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Wheel sizes

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buster View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote buster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Wheel sizes
    Posted: 27-January-2004 at 6:42AM

I have the 75 Ford Elite and need info.  I am asking because I am disabled and cannot take my own wheels off and break down to measure.

I want to replace my stock steel wheels and wire hubs and want to know if there is a standard as to what will fit my vehicle.  Are 15x7, 5 bolt lug with 4.5" backspace pretty much standard on the Torino line?  This is not a special order vehicle and I don't think it has the police brake rotors. 

Secondly, will other sizes fit, say a 15x8 or 10, like on the rear with  the 15x7 on the front?  Any help explaining this would be more than appreciated.  I looked in the library on the forum and it didn't really help me with my specific questions. 

Thanks in advance for any help guys and or gals

Paul (busterb)

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GranTorinoSport View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote GranTorinoSport Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27-January-2004 at 8:53AM

For the elite, it usually came with 15 inch wheels. They use a 5 by 4.5" bolt pattern (the full size cars of the same vintage use a 5 by 5" bolt pattern).

As far as the rim width, something like a 6 inch width was factory, and a 7 inch width being more common nowadays for replacement. A 15x8 wheel would also work just fine.

I know some people who have 245/60 R15 tires on their car and they fit fine (all the way around), although when you start getting up toward that size, fit is critical of the fenders, etc to make sure the tire won't touch anything.

You can use a wider wheel and tire on the back, but I am not sure how wide you can go, hopefully someone else can answer that question.

As far as backspacing of the wheel, the backspacing is not well defined, but most general purpose wheels of that size will fit the Torino just fine. I think a 4.5" backspacing is generally what they specify for a Torino/Elite.

Scott Eklund

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote GranTorinoSport Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27-January-2004 at 8:57AM

Oh, here is some terminology that I do not think I have on the Ford Torino Page:

Backside setting/Back spacing - The measurement from the mounting pad to the inner edge of the wheel.

Bolt Circle - The diameter of an imaginary circle drawn through the center of each lug hole. Also referred to as the bolt pattern.

Rim width - The width of the custom wheel, measured from bead seat to bead seat not edge to edge.

Rim Diameter - The overall diameter of the wheel's bead seat, not the diameter of the rim edge.

 

 

Scott Eklund

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buster View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote buster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27-January-2004 at 4:35PM

Thanks, that really clarified it for me.  I appreciate the time it took to write that explanation.

Off to buy my wheels now. 

Paul

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Hollow Head View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Hollow Head Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-January-2004 at 12:31AM
What I have in my '73 Torino is 235/60-15 in front with 8" wheels and 275/60-15 in back with same 8" wheels. No clearance problems at all.
Get in, sit down, shut up and hold on!
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buster View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote buster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-January-2004 at 1:49AM

I am looking at a set of 205/60r/15's and hope the clearance is fine.  They are used but great condition.  Do you think the 205 is a factor.  I am really dumb when it comes to tires and wheels, just never dealt with it before, thanks for the help.

 

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JimW View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JimW Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-January-2004 at 3:08AM

205/60/15 will be very short, and may not have a high enough load rating for your vehicle.  (that is the size I use on my 88 Escort GT as a point of reference).  I have 265/50/15 on the front of my Gran torino on 8" wheels, and they just required a bit of clearancing on the rear of the pass side fender.  These are just about 26" tall, which is as short as you really should go.  To determine total tire height take the first # and multiply it by 1/100 of the second #, then divide that my 25.4, multiply by 2 and add the rim diameter(last #).  I have an excel spreadsheet with a ton of formulas, is there any way to get it on here somewhere?

Here is an example of the equasion above:

235/60/15

235*.60 = 141

141/25.4 = 5.5512

5.5512*2 = 11.10

11.10 + 15 = 26.10 - total tire hight of the 235/60/15

205/60/15

205*.6 = 123

123/25.4 = 4.843

4.843*2 = 9.68

9.68 + 15 = 24.68 - total tire height of the 205/60/15

1976 S&H Gran Torino

460/C6/4.33 13.05@105.6

545/C6/3.56 11.52@117.8

More to come!!!!

463rwhp/495rwtq

two tons of fun

see it and hear it at:

www.torinocobra.com

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buster View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote buster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-January-2004 at 12:48PM

Thanks Jim.  I can do that and will now know what I am doing, no more questions

As far as the Excel sheet, not sure on how to get that on the board myself.  If you wouldn't mind emailing it to me at hpailey@charter.net.  I use Lotus 123 but should be able to convert without a problem.

Thanks again, that was very helpful.  I guess I will get the wheels anyway and use the tires on my car until they are gone.

Paul

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The Torino Kid View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote The Torino Kid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12-February-2004 at 6:46AM

i ran a 15x10 centerline auto drag with a 5-3/16" back spacing with 29x12.50lt 15's micky thompsom's sportman pro's on the back on my 4 th fast back i slammed it too(looked bad-ass!) i rolled the fenders in too i cut 1/2 ton coils out of a chevy truck in half(very little spring compression),  you can put a n50-15 on a 15x10 too but you gotta raise it up!

heres a pic

 

 

1973 Gran Torino Sport CJ 351

'Q' code 63R body
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote alwsmt Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08-March-2004 at 12:02AM

15x10 work just fine on a 75 Elite.  I have 15x10 with 295R50/15 BFG Radial T/As on the back and 14x6 with 215R70/14 BFGs up front.  205R70/14 would be a better profile match though.  Here is picture of my 75 Elite.  Hope this helps.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote guilf1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08-March-2004 at 11:06PM
I'm curious, how is the handling on that Elite? My 72 is close to the same set up, and I'm not real happy with the handling.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote alwsmt Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09-March-2004 at 6:53AM

I don't notice any poor handling at all.  What kind of tires are you running?  What kind of handling problems are you noticing?

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