Wider rims new rubber

[FCrob]

Hi all, need some advice.
My fc has original rims with 175x13 radials 98 percent tread but date code 7/1984.
Thought I would replace them for reliability.
I have a set of 13x6 steel rims which I have had in the shed for a while.
What size tyre would be recommended to use on the 6 inch wide rims?
The suspension is unmodified.
Any leads to where I could purchase a suitable set of tyres would be a good.
I live Lake Macquarie Newcastle area.

Any assistance advice is appreciated, Rob

[FCRB26]

Leave the originals on it unless you want the wider rims ?

Ebay tyres the white walls aint to bad from what i hear

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/WHITE-WALL-TYRES-13-INCH-S-T-FORD-XM-XP-ESCORT-HOLDEN-GEMINI-TORANA-EH-HR-HD-EJ-/200984206548?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ecb979cd4
Id run them on either rim

[fink]

You first have to know if the offset on the rims will suit the fc,if it's a driver,take it down to your tyre guy along with your rims,this way he can fit a tyre,say 175,185 etc and make sure they fit without fouling the wheel arches and ruining a new set of tyres, good luck,Gaz!

[jack_fc]

X 2 what Fink said re offsets. 185/80-13 should be very close in rolling diameter to the original 640-13s, and would be OK on 6" rims.
If you wanted to, you could easily fit up to 205 section tyres to 6" rims, but depending on the ratio (60, 70, 80 etc) this will change your overall gearing, which you may or may not want... also, anything wider than 185 in 13"s could be very difficult to find.

Another alternative may be using HK/T/G 14" rims which are 5" stock (6" also should be available) and this will give you a much wider choice of tyre widths and ratios...

What engine and frontend/brakes and diff ratio are you running? Do you want whitewalls/bands? Answers to these questions will greatly influence what rims/tyres you select.

cheers, jack

[hsv-001]

Yeah I've been running 7x13 for many years and 205-60x13 is the only size now common and this is very annoying .I was looking at an old std EH wagon at a swap recently and the 185-80x13 white walls made me think about 6x13's . I have a std set of HR rims but I get frightened when I go around corners with these on . I know that someone will reply saying stiffen the springs but then if I go back to the 7x13 its like hitting the Qld pot holes on roller skates .Cheers

[FCrob]

Thanks to everyone for the valuable input.
FC is completely standard, grey motor, diff and suspension.
Not sure what the offset is, but I did compare the standard rim to the 6inch rim, measured from the inside of the rim where it contacts the hub to the inner outside of the rim if that makes sense, they measure the same. Just the outer side of the rim is wider. Is this the offset?
185 80 13 sounds ok might consider 205 60 13 for the wider look but don't want the tyres touching on the body.
Will the 205 60 13 alter the speedo?
Cheers

[hsv-001]

If everything else is standard then yes the profile [total height ]is nearly 4" less so you might have to change the diff gear but if its a std. sideplate don't go any taller than 336 or it will labour on take off. I would go 6x13 and 185-80 withwalls with std hubcaps and trims. But that's just me. Haydn

[FCRB26]

You wont notice a difference with 205 60 13 in my opinion
those first ones i sent the link to wouldbe cool.

I know most of the FE FC,s in newie which ones this ?

Im up near Kurri


Pete

[jack_fc]

Given that it's a stocky, I'm with Haydn (6 x 13 rims with 185/80-13 whitewalls or white bands and possibly chrome trim rings). I'm away from my own computer so can't be sure on the calculations, but I seem to remember that 185/80-13 will result in very slightly taller gearing than standard 640-13 (very slightly higher true road speed for same revs) and 205/60-13 will give about 8% less true speed for same revs compared to 185/80-13, which you may not want if a lot of your driving is at highway speeds. You could fix this by going to 3.36 or 3.55(?) if you really wanted the 205/60 tyres.

 Someone else may be able to check the gearing change percentages 205/60 vs 185/80; if not and you really want to know, let us know and I'll check tomorrow for you...

