Wheel/tire combo regrets?

[bill440rt]

No matter what another wheel will catch your eye after you purchase a set. Best advise is to take your time and make sure the wheel you buy is really the one you want.

This is especially true.
I have no regrets, but if I had to do it again I would have gone either a little wider in the back or another 1/4"-1/2" outward offset.

MYK, the 2 pics Clayton posted illustrate the difference of a soft lip wheel. The top wheel has a stamped lip, whereas the bottom wheel has a rounder, "soft" lip. 

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

When I was searching for my "second set" I fell in love with these Cragar Eliminator 500's.   I was torn between the 15x8 & the 17x8...In hindsight I prolly should have went with the 17"

[funknut]

Great pic and beautiful car!

A note to all:  If you haven't already, post up a pic and your wheel/tire combo information in this sticky thread:

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,63191.0.html

I used it extensively when doing my research.

Thanks,

Clay

[crj1968]

When I was searching for my "second set" I fell in love with these Cragar Eliminator 500's.   I was torn between the 15x8 & the 17x8...In hindsight I prolly should have went with the 17"

Those look great... like the old Hurst wheels.

[crj1968]

[timmycharger]

Old school Vectors. No regerts! 

I'm really liking the looks of the old school Vectors!

[funknut]

Following up on this.  I made my purchase and I'm pretty stoked!  I went with the Torq Thrust.  295/45R18 in the back on 18x10 w/ 5.75" backspace and 255/45R18 on the front on 18x8 with 4.5" backspace.  Here's a pic of the old and new rears side by side.  It will be a couple weeks before I get them installed and out of the garage to get a good pic as I'm waiting for some suspension parts.  

I installed them to check fitment and the rear is pretty close to the leaf.  I measured about a hair over 1/2" between the tire and spring.  Easy enough to add a spacer if necessary, though.  The fronts may try to rub on the forward fender lip, but hopefully once I get the proper camber/caster dialed in there will be sufficient room.

The one thing that surprised me is the gray color is not as dark as I was expecting.  In the shadow it looks darker but in direct light the spokes are much lighter than they look in pictures.

[crj1968]

Looking forward to seeing how they fit.

I've seen guys use a longer bracket to push the lower front fender out a little if needed.  Not noticeable but might give you that extra 1/2" of space

[cdr]

Following up on this.  I made my purchase and I'm pretty stoked!  I went with the Torq Thrust.  295/45R18 in the back on 18x10 w/ 5.75" backspace and 255/45R18 on the front on 18x8 with 4.5" backspace.  Here's a pic of the old and new rears side by side.  It will be a couple weeks before I get them installed and out of the garage to get a good pic as I'm waiting for some suspension parts.  

I installed them to check fitment and the rear is pretty close to the leaf.  I measured about a hair over 1/2" between the tire and spring.  Easy enough to add a spacer if necessary, though.  The fronts may try to rub on the forward fender lip, but hopefully once I get the proper camber/caster dialed in there will be sufficient room.

The one thing that surprised me is the gray color is not as dark as I was expecting.  In the shadow it looks darker but in direct light the spokes are much lighter than they look in pictures.

10'' wheel with 5.75 bs will rub the inside

[funknut]

10'' wheel with 5.75 bs will rub the inside

You're probably right, it is close for sure, and could definitely rub if the tires flex once it gets rolling.  I will say, though, with the Nittos there's a lot less sidewall bulge than the BFGs, so the square profile helps but may not keep things from interfering.  I'll throw the rears on a take a pic.  I'll be installing disc brakes as well, so that could also affect the total offset.  Just need to see once I get everything installed.

Thanks for following along. 

[funknut]

Looking forward to seeing how they fit.

I've seen guys use a longer bracket to push the lower front fender out a little if needed.  Not noticeable but might give you that extra 1/2" of space

Good info, I'll definitely look into this.   

[cdr]

Looking forward to seeing how they fit.

I've seen guys use a longer bracket to push the lower front fender out a little if needed.  Not noticeable but might give you that extra 1/2" of space

Good info, I'll definitely look into this.  

68 charger has no lower fender bracket. & yes the disc brake rotors are thicker than the drums

[crj1968]

Looking forward to seeing how they fit.

I've seen guys use a longer bracket to push the lower front fender out a little if needed.  Not noticeable but might give you that extra 1/2" of space

Good info, I'll definitely look into this.  

68 charger has no lower fender bracket. & yes the disc brake rotors are thicker than the drums

  Well there you have it. I must be thinking of my old Duster....back to our regularly scheduled program.

[funknut]

A buddy of mine had 3/8" spacers so I threw one on to see.  Gives me a hair over 1" from the leaf:

[cdr]

bend the inner lower wheel well lip in a little, when you turn into a drive way & get the car in a bind it will, could maybe, cut the tire.

[68charger440]

A buddy of mine had 3/8" spacers so I threw one on to see.  Gives me a hair over 1" from the leaf:

More pics would be great...  I have been trying to find good pics of 2nd gen chargers with 18s.
Do you have a pic of the spacer too?

[Kern Dog]

That tire is on backwards.

[cdr]

That tire is on backwards.

or just on the wrong side,   

[funknut]

That tire is on backwards.

or just on the wrong side,   

Very likely. It was just a test fit so I wasn't paying too much attention and grabbed the first available.

[Mopar Nut]

That tire is on backwards.

or just on the wrong side,   

Very likely. It was just a test fit so I wasn't paying too much attention and grabbed the first available.

Do you have a side picture of the test fit?

[funknut]

More pics would be great...  I have been trying to find good pics of 2nd gen chargers with 18s.
Do you have a pic of the spacer too?

The spacer is a 3/8" from Billet Specialties:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/bsp-wsg5l375

The garage is pretty tight now so I can't get a full side shot, but I did what I could given the space available.  The car's not rolling right now or I'd get some better pics. When I bought the car, the driver's LCA was bent, moving the front wheel rearward almost 1/2", so that's currently off the car.  I have a replacement, I'm just waiting for the pivot shaft bushings to arrive.  I should be able to get it out on the driveway this weekend and grab a few more pics.

Rear side:



Side profile from rear:



Rear side profile from front:



Front side shot.  Ride height is not final, it's sitting a little low right now.



Front wheel to forward fender.  Looks tight, but will need to see once disc conversion is done and proper caster is set.  Wheels are 4.5" BS which is generally regarded as OK, even on an 8" rim.



Front wheel to rearward fender.



Front.

[funknut]

That tire is on backwards.

or just on the wrong side,   

Very likely. It was just a test fit so I wasn't paying too much attention and grabbed the first available.

Checked this morning and it has the right side tire markings with the arrows pointing the right way.

[crj1968]

Looks perty dang awesome to me !   

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

That tire is on backwards.

or just on the wrong side,  

Very likely. It was just a test fit so I wasn't paying too much attention and grabbed the first available.

Checked this morning and it has the right side tire markings with the arrows pointing the right way.

I think Kern Dog was referring to the green stripe....that is there to signify the outer face of the tire....

Looks great though

[funknut]

I think Kern Dog was referring to the green stripe....that is there to signify the outer face of the tire....

Looks great though

Ah, interesting!  Thanks for the clarification, I did not know that.

Appreciate the kind words.  I hope to have it all buttoned up, aligned and back on the road in 2 weekends (I won't be doing the alignment!).  Probably a tad unrealistic since I've never done anything like a brake conversion and suspension upgrade, but I guess I'll find out.