'66 Skylark coupe is currently in body and paint and will be ready by the end of the month which means I am wheel/tire shopping. I have somewhat settled on the style of wheel I want but am really flip-flopping on size...15" versus 17". I have disc brakes so the original 14"ers are out. The car is stock (other than the disc brakes) and is even getting repainted in the original color. Would a 17" wheel ruin the look of an otherwise stock car? Should I stick with 15" just to maintain a close resemblence to original sizes? Opine at will! :TU:
I have 17s on my 64 but I installed lowering springs. I think 17s with the correct size tires look great. I dont like the 18 in front and 20s in the back thing or 20s all around but thats just me.
I struggled with the same question for months. Downloaded every pic I could find in the web of 68 & 69 wheels. My conclusions (just one Man's opinion - nothin' more): 17" look fantastic, and there are a lot of lightweight aluminum options out there. Affordable, too. But the stock 15" rallys are also beautiful, keep the original look, and go well with raised white letter sidewalls. Something you just don't see on modern cars. And they're even less expensive if you hunt for used deals. Plus steelies are more "trend right" for whatever that's worth. Can't go wrong either way. I went with 15" rallys. I agree that 18" and-up often look like too much rim.
Thanks guys, keep 'em coming... I have 15" Buick rally wheels on the car right now but they are spoken for. The guy doing the work also has a '66 Buick Skylark (convertible) and wants the wheels for his car so the wheels are his to offset some of the cost of body and paint. The current wheels have enough wobble to them that they vibrate at highway speeds - the body and paint guy thinks he can straighten them for his own car. He is a friend of the family so I am happy to see the rally's go to a good home and eventually get used on a another Buick. Agreed that 17" would be the biggest I would consider. My father has 16" rims on his '66 Nova and wishes he went with 17". So many choices...
I'm running 17 in torq thrust knock offs on my 67 Skylark and I love them. Not too big, but they make a huge difference in appearance. Tires aren't too terribly expensive because the wheel sizes are more common nowadays. Here's a picture with 15 inch GN turbines: And here's the 17 inch wheels: -JOsh
I would definitely go at least 17" maybe 18" with the right tires. The stock rims look way too small on these cars.
17s have great cheap sizes, but id definatly go with atleast 1inch lowering springs all around to make up for the gap between the fenderwall and top of tire.. if you still kind of want that tall back tire compared to the front then choose and 18in combo for the rear and 17s up front
Check to see if your desired tire is avail in 15 inch, and compare to the price of it in 17 inch size. It seems like some 15" tires are getting hard to come by.o No:
15s are starting to get pricey, while 17s are dirt cheap.. possibly bad thing when it comes to someones car setup/looks is that majority of 17s are spec'd at 25.7 tire height...18s have more optuions for tires that are 26 27 and 28 in tall but are a tad more expensive...probably around what current pricing of what 15s are.. so. if you want a cheaper 17 but want something taller then 25.7(35/40/454 series) then you;re looking at like a 55 series tire or something like a 225-55-17 or something like that...check tire rack if you want low and really wide then 275-45/315-40- or 335-35 17s are your best bet
I love my 17s. Stock springs with 245/45s on the front and 265/40s in back. So don't think you need to lower the car any really. Checked the diameters of the 17 tires and they are close to the original stock 14 inch size. 245/45s would have been OK with me on the rear but will leave it as is. The wheels are chrome Foose brand which I didn't love at first I have come to like them. Also like the Torque thruster style. The silver 67 is my previous with 14s, was going to change it to 16s but sold it before I got it done. The 17s are a big improvement!
I have been thinking about those same rims with grey centers for my 65. What size tires are you running?
Wheels are 17 X 8,,,5" bs,,,Tires are 245/45 and 255/50's Had to take the top bolt out that holds the front inner fender to the fender,,,it was rubbing,,,all good now though!!!
Here's mine with 17" Boyd wheels. Sitting high in front because no engine. The car will be lowered 2" from stock. I've got lowering springs on the rear and coil over adjustable on the front.
Exactly. Just a personal choice. I like the look better than the "fish gills". This is my last one so wanted to "do it my way". LOL Harvey
I would go 17s, but I did not find any tire sized that I thought were tall enough to look right on a muscle car. The few that I thought might work were truck tires. My 65 had 245/45R17s on it when I got it and I thought they looked too short like the tires were too small. What is a good beefy 27 to 28" tall tire size for 17s?
