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Thread: Rear wheel clearance

  1. #1
    Registered Member El 56's Avatar
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    Rear wheel clearance

    Hello Gentlemen,
    I’ve been planing on ordering my rear tires for my 56 2 door sedan. Like many, I am try to squeeze the fattest tire under the rear of my car. I have played around with the tire calculator but, knowing that “ALL” cars are different, I made a cheap wheel fitment tool. After measuring twice and again, trying to squeeze the fattest tire under the car, what do you recommend is the minimum safest distance between the tire and rear fender and also between the tire and leaf spring? Thank you all in advance, El 56.

  2. #2
    Registered Member chevynut's Avatar
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    I doubt you'll get much bigger than a 275 tire under the car with stock spring location. The cars vary some, but the variances only matter if you're down to 1/8" differences. I personally think you could get by with 1/4" between the tire and spring if that's the very minimum it will ever see. Why would you need any more clearance? The tire can't move relative to the spring. As far as the clearance to the quarter panel, something like 1/2-3/4" should work fine. Also, everything assumes you have the right wheel offset, the axle is centered, and the body is centered on the frame.

    The stock wheelwell lips are usually 71 1/2" to 72" wide inside. The springs are 48" wide outside. That's leaves 11 3/4" to 12" per wheelwell for tire and clearances. A 275 is about 10.8" - 11" wide.
    56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension


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  3. #3
    Registered Member El 56's Avatar
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    Thank you for the prompt reply ChevyNut. I was asking as I want to get the right offset or backspacing for my rims. As it stands now, I have 3/4” at the drivers side with 7/8” at the leaf spring. On the passenger side I have 1-1/16 on the fender with 5/8” on the leaf spring. This using a 4.25” backspacing on a 8” rim with a 10” tire (255/60/15). I agree with a 275 not working on a stock set up. This is why I want to go with a 255 wide tire.

    https://youtu.be/6F7RK0pXkFk

    Here is my homemade tool I used. Please let me know if u think I will be ok. Mind you that the 11” flat stock was replaced with a 10” flat stock and remeasurd everything. Thanks.

  4. #4
    Registered Member chevynut's Avatar
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    A 275 tire WILL fit a stock setup....that's the calculations I showed. Lots of guys have 275s on their stock tri5 cars.

    Looks like your body is shifted to the passenger side a little, ~1/8". Not sure why your axle appears to be off-center a little, but it may just be the variation in the leafs.

    You should be able to get a 255 to fit with no problems.
    56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension


    Other vehicles:

    56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
    56 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    1962 327/340HP Corvette
    1961 Willys CJ3B Jeep
    2001 Porsche Boxster S
    2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
    2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax

  5. #5
    Registered Member 56Mark's Avatar
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    I have 245's on 8" rims with zero offset and the clearance between the tire and quarter panel lip is about 1/2". With offset rims I am sure I could have went a little wider. Stock rear axle.
    56-210, 283, 200-4R, Power steering, Power Brakes

  6. #6
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    275s will definitely fit with stock springs and stock axle, if the axle and body are symmetrical. I have seen it done in the real world on more than one car. But the clearances are tight and you have to get the wheel offset just right.

    The 1/4" difference on your spring to tire clearance from side to side might kill the 275 deal but a 255 should be no problem.

    I think a good goal on clearance is 3/4" tire to quarter panel and 1/2" tire to spring (or tub if your spring is out of the way). You can probably fudge both of those a little bit.

  7. #7
    Registered Member El 56's Avatar
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    Thank you all for your responses. I will post my findings in a week or so.

  8. #8
    Registered Member JT56's Avatar
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    Rear Wheel Clearance

    56 Chevy with New Rims.jpgRear 56 with 275's.jpg2014 Spring Classic.jpg

    Found some old pics of mine with leafs and 275x60x15 mounted on a 8" with 4.25"bs. Fender lips still intact. Now the same setup will not work with a MT drag radial unless you eliminate the fender lip. Tight but wont rub unless your articulate the suspension a bunch.

  9. #9
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    Back in the mid 70s I had H60-15s on my 56 they were tight, but cleared.

  10. #10
    Registered Member chevynut's Avatar
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    An H60-15 is equivalent to a P255/60-15. A P275 is 20mm or about 13/16" wider.

    https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret...rsionchart.jsp
    56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension


    Other vehicles:

    56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
    56 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    1962 327/340HP Corvette
    1961 Willys CJ3B Jeep
    2001 Porsche Boxster S
    2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
    2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax

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