63 Avanti Wire Wheels

[ronhusak]

Hi All..

I am the new owner of a 63 R2 Avanti. I have posted about this on this list before.

I am talking to a gentleman about a set of Wire Wheels off of his 84 Avanti that are OEM and 15X7. He cautioneds me and said someone had told him that there were clearance issues on an early avanti with these 15X7 wheels.. Is that true? If so where is the clearance issue?

Thanks in advance for the information..

Ron Husak, Conifer, CO
63 R2 Avanti

[N8N]

Hi All..

I am the new owner of a 63 R2 Avanti. I have posted about this on this list before.

I am talking to a gentleman about a set of Wire Wheels off of his 84 Avanti that are OEM and 15X7. He cautioneds me and said someone had told him that there were clearance issues on an early avanti with these 15X7 wheels.. Is that true? If so where is the clearance issue?

Thanks in advance for the information..

Ron Husak, Conifer, CO
63 R2 Avanti

If they fit an '84, they will fit a '63... in the rear, for sure.

I suspect that what you might have to pay attention to is the fender lip area in the front. The suspension didn't change between '63 and '84... but the front of the body was raised higher off the frame on all Avanti IIs and a filler panel was bonded into the front fender area to close up the resulting gap between fender and tire.

good luck

nate

[sbca96]

The way I understand it, its the other way around, early Avantis have a
little more room than later avantis. At least it seems that way, since all
the Avanti IIs I have come across have giant cracks, or repaired cracks
in the top of the fenders, and I havent seen that on early Avantis.

What will get you, is a turn at FULL lock and hitting a bump. Ouch.

Tom

[ronhusak]

Tom..
Are you saying the wheels should fit?
Ron

The way I understand it, its the other way around, early Avantis have a
little more room than later avantis. At least it seems that way, since all
the Avanti IIs I have come across have giant cracks, or repaired cracks
in the top of the fenders, and I havent seen that on early Avantis.

What will get you, is a turn at FULL lock and hitting a bump. Ouch.

Tom

[PackardV8]

The 15x7 wires with the typical 215 or 225 tires on them are capable of ripping the front fenders off the car! At some combination of having the wheels turned toward full lock and crossing an unseen dip just a little too fast, as turning into a driveway or parking lot drain ditch, the suspension will compress enough and the tire tread will catch the top of the fender opening. I saw $3000 in damage to a freshly restored Avanti done just this way.

jack vines

[StudeRich]

You need 6 inch wide Wheels with the correct offset, those are just CRAZY!

[ronhusak]

Jack..
So you are saying the 15X7's are a no.. no?
Ron

The 15x7 wires with the typical 215 or 225 tires on them are capable of ripping the front fenders off the car! At some combination of having the wheels turned toward full lock and crossing an unseen dip just a little too fast, as turning into a driveway or parking lot drain ditch, the suspension will compress enough and the tire tread will catch the top of the fender opening. I saw $3000 in damage to a freshly restored Avanti done just this way.

jack vines

[ronhusak]

StudeRich..
What do you mean "Those are just crazy?
Ron

You need 6 inch wide Wheels with the correct offset, those are just CRAZY!

[Bob Caser]

I have run 15 x 7 wheel with 215x75 Michelin tires for about ten years on a 64 Daily Driver Avanti.
The wheels have a 3 and 5/8 back space , but we have to run a 3/8 spacer as well.
The problem is the clearance at the outer spindle/tie rod. No broken fenders or stress cracks, and over 80,000 miles with this combo.
Most 15x7 wheels will require a spacer.

Bob Caser

[ronhusak]

Bob..
I was hoping I could make these work.. The price is right.. Where do you obtain the spacer? Is the 215 tire the recommended size? I want to say the car has 205's on it now but I may be mistaken..
Is the backspace measured from the hub to the wheel edge in the back? Sorry for all the questions..
Ron

I have run 15 x 7 wheel with 215x75 Michelin tires for about ten years on a 64 Daily Driver Avanti.
The wheels have a 3 and 5/8 back space , but we have to run a 3/8 spacer as well.
The problem is the clearance at the outer spindle/tie rod. No broken fenders or stress cracks, and over 80,000 miles with this combo.
Most 15x7 wheels will require a spacer.

