rear tire size

[chero69gt]

Im just wondering if anyone in 57 land has ever been able to put 275/60-15
tires on the rear of a Custom without narrowing the rear end, and if so, what
 did you use to do it?

                                               Roger

[59meteor]

Not sure if the inner and outer wheel wells/openings are different between 57 Fords and 59s, but I am running 275/60R15 BF Goodrich TA radials on the rear of my 59 2 door sedan, with the stock rear leaf spring suspension, and untrimmed/folded outer wheel opening flanges. I am using factory looking steel wheels and dog dish hubcaps. My rear wheels are Wheel Vintiques "Series 62" 15x8" steel wheels, that have 4 1/4" backspace. On my car, at least,the rearend is exactly the same as for being centered, but even on the snug side, I have never had any tire contact with either the leaf springs, or the wheel openings. Even with 4 adults in the car, driving over speed bumps in a parking lot. Not much space between the inside tire bulge and the leaf springs, but obviously enough. Now, getting such large tires on and off, can be challenging, if you have the original 11" rear brakes, typically would require unbolting the rear shocks, and putting a jack between the rearend and frame, to open up some room. On my car, I chose to use the 10x2 1/2" rear drum brakes from an older Ford Explorer, which despite being 1" smaller diameter, actually has more surface area, due to the wider shoes and drums. With the 10" brakes, I can lift the car up by the frame, and with the rearend hanging, with the shocks still connected, I can simply slide the tires on and off without drama. Wheels with thicker centers, or long wheel studs could affect that.

[chero69gt]

Thank you very much. Very detailed and helpful.
I really appreciate your help.

                   Roger

[lalessi1]

On my '57 Custom I have 8" wheels with 5.25" backspacing on the rear. The 275/60 x 15 tires barely fit, they rub on the inner wheel wells. I had to trim the lip on the left quarter panel too. I would use 255/60 if I were doing it over again. The wheel/tires are a PITA to take off. The '59 must be bigger.

Look at this thread..

https://57fordsforever.com/smf/index.php?topic=7732.15

[59meteor]

Lynn, I guess the 59 wheel wells and openings must be different that 57/58s. On my 59, the wheel opening lips have not been trimmed or folded over, and there is plenty of room with my 275/60R15 BFG T/As, on 15x8 steel Wheel Vintique wheels, that have a 4 1/4" backspace.

[gasman826]

9" rim width increased the section width so maxed out at 255.  If the ride height was increased, the 260 would have cleared.

[59meteor]

9" rim width increased the section width so maxed out at 255.  If the ride height was increased, the 260 would have cleared.

You have much more clearance between the inside sidewall of the tire, and the leaf spring than my 59. Looks like if you had about 1/2" more backspace on the wheels the 275/60R15s would fit, but with stock 11" brakes, would be a PITA getting them on and off.

[gasman826]

One plus to rear disc brakes...tire removal is much easier.

[BP57CUSTOM]

I only have 215/75/15's all the way around on mine and I still have to unbolt the shocks to take them off. I would hate to have to change one on the side of the road!
I wonder if I put extra long air shocks on back ,if it would lift it high enough to change them without unbolting the shocks?

[RICH MUISE]

Changing shocks to '56s will give you enough added drop (2"ish)to remove the tire without unbolting the shocks. I can find the Monroe # if you need.
BTW< I run 235/70/15s  on mine with plenty of room at the fender well lip (3/4"ish). My rear case is narrowed 5/8 per side, however, and I'm running discs, and the mentioned shocks.

[lalessi1]

I have '56 Monroe air shocks on mine and I can get the 275 tires w 8" rims off of the car without unbolting anything. I also have 2" lowering blocks which make it harder (than the 1" blocks I had on the car before). It is like a Chinese puzzle BUT... The car has to be jacked WAY up and occasionally I have to use a BIG pry bar to flip the shackles. I am planning on a rear disc brake setup just to deal with this.

[chero69gt]

Thank you to everyone who replied. Im building a 428 stroker motor for my 57 Custom and was hoping to
get some bigger tires on the back. I have 255/60-15 on it now so , I gues that they will have to do for now.

                              Roger