I have been trying to read the Tire and Wheel Posts. OMG 14 inch rims, 15, 16, 17 18, with spacers without spacers, some 14 inch rims apparently are 4.5 inches wide, some are 6 some seem to be eight. Holy smoke, I need help. My 1973 Maverick 4 door, 250 six auto has 185/75 R14 on it now. Does that mean it has 4.5 inch wide rims or are they 6 inch rims? The tires are on so I can't measure across the empty rim. Would a stock rim have a label on it to say 4.5 or 6 inch? If I have 4.5 what is the largest 14 inch tire that I should consider? 195/75 R14, 205/75 R14, or 215/75 R 14? I don't want to complicate things but no spacers please. Just rims and tires. If it has 6 inch rims I assume the three sizes I mentioned would still apply? I am so sorry to come off so dumb but this is all new to me. Are blank keys available some where so I can have a spare set cut? I really appreciate all those folks who take the time to answer. The car comes over Sunday on the ferry and I can't wait to take it for a spin on the island.
Welcome. Last, first. Key blanks can be had from about any locksmith. I could not tell you what diameter (width) the rims on the car are. I believe the original 4 lug was 14 x 4.5. A 195/70 R14 is only about .5 wider and just a little smaller in overall diameter, anything larger than that may necessitate a rim wider than 4.5. If the rims are 6 inch, you should be able to go up to a 225/60 R14 without issue. Both 14 and 15 inch tire size selections are becoming limited.
Your original wheels are 14"×4.5". if you want wider tires, you need wider wheels, in which case might as well go with 15-inch (or 17-inch if your budget allows). I'd go with a 215/60-15 (25 inches tall) on a 15x7" wheel with a 4-inch back-space. A 225/60-15 will fit as well and be a little taller. Might check eBay for key blanks. The local Ace hardware store might even have them...
Per Master Parts, there were 4½, 5½ & 6" wheels available in 1973. No doubt some were optional. Most any good hardware store should have the key blanks, were used from 1965 through most of '80s. I had Home Deport make a set for my Fairlane.
My bad, you're correct it's sidewall percentage. Convert 185/75/r14 is 185mm =7.2...'' and the 75 is .75% So multipy roughly 7''x.75= 5.25
Like mentioned above, if you pull a wheel off, most will have the size stamped on the inside, probably on the barrel of the wheel. My 71 Comet came with 14 x 4.5 wheels (5 bolt, with a 302 and a 3speed stick!!!!) I tend to think that by 73 the wheels were getting wider, especially with the four door cars. I work for a large tire wholesaler. The selection for 14 inch tires is not great, pretty limited compared to the "old days". Surprisingly some 16 inch sizes are drying up now too. I am confident you will see an okay selection of 15 inch tires for years to come, so if you are looking to upsize wheels, 15s are a good choice. (17 and up are fine, too).
Oh, that's interesting to hear from someone in the business. Do you feel like 17" tires are probably going to be available for the foreseeable future, or will the industry move on to 18s and 19s?
I also have a 73 with 185 75 R14’s. I would like to go to 15 inch rims. I already have some lightly used 205 60 R15’s for the front and currently I’m thinking 245 or 255 60 R15’s for the back.