Oh, and we want pics!

cheers, jack

[FCrob]

Thanks again, I'll hunt around and see what is available and at what price.
I've owned this fc for about 6 years, it adobe beige with olinda green flash on the rear quarter but not the standard two tone set up from factory.
It had 49,000 miles when we got it now travelled 51,000 miles genuine, all numbers match, engine, transmission, all original panels, immaculate original trim.
The car is rarely driven but when we do we often go to Kurri for lunch.
We are at Morisset.

[john253a]

I'm running 15x6 all round with 205/55r15 front and 225/50r15 rear
and i just put the stock 13 on the rear with 185/75r13 (had a blow out i the rear so changed both)

and i can say the handles a hell of a lot worse, the rear end now locks up under breaking (stock front and rear with booster)
the only bonus is the stock 138 can light them up where they had no hope on 225

if you can get 6" wide go with 205 all round or 215 in the rear (the 225 will rub with pass in the back every time you hit a bump)

[hsv-001]

Hey Jack its 60% [ 205 x2]+13" against 80%[185x2]+13" works out about 50mm over the diameter which if I can remember was originally  around 627mm so your 8% is close enough to correct .When I was younger we would say 1inch of rim size[13-14] was the same as one holden diff ratio making 389-336 much the same as 2"[50mm] in wheel diameter. Cheers Haydn.

[FCrob]

Thanks to all that provided input.
I have to take the fc out as rego is due, i get it inspected at a local tyre dealer so I will check out availability and prices for the new rubber.
Would love to post some photos but could never sort out how currently using an Ipad I have some photos on the iPhone though.
 Cheers,
Rob

[FCRB26]

Get the app tapatalk install it and you can simply upload photos.

Pete

[DJ]

Rob,
I'm at a similar stage looking for the right combination of rims/tyres for a stock sedan.
I find the offset is often difficult to obtain for many rims advertised on line. Not clear either on how far away from the original 6mm you can go without mods. I had contemplated using standard 13 x 6 chromed rims & 185/80s, but I see the Torana LJ/LC, LX/LH match up with FC which provides a wider choice. Not sure if the bore size is the same though - it's obviously large enough but I wonder how snug it is/should be.
Did the local tyre dealer come up with readily available options & recommendations.
Dave.

[hsv-001]

Its when you get into hr frontends with modified brakes that it get tricky .As hr is wider than original and then any brake mod makes the track wider still, and then you have to match the rear track without rubbing the wheel arches . There is little profile option once you go 7" or wider in 13". I'm running 7x13 with 205-60 and am limited for width by the hr running gear and use a 5 speed borg-warner box to correct the ratio .With the small wheels it hits the bumps hard so in hindsight would have been better with hr 6x13 and 185-80 whitewalls .Haydn

[FCrob]

Dave,
The local tyre dealer recommended 185/80 13 for the 13 x 6 rims as a good combination with the slightly taller gearing a benefit. 
I have now sold the car and have a set of rims for sale if any one interested.

Cheers,
Rob

[DJ]

Rob,
Well guess who's looking for some?
What are they exactly?

[DJ]

Its when you get into hr frontends with modified brakes that it get tricky .As hr is wider than original and then any brake mod makes the track wider still, and then you have to match the rear track without rubbing the wheel arches . There is little profile option once you go 7" or wider in 13". I'm running 7x13 with 205-60 and am limited for width by the hr running gear and use a 5 speed borg-warner box to correct the ratio .With the small wheels it hits the bumps hard so in hindsight would have been better with hr 6x13 and 185-80 whitewalls .Haydn

Thanks for sharing your experience Haydn,
I recall tyres scraping on guards with 10" rubber I had on a HR .... bending the lip up etc .....nearly 40 years ago when I enjoyed the trial & error approach.
I'm more content with modest & proven changes now (and I value the views of others more now too). Changing diff ratios or swapping gearboxes isn't second nature to me - I can follow pictures with numbers & arrows OK, but I'm just not as innovative or talented as many here.
Dave.

[FCrob]

Dave
13x6 plain type rims,hub caps can be fitted. gave them a sand, prime and coat of black gloss. they looked good with the chrome dress ring and fc hubcaps.
Not sure of the other dimensions, but I did fit them on my fc front and rear, no clearance issues with front or rear end.
From memory I did measure and compare them with the standard fc  rim and the inner measurement was the same, is it the offset?

Rob