Bob Caser

[Bob Caser]

I would run 205 x 15 tires. You are correct on how to measure the wheel back space. Some tire shops will carry the spacer,or Summit Automotive , Jegs, etc.
Measure for clearance between the rim and the spindle / tie rod and buy the best spacer available and also longer lug nuts to make up for the spacer thickness.

Bob caser

[sbca96]

I am saying that the fender damage seems to be more common in Avanti
IIs and not original Avantis, that said, they used wider wheels stock on the
Avanti IIs, and both our 1969 and our 1978 Avanti IIs were cracked.

I am running a 17 x 8 inch wheel on my '63 Avanti, with what amounts to
a 3/8 spacer - though I replaced the studs with shouldered, and the brakes
with modern Cobra 2 pistons ones. The rim hits the upper forward zerk at
full lock, but only one direction. I have never had it hit the fender (yet). It
would be wise to check and double check though. Also, you CAN modify
the bump stop on the lower control arm to eliminate the travel needed to
hit the fender ... the downside is shorter travel, the upside is no damages.

Tom

[N8N]

actually that bump stop looks like something that could be easily replaced by a poly aftermarket part... some of them are even trimmable so you can fine tune it for the most travel without crunchage

I have no input on at what point you get fender rub, I've had 245s on the front of my '55 coupe and with the right offset they still won't hit anything. I tried

nate

[PackardV8]

I should clarify my earlier post. There are probably several different offset 15x7 wire wheels. I've only seen one kind tear up the fenders on a '63. Your results may vary, depending upon the offset.

From personal experience, the two other negatives to wire wheels are:

1. Unless you are stealing a set of the ultra-rare Borrani's with aluminum rims, all them more common wire wheels with steel hubs, spokes and rims are heavier than most any other wheel. On my own Avanti with Dayton wires, I can feel the extra weight noticeably roughens the ride and negatively affects the handling in bumpy curves. I've kept them on there because they came with the car and are real knock-offs. The Avanti is #3 in the queue behind the truck and the Hawk. When I get serious about it, I'll go to a set of 17" custom Halibrand Salt Flats.

2. There may be wire wheels which are leak-proof enough to be used with tubeless tires. I've just never owned any. Having to run tubes adds to the cost and as in (1) above, adds to the unsprung weight.

FWIW, I've seen more than one set of wheels advertised as 15x7", because the seller measured outside lip to outside lip. In actuality, they were 15x6", because wheels are correctly measured between the bead seats, the distance the tire sees. Again, your results may vary, but in any case, measure between the bead seats.

jack vines

[ronhusak]

Jack..
Thanks for the reply.. I really appreciate the info..
All that you say is true.. But they sure are pretty! At least I think so.. No they are all steel Daytons.. We shall see..
Ron

I should clarify my earlier post. There are probably several different offset 15x7 wire wheels. I've only seen one kind tear up the fenders on a '63. Your results may vary, depending upon the offset.

From personal experience, the two other negatives to wire wheels are:

1. Unless you are stealing a set of the ultra-rare Borrani's with aluminum rims, all them more common wire wheels with steel hubs, spokes and rims are heavier than most any other wheel. On my own Avanti with Dayton wires, I can feel the extra weight noticeably roughens the ride and negatively affects the handling in bumpy curves. I've kept them on there because they came with the car and are real knock-offs. The Avanti is #3 in the queue behind the truck and the Hawk. When I get serious about it, I'll go to a set of 17" custom Halibrand Salt Flats.

2. There may be wire wheels which are leak-proof enough to be used with tubeless tires. I've just never owned any. Having to run tubes adds to the cost and as in (1) above, adds to the unsprung weight.

FWIW, I've seen more than one set of wheels advertised as 15x7", because the seller measured outside lip to outside lip. In actuality, they were 15x6", because wheels are correctly measured between the bead seats, the distance the tire sees. Again, your results may vary, but in any case, measure between the bead seats.

jack vines