1969 Short Step Wheel selection

[Mike C]

I've searched and read and searched and read, and have not found exact combo I am pondering.

1969 Short Stepside with Early Classics 2 1/2" 5 lug disc swap and 2" drop springs. Flipping the new-to-me 71-72 rear axle on top of the leafs. Should be a 4 1/2" front 5" rear drop. I also have a set of shackles if I want to drop the back a little further. Not interested in a C-notch FWIW. Looking at Summit Legend 5 wheels.

Front: 17x8 5 on 5 with 4.5" backspacing. Tire I'm looking at is a 235 60 17.
Rear: 17x9 5on 5 with 5" backspacing. Tire is a 255 60 17.

Question is will these sizes/offsets work on my truck? And if not, where am I missing the boat?

Thanks in advance.
Mike

[69vetteside]

Mike those will work but will be under the guards quite alot.
i bought 2 /17x8 with 4.5 bs for the front of mine and even with 255x17 tires still had a good 3" between the guard and tire. you will need a spacer with those wheels.
unfortunatley with any 17" wheel from summit the bs is limited to 2 BS(4.5 and 5)and are mainly for modern cars who want the old look.
I have a 2" calcustom spacer on till i change my front suspension and convert to 4.75 wheelstud pattern then i will get the front weldwheels to match my back ones.

hope this helps you some
michael

[Mike C]

Thanks Michael. I don't mind having the wheels tucked way in, I would prefer that actually. With that 28" tire height, will I have frame/fenderwell rubbing issues?

[big mike71]

I have the same wheels,same size and back spacing. My tires are 275/50 on the back 255/50 on the front. when I lower mine I will need a spacer on the back.

[Mike C]

This is the all Mike thread!

I am still cautiously optimistic that I can get the 255's in the wheel wells without any spacers by using the 71-72 rear axle. Fingers crossed...

I have 275 60 15 on the back of my 69 Camaro and that IS the biggest tire that will fit without minitubbing. And you can't turn too hard...

[big mike71]

The more that I have read on here, I think I have the narrow axle. The wheels are pretty nice I've mine for three years and the chrome looks brand new.

[69vetteside]

mike, as big mike said if you lower it you going to need spacers.
mine is 4" low at front and i have no problems with the 27" tall tire on the street or the 28" i use at the track.
are you going with the chrome or painted centre?
cheers to all the mikes on this thread.

[68Stepbed]

I'm running a 17x8 4"bs with a 255/50/17 and a 17x9.5 5.5"bs and 7/16" spacer(5"bs is perfect) with a 275/55/17 tire. My truck has the wider 72 rearend. I'm also lowered 4.5/5.75.

[Mike C]

So... It looks like with the wider 71-72 rear axle and the narrower 255 tire I should be OK? I have 265 75 15 on the truck now on my original '72 Jimmy wheels and it clears but is CLOSE on the inner bedside.

I would prefer to run the wider wheel in the rear, but I guess I could do the 8's all the way 'round.

I have a set of 5 lug wheels off my brother's old 96 truck. I may just get it put together with some junk tires so I can do more work with a tape measure.

EDIT: Nice truck 'Stepbed. I may ponder doing the bigger 275 tire in the back. Without the spacer I should have 1/16" more clearance than you. Thanks for the info on your truck, great stance I hope to duplicate. What about the front, is 1/2" more backspacing going to get me in trouble with the 28" tire?

[big mike71]

Originally Posted by 68Stepbed

I'm running a 17x8 4"bs with a 255/50/17 and a 17x9.5 5.5"bs and 7/16" spacer(5"bs is perfect) with a 275/55/17 tire. My truck has the wider 72 rearend. I'm also lowered 4.5/5.75.

I like your truck, Too bad your names not Mike.

[69vetteside]

his name at least starts with M.

[68Stepbed]

Originally Posted by big mike71

I like your truck, Too bad your names not Mike.

Originally Posted by 69vetteside

his name at least starts with M.

Just remember, it's not what people call you, but what you answer to that matters.

I've answered to Mike a few times.

[68Stepbed]

Originally Posted by Mike C

So... It looks like with the wider 71-72 rear axle and the narrower 255 tire I should be OK? I have 265 75 15 on the truck now on my original '72 Jimmy wheels and it clears but is CLOSE on the inner bedside.

I would prefer to run the wider wheel in the rear, but I guess I could do the 8's all the way 'round.

I have a set of 5 lug wheels off my brother's old 96 truck. I may just get it put together with some junk tires so I can do more work with a tape measure.

EDIT: Nice truck 'Stepbed. I may ponder doing the bigger 275 tire in the back. Without the spacer I should have 1/16" more clearance than you. Thanks for the info on your truck, great stance I hope to duplicate. What about the front, is 1/2" more backspacing going to get me in trouble with the 28" tire?

It's all about backspacing. I don't think the 4.5"bs will hurt anything. I can fit my rear tires and wheels with 5.5"bs on the front of my truck without any major interference. Here's a couple pics of a member's truck with 17x8's with 4.5"bs with 255/50/17 front and 275/60/17 rear tires.




The 255 tire will fit fine on the rear. In fact a 275 tire will still fit with the wheels you have picked out. Are you dead set on the 60 series tires? If not, alot of guys run the Nitto NT450 tires in 255/50/17 and 275/50/17. I don't have any pics myself, but board member 72BLUZ has a stepsdie with 17" Hopsters with the Nitto tires. I'll see if I can find a pic of it later for you.

[Daaaanz67]

Here's mine 69c/10 the wheels actually were on my 97 that I use to own. 17/8 with 5.5 bs 255/50/17 4/6 drop trucks been upgrade to 71/72 disc and rear end. Just wanted to give you a visual of how much tuck from the different angles. The rear rubs at times when turning 5.0 or 4.5 would have been better for this truck. Sorry my name is not mike.
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[Mike C]

Thanks for the pics. I am not married to any tire size, but I like the 28" front and 29" rear that the 235/255 60 combo gives. I'll play around with tire sizes and make a determination at some point soon. Thaks for all the helps from the Mikes and anybody else!

[Daaaanz67]

My truck now 255/60/15 15/8
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[Mike C]

Looks great Dan, I really like the Rally's. What drop is on your truck?

[Daaaanz67]

4/6 trying to figure out beauty rings or not maybe I'll ask the forum
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[68Stepbed]

Well, if you want to stay with the 235/60 255/60 combo, sticks with 8" wheels all around. The 255's looked stretched on anything wider.

Dan, I would run beauty rings, since you have the side trim. IMO, it just doesn't look finished without them. If you had a plain jane package with no side trim, you could go either way with the beauty rings.

[Daaaanz67]

Thanks your the second person that's said that.
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