothole. Great stance.

[mr48chev]

That trailer axle is hanging down below the scrub line. Other than meeting scrub line regs buying larger wheels is strictly up to your personal taste.

I just remember watching young guy carrying a brand new 20 inch wheel and tire that the rim was bent on and the tire was cut on that still had the tits on the tread into the tire store from his truck that had three 20's and the spare on it. It didn't look like he had had the wheels on the truck more than a couple of days and his mom was with him with a real sick look on her face so she may have been driving the truck when it hit something.

My BMW has 17's on it and it handles fantastic but rides rougher than a cob. My Cad DTS had 17's and you could feel every tar strip. Those low profile tires come with a price and that is they make the ride a lot rougher and you stand a lot bigger chance of o f destroying a wheel and tire each inch you go up.

When I was in Wichita on the 4th of July in 2014 heading back to Park city after getting a flat fixed at the Goodyear store I watched a kid pull out of a tire store in a Caprice in the middle of town with a brand new set of donk wheels and tires, He was one light ahead of me and 4 blocks down the street he was on the side of the street out of the car looking at his bent rim. He had hit a pothole while crossing the tracks and bent the rim and ruined the tire and the tire still had the paper sticker on it.

[_Ogre]

you current rubber looks good, just run it
you can always switch wheels/tires later

[mick53]

I have to run a 17" wheel to get around my 12.88" disk but I plan on running a tall tire to maintain as much sidewall as I can. I also have the luxury of 128 different rear end ratios.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Jeff, As I told you separately I would prefer 15" rims on these old trucks with 70 series tires, 60 at he lowest. BUT if your lower shock mount is below the rim as it sees in the above picture you need to modify something.

I'd suggest no bigger than a 17" rim on these trucks so you can get as much sidewall height as you can. There is little selection of sizes in 16" anymore anyway. I'd be running my old 15" knock off Torq Thrusts on mine if the Corvette discs/calipers allowed it but they are too big. Yet to be determined if a hall spacer would take it possible. Best, Dan