I want to get fat!

[HoppR]

How fat of a tire do you think our Freewheeler would fit under those bobtail fenders? It looks like there is a lot of inboard room.

[RickDeVon]

That's right!!! Go ahead and put some meat on the ground of that little hotrod...

[clint44]

Sorry for not starting a new thread but have any of you changed wheels on your Freewheeler,yet? The rear wheels on FWs and TriGlides are kind of an oddball set-up (4lug x 4.25" bolt circle) and as such there isn't a huge selection of suitable wheels to choose from. However,I have found a few that I think would look bitchin on the rear and as soon as we get our new FW,I'll pull one of the rear wheels off to measure its width & backspacing. Am guessing they are 15x6's with a zero offset (3.5" backspacing) and if that's the case,will probably order a 15x7 with either 4" or 4.5" backspacing. Unfortunately,just about any decent wheel isn't going to be an inexpensive item but the ones I'm considering are approximately $500/each.
As the FW body has some styling elements of a 32 Ford,this is a rear wheel I think would look great on our trike.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Got all excited when I saw the title, thought we were gonna eat

[Springman2007]

Sorry for not starting a new thread but have any of you changed wheels on your Freewheeler,yet? The rear wheels on FWs and TriGlides are kind of an oddball set-up (4lug x 4.25" bolt circle) and as such there isn't a huge selection of suitable wheels to choose from. However,I have found a few that I think would look bitchin on the rear and as soon as we get our new FW,I'll pull one of the rear wheels off to measure its width & backspacing. Am guessing they are 15x6's with a zero offset (3.5" backspacing) and if that's the case,will probably order a 15x7 with either 4" or 4.5" backspacing. Unfortunately,just about any decent wheel isn't going to be an inexpensive item but the ones I'm considering are approximately $500/each.
As the FW body has some styling elements of a 32 Ford,this is a rear wheel I think would look great on our trike.

Well, I checked into tires for the FLRT. I was thinking of a set of Smoothies for the rear; Stockton Wheel can make them for you fairly cheap - you will have to then get them powder coated or chromed. The stock wheel width of the 2015 FLRT and TG wheels are 5.5; but, a 6 inch wide wheel would fit. But, just barely, remember the inner rear fender rolls down on the body creating a true fender well. And, without modifying the fenders, your tire is going to have to live and work within that well.

Also, there was a fiberglass place in AZ I think was looking into making wider fenders for the FLRT, I think they were looking to widening the rear fenders to use a 10 in wheel width - would that be PHAT enough?

I would recommend adding a DK custom lift kit if you were going to go with a 6 inch wide wheel and stock fenders just for added security and better stance though. It would raise the rear around 1 inch.

For me, the hold up was not the rear wheels, it was the front. When I started talking with vendors about a front wheel for an FLRT, most had no idea or the quotes were ridiculous....with them wanting me to change the front brakes as well. (I thought a spoked front wheel and Smoothie rears would give the FLRT an old-school Servicar look.)

So, I decided to wait - for now. I will get the other stuff, like the motor work and etc. done now.

I also have thought about just going chrome - I think the stock wheels would look best all chrome - for me.

Springman

PS - Back spacing for a 6 inch wheel is 3-1/8 inches.

[clint44]

Well, I checked into tires for the FLRT. I was thinking of a set of Smoothies for the rear; Stockton Wheel can make them for you fairly cheap - you will have to then get them powder coated or chromed. The stock wheel width of the 2015 FLRT and TG wheels are 5.5; but, a 6 inch wide wheel would fit. But, just barely, remember the inner rear fender rolls down on the body creating a true fender well. And, without modifying the fenders, your tire is going to have to live and work within that well.
Also, there was a fiberglass place in AZ I think was looking into making wider fenders for the FLRT, I think they were looking to widening the rear fenders to use a 10 in wheel width - would that be PHAT enough?
I would recommend adding a DK custom lift kit if you were going to go with a 6 inch wide wheel and stock fenders just for added security and better stance though. It would raise the rear around 1 inch.
For me, the hold up was not the rear wheels, it was the front. When I started talking with vendors about a front wheel for an FLRT, most had no idea or the quotes were ridiculous....with them wanting me to change the front brakes as well. (I thought a spoked front wheel and Smoothie rears would give the FLRT an old-school Servicar look.
I also have thought about just going chrome - I think the stock wheels would look best all chrome - for me.
Springman
PS - Back spacing for a 6 inch wheel is 3-1/8 inches.

I need to measure a stock FLRT rear wheel and wheelwell,before ordering. Are the wheel size and offset numbers stamped on the inside of the wheel?
Wider tires and wheels might look cool but the added rolling resistance and rotational inertia would reduce the trike's performance & fuel economy so my plan is to stay close to oem dimensions on both. FWIW,Performance Machine offers wheels in either a 15x5.5 and 15x6.5. $1,000 per wheel is a little more than I want to pay,though.

Definitely plan to install a DK Custom lift kit as one of the first mods,when we get our trike.

I don't plan on changing the front wheel,although I wish it were an 18",instead of 19". It's possible I may polish the outer rim and powdercoat the spokes the same color as the new rear wheel's.

The rear wheels I'm going to buy are two-piece so I'll be able to get the backspacing I want.

[HoppR]

How wide of a tire will fit on the existing rim, a 50?

[clint44]

How wide of a tire will fit on the existing rim, a 50?

Stock tire size is a 205/65/15. You could run a 205/60/15 or a 205/50/15 on that narrow rim. Neither would be any wider but they would be shorter in diameter. A shorter tire will change the overall gearing and affect the speedo reading.

A 215/60/15 would probably fit but anything wider would be iffy.

- - - Updated - - -

It looks like there is a lot of inboard room.

Give us some measurements,Hop.

[Springman2007]

Well, I put the below together when I was looking at using Smoothies on my FLRT:




Also, at the time, the price they quoted me for the rear wheels was $115.00 each - raw - no chrome or powder coating. And, trim ring and hubcap was extra.


Maybe it will help you......

Springman

[clint44]

A 15x6 wheel is actually around 7" wide (outside rim to outside rim) so a 0 offset is 3.5" backspace. If your numbers are accurate,3 1/8" backspacing would equate to around a -9 offset.(offset is usually measured in millimeters)
I think a 15x6 wheel w/0 offset would fit safely so that's probably what I will order.

Thanks for that graph,Springman.

[Springman2007]

A 15x6 wheel is actually around 7" wide (outside rim to outside rim) so a 0 offset is 3.5" backspace. If your numbers are accurate,3 1/8" backspacing would equate to around a -9 offset.(offset is usually measured in millimeters)
I think a 15x6 wheel w/0 offset would fit safely so that's probably what I will order.

Thanks for that graph,Springman.

Glad to pass the info on. I filled the Stockton form in with the measurements requested by Stockton; they went over it with me when I was making my Smoothie wheel inquiry. From that form, they would create the wheel to fit.

I may go with Smoothies, have not decided....But, I then thought about possible using white wall tires - then that front tire once again came into play.....19 in white wall......


Anyway, keep us posted.

SPringman