For people needing information on rims and brakes, especially when considering larger wheels or performing disc brake conversions, following are stock wheel dimensions for '58-'66 T-birds to use as a starting point in your wheel search.
1958-1963 14x5.5 stock rims, for comparison, were sized as follows:
Diameter = 14" (355.6 mm) at tire bead
Overall Diameter = 15" (381.0 mm) at tire mounting flanges
Width = 5-1/2" (139.7 mm) at tire bead
Overall Width = 6-1/2" (165.1 mm) at tire mounting flanges ('62-'63)* (*'58-'61 - 5-7/8" or 6-1/2"? - Need to verify width at outside face of rim edges)
Backspacing = 3-7/8" (98.425 mm) ('62-'63)* (*'58-'61 - 3-9/16" or 3-7/8"? Need to verify depth of rim edges-to-wheel mounting face)
*Need dimensions to back side of rim center between wheel mounting pad and rim and outside diameter of wheel center mounting face.
Offset = 5/8" (15.875 mm)
Bolt circle/pattern = 4-1/2" (114.3 mm)
Clear inside diameter = 12" (304.8 mm)
Center hub diameter = '58-'61 was 2-5/8" (66.675 mm); '62-'63 was 2-7/16" (61.9125 mm)
Wheel mounting pad diameter = ?
*Need dimensions to back side of rim center between wheel mounting pad and rim and outside diameter of wheel center mounting face.
- 58-61 T-bird Rims
- 62-63 T-bird Rims
Factory Kelsey-Hayes 14x5.5 wire wheels used on 1962-1963 Sports Roadsters and optional on all 1962-1964 T-birds have the same dimensions except for overall width for the center hub/spinner caps. Dimensions for factory wire wheels will be posted at a later date.
1964 15x5.5 stock rims, which are used with drum brakes:
Diameter = 15" (381.0 mm) at tire bead
Width = 5-1/2" (139.7 mm) at tire bead
Overall Diameter = 16 7/8" (406.4 mm) at tire mounting flanges
Overall Width = 6-1/2" (169.9 mm) at tire mounting flanges
Backspacing = 3-7/8" (98.425 mm)*
Offset = 5/8" (15.875 mm)
Bolt circle/pattern = 4-1/2" (114.3 mm)
Clear inside diameter = 13-3/16" (334.96 mm)
Center hub diameter = 2-7/16" (61.9125 mm)
Wheel mounting pad diameter = ?
*Need dimensions to back side of rim center between wheel mounting pad and rim and outside diameter of wheel center mounting face.
1965-1967 15x5.5 stock rims, which can be used with a '65-'66 disc brake conversion using the large OEM Kelsey-Hayes 4-piston calipers on a 1961-1963 T-bird, were sized as follows:
Diameter = 15" (381.0 mm) at tire bead
Width = 5-1/2" (139.7 mm) at tire bead
Overall Diameter = 16 3/8" (415.9 mm) at tire mounting flanges
Overall Width = 6-5/16" (160.3 mm) at tire mounting flanges
Backspacing = 3-13/16" (96.8 mm); 4-7/8" (123.825 mm) at rim-to-center transition*
Offset =1 3/8" (34.925 mm)
Bolt circle/pattern = 4-1/2" (114.3 mm)
Clear inside diameter = 13-7/16" (341.3125 mm)
Center hub diameter = 2-7/16" (61.9125 mm)
Wheel mounting pad diameter = ?
*Need dimension to back side of depression between rim and wheel center which goes over calipers and outside diameter of wheel center mounting face.
- 65-67 T-bird Rims
I would also like to add info to a database regarding what other make/model rims will fit on vintage T-birds.
Wheels
Diameter = ? (at tire bead)
Width = ? (at tire bead)
Overall Diameter = ? (at tire mounting flanges)
Overall Width = ? (at tire mounting flanges)
Backspacing (distance from inside face of rim to mounting face) = ? + backspacing to back side of rim between wheel mounting pad and rim
Offset (distance from center of wheel width to mounting face) = ? & also whether positive (outboard from center line of wheel) or negative (inboard from center line of wheel)
Bolt circle/pattern = ? diameter should be 4-1/2" if fitting on stock hubs
Clear inside diameter (minimum clear distance inside wheel) = ?
Center hub diameter = ?
Wheel mounting pad diameter = ?