GLS - 5x 13 or 5.5x 13?

[streetracer75]

Hi I have just purchased a 73' GLS with Rostyles wheels. Can anyone tell me if these were fitted with 5x 13 or 5.5x 13 rim sizes?
Thanks

[oldschool]

Probably 13 x 5 - will have 5J stamped on the wheel somewhere. The Super and DL are 13 x 4.5

[streetracer75]

Yeah I think your right... they look like 5's. The person I bought the car from spent a lot of money having the wheels re-furbished and I have always had a liking for Rosstyles, so would like to keep these but want something a bit meatier.

I am thinking about getting these banded to 7's. What is the widest I can go without running into clearance issues?

Thanks. 

[oldschool]

Sixes and Sevens are a problem with standard offset - need to flare the rear guards and on the front the tyre will hit the track control arm on full lock.
I'm not a big fan of changing the offset as it loads up the axles and bearings and changes the steering geometry, making it heavier and affecting the handling too.
Factory Rostyles are quite valuable, advisable to widen standard rims instead in case you don't like the result!
Or look around for some 5.5 Cortina/Capri Rostyles. They can handle 185 tyres.

[streetracer75]

That's a bummer! I know what you mean though, they are such a nice set of original wheels its a pity to cut them. I have a set of Dunlops D1's but I really like the Rosstyles as I think they look better on the Avenger. I just want to make it a bit meaner looking as I plan on lowering the car as well. What is the max size tyre the 5 inch rim will take? 

[oldschool]

The 5J's are fine with 175's. Can fit 185's but will have a balloon look...lol

[streetracer75]

What size rims and tyres are you running on yours?

[oldschool]

Not sure as it had the 13" mags on it when I bought it. They look like sixes and have 175/70 tyres.
A previous owner flared the rear guards (just bent the lip up) and my front tyres hit the TCA's on full lock.

[streetracer75]

Think I might get my local tyre dealer to fit a 185 onto one of the 5" rims to see how it looks?

I really don't fancy having to start flaring the arches! I am glad I asked now before going ahead with the 7's.

[oldschool]

I had 185/80-13's on 5" rims on the rear of my old Hillman Avenger 1600 to improve the diff ratio...put it down to 3.7...same as the Chrysler model.
They cleared the guards no problem. I kept 165's (on 4.5" rims) on the front. You might get away with 175's on 5" rims for the front...I think 185's would be pushing it!
Have 5" rear rims with 175/80-13 tyres on my Chrysler Avenger to make it a bit better on the highway.
I think mags have a different offset to standard rims, hence needing to flare the guards.

[streetracer75]

What I think I might do is talk to the wheel company about banding them to 6" rather than pushing it to 7". Although I understand the principle on offset I can never really get my head around it, but presumably when you band a set of wheels you automatically change the offset of them anyway and if the wheel company knows what they are doing they should be able to make the calculation so they fit?

Would that be how it works with banding?

Thanks.

[JoKer]

nope, adding a band will keep the face of the wheel (where it bolts to the hub) in the same place, and push the lip of the rim towards you guard

you cant alter the 'rear' of the rim/change the offset

[streetracer75]

Ah ok, so I guess rolling the inner side of the rear arches up a little is my only option?

What about the fronts? Can the offset be altered on the front to clear the TCA?

[oldschool]

Ah ok, so I guess rolling the inner side of the rear arches up a little is my only option?

What about the fronts? Can the offset be altered on the front to clear the TCA?

Yep the front offset can be adjusted out with a spacer block if needed.

[streetracer75]

Ok thanks for all the info. I will get the wheels and then figure it out how to make them fit. At least now I know what the options are.