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Car Forum / Antique and Collectibles / Studebaker / August 2007Avanti Wheels, Chapter II
I am trying to put Halibrand-looking wheels on a 63. Each time the local tire shop guy calls the distributor, he gets a different set of specs. According to them, Torq-Thrust II and D definitely will not work. Even with help, they can't spell "Studibaker." So I called The Tire Rack in South Bend, which, back in my Pirelli P7 days, I thought of as the best tire shop in the country (the tires on my 63 came from them). Studebaker and Avanti do not come up on their new computer screen. They have no wheels or tires for "that application." When flat-out asked, they flat out told me they are not interested in our business. Please tell your friends not to bother them. I know guys with Torque Thrust and Torque Thrust D's on Larks and Avantis... they do fit. I just don't know what the spec is on them. >I am trying to put Halibrand-looking wheels on a 63. Each time the local >tire shop guy calls the distributor, he gets a different set of specs. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >asked, they flat out told me they are not interested in our business. Please >tell your friends not to bother them. Lee DeLaBarre Daytona62 I would suggest finding someone with an offset/backspacing measurement too -or better yet buy one yourself as I believe they can be had pretty cheap these days. This will allow you to figure out exactly what will work for your Avanti. Lots of wheels will fit Avanti's including the Torque Thrust II's and D's. I think it's pretty sad the way a lot of places just rely on what's in the books or in the catalog these days. It's not rocket science. You might even try one of those crazy custom wheel places that sell big 24" wheels and stuff. Those guys are always figuring out ways get certain wheels and tire combo's to fit certain vehicles. Here's a link to my Avanti with 16" 2005 Mustang Spinner wheels which are kind of a modern version of the old halibrand multispokes. [URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2082493220078480179wMKNuE] [IMG]http://thumb19.webshots.net/t/ 53/753/4/93/22/2082493220078480179wMKNuE_th.jpg[/IMG][/URL] > I know guys with Torque Thrust and Torque Thrust D's on Larks and > Avantis... they do fit. I just don't know what the spec is on them. [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > Lee DeLaBarre > Daytona62 I think most people run the 15x6 with whatever offset they come with. nate > I know guys with Torque Thrust and Torque Thrust D's on Larks and > Avantis... they do fit. I just don't know what the spec is on them. [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > Lee DeLaBarre > Daytona62  Signaturereplace "roosters" with "cox" to reply. http://members.cox.net/njnagel That is what I am using on my coupe the standard offset 15X6 Torque Thrust D's SignatureJerry Kaiser (Studeblu) 61 Champ pick up 53 Starlight Coupe ( pinky) 53 2R6 37 President 37 Dictator >I think most people run the 15x6 with whatever offset they come with. > [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] >> Lee DeLaBarre >> Daytona62 SignaturePosted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com > I am trying to put Halibrand-looking wheels on a 63. Each time the local > tire shop guy calls the distributor, he gets a different set of specs. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > asked, they flat out told me they are not interested in our business. Please > tell your friends not to bother them. Wow, that sucks, I've had good luck with the Tire Rack. Got a good deal on some snow tires for my 944 just last year, and the sales rep was quite friendly and helpful. I have noticed, however, that they did not seem all that anxious to correct errors in their database of fitment information; I offered to scan and email over the page in my owner's manual listing acceptable snow tire sizes and got no reply. (the narrower of the two sizes I had to sign a disclaimer to order as it was not listed as correct for my car; they actually did not even have 15" wheels listed for a 944 even that was the stock wheel size - their database showed 16" only.) Might want to get in touch with someone above "sales rep" level and tell your story there. I can't imagine any business saying they weren't interested in someone's business unless the customer was a complete jackass and a drain on resources (and I certainly am not implying that inquiring about wheel fitment qualifies in that category.) Now to your real problem. Where are you located? Between JP and I we probably have enough stock and aftermarket wheels laying around that we could test fit and find you a width/backspace combo that will work well. I just don't have an Avanti to test fit them on. FWIW a 3/4" offset should be about stock; 15x7's with a 3/4" offset fit and work great on a C-K although the inner sidewall is close to the tie rod end. I can fit 245/60R15s all around on my '55 coupe, although I don't know why anyone would want to. Also, you might want to find an offset spec for the stock 15x6" Magnum 500 wheels, that would be a guaranteed fitment as they were a factory option on the Avanti IIs. good luck, nate Signaturereplace "roosters" with "cox" to reply. http://members.cox.net/njnagel > Wow, that sucks, I've had good luck with the Tire Rack. --Me too, which is why I was, um, gobsmacked. > I have noticed, however, that they did not seem all that anxious to correct errors in their database of fitment information; --This is at the core of my rant. When the computers come in on a dolly truck, the stack of old books goes out on the same truck. Then the one guy who knew it all by heart retires, and the automatic content editor cuts off everything over ___ years old, and then the pimply-faced kid gets to laugh at you. Couple of local tire shop bonus points: "The guys at the distributor are a lot younger than you & I are." (Laws of physics revised by string theory?). On weather-checked whitewall stripes on Pirelli P77s: "We could just mount the stripes in, right?" (P77 was the first dual-compound street tire--"Mount this side IN" and "This side OUT" are molded into the rubber he was looking at. Not a tire historian). I may try wire-brushing the white off. (the narrower of the two sizes I had to sign a disclaimer to order as it was not listed as correct for my car); --Could the Legal Dept. be a partner in this attitude? Ya think? > Might want to get in touch with someone above "sales rep" level and tell your story there. --You bet I will. I am a member of the SDC, I'll have them know... ...unless the customer was a complete jackass and a drain on resources --Well, there is that, but I had the $1500 in my hand (wanted tires, too)... --In part thanks to you, and my trusty tape and 2x4, I'm pretty certain what the stock specs are. The problem with these other shops is, they don't know what THEIR product specs are, and neither I nor the local is willing to order 3 or 4 to try on, then individually bubble-wrap & crate back. Then, factor in tire issues: to get a high speed rating (H is good, might settle for T), I pretty much have to give up on my perfect-fit 215/75/15s, so we get into trying to guess how much a sidewall will bulge on a 15x6 compared to a 16x7, frinstance. It's the bulgy part, not the computed tread face width, that will polish the tie rod end. And I guess everybody here knows that, despite Avanti's cavernous wheel-well opening, you get some pretty serious tyre-edge interference at the front corner (right around 29-1/2" diameter the way mine sits). And those big holes look funny with itty-bitty rollerskate wheels sticking out of them: a 15-inch with lower than 70 series profile looks geeky to me. So 1+1 is a distinct possibility, and I thought guys in wheel shops knew how to figure that. > Also, you might want to find an offset spec for the stock 15x6" Magnum 500 wheels, that would be a guaranteed fitment as they were a factory option on the Avanti IIs. --It's 4 inches and up on current offerings, which seems like a lot to me. (Is it?). I have a set of those on my 66 El CaBrandex, customized to Mark Donohue Sunoco colors. The yellow patches got guffaws for years, until the same shade started turning up on tuner wheels (and the calipers behind them). I'm way out west in O-Hi-O. Close enough to drive over to Tire Rack for try-ons, if they'd just &*^% invite me. |
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