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View Full Version : Wheel Size Preference - 15x6 or 15x7 ?



Dualfours
10-06-2020, 05:33 PM
I currently have 15 x 7 GM rally wheels on my 57 2 Dr on all four corners. Like them and will keep them but am considering a change of scenery for awhile. I have two full sets of factory GM steel wheels in 6'' and 7'' width to fit disc brakes as I converted to disc brakes on the front many years ago. Also have a set of the early Camaro / Nova dog dish hubcaps I plan to run on said wheels. Have 215/70/15s now and plan to move up to 225/70/15s at a future date. Any preference or reason to select one size rim over the other? Hope these pics show when I post them.

BamaNomad
10-06-2020, 05:44 PM
Id' run the 6" wide wheels on the front, and 7" on the back...

Rick_L
10-06-2020, 05:58 PM
I don't think it's going to matter a bit to the look. The 6" rim may clear the fender better. The 6" and 7" rims use a different trim ring. Do you have trim rings for the 6"?

Not sure you can run those hub caps. They require "bumps" on the outside of the raised ring in the center, and those hubcaps go over those bumps. The caps sit on the flat outside the ring. Rally wheels have the "bumps" on the inside of that ring. Rally hubcaps go inside the bumps and have a flange that sits on the raised ring.

Dualfours
10-06-2020, 06:07 PM
Don't think I can run the 6s on the front and 7s on the back. Will all four tires same size, I'm running a 3:55 Posi and would not be able to do a normal rotation without having them dismounted and moved from rim to rim at the time. The wheels are plain factory steel wheels and DO have the four "nubs" on the raised outer ring to mount those caps. Have already done a dry run with them to verify the fit.

BamaNomad
10-06-2020, 06:29 PM
Ahhhh... I misunderstood. you are CURRENTLY running 7" Rallye wheels, but want to run the original wheel covers which require wheels with nubs. and You HAVE both 6" sets iwth nubs and 7" set with nubs. and you want to know which we would recommend?... and you don't want staggered sizes because you want to be able to do a simple rotation of the tires/wheels.

In that case, either set will work. The 215 tires would work with either size wheel, but the 225 will require the 7' wheel. The 7's will be a little more steering effort and potential scrubbing on the front... other than that it's whatever you prefer. Understand that the 6" wheels are an inch wider than the factory wheel and will give improved stability over the factory setup... :)

Rick: Just a note re the 7 and 6" trimrings for rallye wheels. The 7" trim rings will FIT on 6" wheels and will totally fill the wheel rim space (rather than leaving the 1/2" gap). The looks is pretty good. but of course, now that we understand Dualfours issue, it's totally irrelevant to his issue.. :)

Rick_L
10-06-2020, 06:33 PM
Most of us with a modified car don't care about rotating the tires. Mainly because we don't run the same size tire front and rear. Also because of the low mileage.

Dualfours
10-06-2020, 07:07 PM
Guess I may not have been as clear as I should have been. Mostly am concerned with the front and rear tire rub and being close to the inner edge of rear fender well. Body is sitting at stock suspension height but am running air shocks on back. Most likely need either new lines or new shocks as don't hold air very well. No power steering as of yet, that is another addition I plan on at some point. Not sure just what would be the best set up there either.

After I posted my thread I got to thinking, the rotation thing will not be happening all that often. Doubt I will put maybe 1500-2000 miles a year on the car when it's completed. Rotation won't be much of an issue. May have to re-think the 6s on the front and 7s on the rear. Lots of rim sizes and combos to choose from for sure, LOL. On my '71 Chevelle I run 7'' rallies front with 225/70/15s and 8'' Vette rallies with 245/60/15s on the back. The rotation thing doesn't come into play there at all.

BamaNomad
10-06-2020, 07:32 PM
Without PS, the 6" rims and 215 tires will be easier to steer...
at low speeds.

Dualfours
10-06-2020, 08:37 PM
Having started driving in the mid-60s (yep, I'm an old guy, LOL) I grew up with the bigs and littles front and rear. Most aLL the street machines of the day were set up like that for the most part. Starting to think about doing the 6s and 7s. Have some time to dwell on it as the interior is still in the process. Thanks for the replies and the thoughts.

busterwivell
10-07-2020, 05:39 AM
I'm running steel wheels on my 56. I have 15 x 7 all the way around. I have dog dish caps (56 style) and run 215/70x15 on the front and 255/70x15 on the rear with no tire rub. I don't worry about tire rotation, they seem to always get old before they get worn out, but I may change that with my 56. It's been on the road for 2 years and has over 16,000 miles on it already.

markm
10-07-2020, 05:10 PM
I run 15x6 all the way around on 56 and 15x6 and 15x10 on 55.

Dave the Wave
10-14-2020, 02:41 AM
like bama said, 6`s on the front, 7`s on the back, on my 7 also.

Dualfours
10-14-2020, 07:03 AM
Am thinking about the 6s & 7s thing more and more. 215/70s on the front and maybe 245/70s on the rear. Not sure I want to go larger for the rear for removal and install issues / rubbing on wheel well lip.

busterwivell
10-15-2020, 06:39 PM
The 255/70s on my 15x7 wheel don't rub. so, 245s shouldn't either.

Dave the Wave
10-16-2020, 10:49 AM
255`s, and 205`s. would like 215`s up front