Wheel/hub/bolt pattern question(s)

[verdelaw]

Sooooo before I go down this rabbit hole myself, I thought I'd make a post and do a sanity check and get some opinions/info

I have a 68 charger that came with some horrible non-roadworthy tires and seen-better-decades wheels. I want to replace them. Great. So I do some measurements using this handy dandy guide:

http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/fitting_tires_wheels/

From what I can tell, my rear wells with stock suspension and (what appear to be) stock drum brakes can easily fit 15x10 rims and 275/60/15 tires. The front will fit 15x8 rims and 235/60/15 tires. So now it's just down to picking out what I want right? So I settle on the Bassett black steel D-hole wheels:

http://www.bassettwheel.com/dhole_lightweight.html

Here's the problem... they don't make wheels for a 5 x 4.25" bolt pattern. And I can't find any other steel wheels that look similar. So now... do I purchase and install new wheel hubs to replace the bolt pattern to something that Bassett makes wheels for? This would drive me to [insanity] acquire new brakes to fit the new hubs.. and if you're going to get new brakes why would you get drums.. so I'd have to upgrade to discs $$$$.....

So what started as simply buying new wheels/tires has me considering new wheel hubs and a completely new braking system. Sigh. Is there an easier way out? :upside down:

 

[MoparMitch]

Your bolt pattern should be 4 1/2 , not 4 1/4 . The 4 1/4 you are mentioning would probably be the back spacing of the wheel.

 

[verdelaw]

I measured it. I'll look again (because I WANT it to be 4.5"), but the bolt pattern measured at 4.25".

 

[MoparMitch]

On 5 lug studs, you can not measure from stud across to stud, as that is not the true circle. Measure from the center of one stud to the imaginary center of the two opposite of it. No Mopar B body in that year range should have 4.25, they should all be 4.5

 

[verdelaw]

Using the method shown here:

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/techpage.jsp?techid=92

I measure my 5 bolt pattern to be 4.25"... I mean exactly.

 

[JamieZ]

Stock a 68 charger would have been 5 on 4.5" Not sure where someone would have got 5 4.24" drums from I don't think Chrysler used that pattern.

 

[verdelaw]

I'm gonna take the horrible wheel I have now to the tire shop and have them measure it. Then we'll know for sure...

 

[patrick66]

It's 4-1/2", guaranteed 100%. There are no US cars of that era with a 4-1/4" BP

 

[verdelaw]

You're right. Silly me to trust an infographic from tire rack and my own measurements.

So I've learned a couple lessons... that measurement technique from tire rack is sloppy at best and total bs at worst. Help from FBBO members is priceless. I'm off now to order wheels/tires AND become an FBBO gold member. Thanks guys/gals...