Knock off rims
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 36
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From: Hamilton, MT
Knock off rims
65 knock off wheels - what is the widest tire that can be mounted on these rims?
Is there a replica of the knock offs that will accommodate large tires? I really like the knock off look but want to have much larger rubber on the rears.
Is there a replica of the knock offs that will accommodate large tires? I really like the knock off look but want to have much larger rubber on the rears.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,685
Likes: 61
Once again, I recall a conversion kit for the 1982 Collector Edition wheels, which looked like a deep-rim, 8" version of the original cast aluminum C2 wheels. This was a fake knock-off center cap replacement.
The result looked like the one-off wide KO wheels on the Mako Shark dream car, and that one ran some very fat Indy tires!
The result looked like the one-off wide KO wheels on the Mako Shark dream car, and that one ran some very fat Indy tires!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,128
Likes: 4
From: Upland Ca
The wheel is not the limiting factor for tire width on a mid year, its the trailing arms and fender lips. A search of this forum will turn up much data on this subject. It's generally accepted that 215 70s are about the limit but some have run 225s and even larger with lower aspect ratio.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 8,897
Likes: 1,357
From: Santa Ana CA
These are 15"x7" Western Turbine Wheels with dummy spinners. (Real Corvette knockoffs are only 6" wide.) They were also used on Z28 Camaros. Western also made the Corvette repro knockoffs.
I run 225/60/15s on them. A 245 will fit on '63-'64 if you trim the inner fender lips, but will be right on the edge. These wheels also come in an 8.5" and 10" widths but will stick out unless you have flares. They also require a 1/8"-1/4" spacer to clear the calipers if you run disk brakes. (Or you could actually have them turned and clearanced along the the back side of the fins for the calipers.)
These wheels usually sell for <$100-$200 for a set of four (when you can still find them) and the spinners/hats/cones will set you back about another ~$150-$200 per four.
I run 225/60/15s on them. A 245 will fit on '63-'64 if you trim the inner fender lips, but will be right on the edge. These wheels also come in an 8.5" and 10" widths but will stick out unless you have flares. They also require a 1/8"-1/4" spacer to clear the calipers if you run disk brakes. (Or you could actually have them turned and clearanced along the the back side of the fins for the calipers.)
These wheels usually sell for <$100-$200 for a set of four (when you can still find them) and the spinners/hats/cones will set you back about another ~$150-$200 per four.
Last edited by toddalin; Nov 22, 2008 at 01:35 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
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On 15X6 rims, a good profile and a nice width is the 215-65R-15`s. It took me a while to decide on a tire for a 6 in. rim. Sidewall height was important as too tall and it raises the car A narrow sidewall and its a rolling donut and dont fit the wheel well....
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On 15X6 rims, a good profile and a nice width is the 215-65R-15`s. It took me a while to decide on a tire for a 6 in. rim. Sidewall height was important as too tall and it raises the car A narrow sidewall and its a rolling donut and dont fit the wheel well....
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