15" to 14" wheels

[tbrd60]

My 60 tbird has 15" wheels. I'm going to put stock 14" wheels and caps. Is it going to be much of a difference, looks and driving?

[Alexander]

In looks it will look lower and better. I have driven Squarebirds with 15 and 14 inch wheels. There is not much difference in handling.

[Dan Leavens]

Wheels

I would agree that there is not much difference in handling between the two sizes. I too changed and the only difference was to adjust the mirrors.

Dano Calgary,Alberta Canada

[tbrd60]

Any regrets going to 14" wheels?

[Guest]

George-
I just put radials on my ragtop and the original size was not available so I have 14s. The speedometer is off by about 3mph at 60mph. They look great. -LEON

[tbirdave]

14s are great unless yu have put on disc brakes then you will have to buy mustang 14s to clear your calipers.

[tbrd60]

What is the difference in the mustang wheels?

[drclarkra]

I have a tall bias ply 14" spare tire that has never been on the ground. It appears the same height as the 15" radials that are on the car. It probably depends on what height the sidewalls are.

[shafe]

15 to 14?

strange -- my birds standard tires are 800 x 14s still have the originol spare in trunk never hit the ground.....shafe

[tbirdave]

What is the difference in the mustang wheels?

They flair out on the inside sinstead of hugging the drum. Therefore they clear the calipers. I painted mine red and put on Coker wide whites and the original wheel covers, Looks sweet.

[tbirdave]

What is the difference in the mustang wheels?

They flair out on the inside instead of hug the drums so they clear the calipers. I painted mine red , put on Coker wide whites and the original wheel covers. It looks sweet.

[drclarkra]

Oops!!

I have a tall bias ply 14" spare tire that has never been on the ground. It appears the same height as the 15" radials that are on the car. It probably depends on what height the sidewalls are.

I was wrong . Those are 14" tires on my bird. I guess I had just assumed a car like this would have 15's.

[dgs]

I understand from my Dad that there was a brief period where manufacturers were trying small wheels with tall tires, I assume for a better ride. The '57 Chevy has 14"-ers too. Ironically, the baby birds (Dad's got a '56) and the bullet birds (I think) both had 15's.

Those tall original equipment 14's are real hard to match in modern radials. The 25/75R14 is close, but it's wider and shorter. I've got 17" alum wheels with SUV sized Pirrelli's (235/55R17) and they're still shorter than the stock 14's.

Regarding 14's vs. 15's, the bigger difference will be the tires I bet. Tall, WWW 14" radials will look, drive and ride much different than low profile skinny WW 15's.

[shafe]

disc brakes

please correct me if i'm wrong but didn't i read on one of the posts awhile back that you could put ford granada or lincoln versailles calipers and rotors straight on to a 60 bird front end? and the original wheels would clear...i hope so because i have wasted a lot of time looking for that particular setup and am in the middle of dealing for one. or should we use the granada wheels...they were 15s weren't they....now i'm confused...maybe they were 14s who knows? shafe

[Alexander]

You are not mistaken. Others have done this conversion. I am pretty sure that you need to get Grenada or other modern Ford wheels, as the original ones will not clear the calipers.

http://www.squarebirds.org/disc_brake.htm