Yet another wheel/tire question from a newbie!

[Tarik]

Sorry about starting another tire size thread, but I searched the archives and couldn't quite find an answer...  I just picked up a '79 2WD Stepside that needs tires and wheels badly.  Right now the rears are 275/60/15 and the fronts are 235/75/15.  The front wheels are American Racing wagon wheels, and the rears are no-name wagon wheels that are badly rusted.  I like the stance of the 275/60/15s and was thinking of putting them all around on 15x8 wheels, but I just read about the rear track being narrower than the front and am wondering if this will look awkward?  For that reason I'm considering a 235/70/15 in the front, which is exactly the same height as the 275/60/15 but obviously narrower.  The truck will mostly be a fun beater/cruiser, but may occaisionally tow an old racecar as well.  Then I was also considering 255/70/15s as they may fill the wheel wells better, but I like the look of the wider tire...  I'm very undecided!  Any advice is very much appreciated!

Attached photo is the wheel I'm considering ($43 @ Summit Racing!)

-Tarik

[team39763]

I think it'll work out with 235's up front. I believe that's what's on my truck right now.  I have 15X8's all around and 275/60's in back.  My wheels are stock rallye wheels and I'm not sure of the backspace or offset.

[Tarik]

I'm being a little bit indecisive here...  Cragar makes the wheel pictured below in 15x8 in both a 4" and 5" backspace...  Would it be a good idea to run the 4" on the back and the 5" on the front with the same tire size all around?  Maybe 265/60/15 or 255/70/15?  I like the wheel in my original post better, but it only comes with a 3.75" backspace.  For some reason I'm really having a hard time making up my mind on this issue!

[Tarik]

Whoops!  Attached the wrong picture above (that's my truck), and my browser crashed when I tried to change it...  Here's the other wheel I'm considering:

[beastie_3]

truck pic doesnt work

[Tarik]

Well, I'm pretty much decided...  I think I'm going with the Cragar in my original post on all four corners (15x8 w/3.75 BS).  I'm going to run a 275/60/15 in the back, with a 235/70/15 in front.  They have the same outside diameter but the section width is 1.5" different, which should help even out the front/rear track difference.  The only other choice I'm stll contemplating is 255/70/15 all around, with 5" BS up front and 4" BS in the rear, although I'm thinking that may pull the fronts in a little bit too far...

Comments/suggestions/pictures are very welcome!

[Tarik]

I think it'll work out with 235's up front. I believe that's what's on my truck right now.  I have 15X8's all around and 275/60's in back.  My wheels are stock rallye wheels and I'm not sure of the backspace or offset.

Thanks, Team39763.  I think I'll go with the same setup (15x8s all around, 275/60/15 in back, 235/70/15 up front).  The Cragars I'm planning on getting have 1/4" less backspace than stock (3.75"), but I really don't think that's enough of a difference to cause any kind of rubbing with a stock suspension.  Does your track width look somewhat balanced visually?

[team39763]

I just went and looked and I have 235/75/15's up front.  It actually does look somewhat balanced.  When I first bought the truck I had 15X10's all around with 275/50's all around and the front seemed to stick out a tad more and I hated it.  I like this look better, but I'm lowered so I think that has a lot to do with it.  My wheels seem to just barely tuck and I like that.