I have a '64 Dart I originally bought to be a spare parts car for the LeMons racer, but I'm now using it as an "art car" for parades and stuff. One of the events where I plan to bring this car includes some potentially muddy off-road use, so I want to know how wide a tire I can reasonably use on my existing wheels. (I have to admit, though, half the reason I want to stuff more rubber under this thing is for style points.)

This is just a fun and stupid project using cast-off parts from my racecar, so I don't intend to spend money changing the bolt pattern or buying new wheels. Hence the 14x4.5" stock wheel restriction. I believe the stock tire size is 185/70-14. If I can fit something like a 205/70-14 in the wheel well, and I can get a tire shop to actually mount them, how bad an idea would that actually be? Tire Rack recommends a minimum 5" wide wheel for most tires with a 205 section width, so it's not that far off. This car is not going to be taking any corners at speed, but would I be in danger of slipping a bead on the highway if I go too wide?

How wide have you gone on stock skinny 14s?

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Somehow I ended up owning three 1964 slant six A-bodies. I race one of them.
Escape Velocity Racing

225 70 14 on fronts

235 60 14 rears or same size all around .. your choice.

This was on the wider 14×5.5 wheels with the 5 on 4 inch small bolt pattern.

I am sure someone can give you better info on the 14 x 4.5's

Greg

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http://www.youtube.com/hyperpack

Biggest recommended tire on 14 x 4.5 is 185 / 75.

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Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

I had 205/70ss on 14X4.5s way back when. They were fine. They will not be unsafe in the way you are suggesting.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Same here as Dart270. I have 14x4.5 steelies on the front of my 66 Valiant with 205/70/14's on them. That's the way they came from the guy I got them from, and they fit fine with no clearance issues. They are a little poochy on the sidewalls so my long-term plan is to swap them out for some 14x5.5 rims. I will be rebuilding the front end/brakes/suspension this winter so would like to do what I can to improve handling. However, the current setup works just fine.

I don't think 205/70R14 would be a problem, the '67 'beater" valiant I had for a while ran 195/70R14 on the SBP 4.5" rims were fine (but had to correct the speedo gear for using them...)

I ran 225 70s on the rear for 30k + miles when I was a teenager and didn't know any better. Never once had an issue. Up front I never changed out from the stock (I think) 195s. Been a lot of years since my car has been on the road and the wheels are not easy for me to get to right now.