I have wheels that the previous owner said came from a mid-80s Gran Fury/Diplomat on my 69 Polara. I'd like to know what size trim rings would fit, it's currently black wheels with dog dish center caps. I think they are 15x7 wheels but not 100% on that
Wheel trim ring question, 69 Polara
- Thread starter polarnj
- Start date
If they are 15" wheels, there are three different 15" trim rings, or at least two.
One would be for the 15x6 W23 Class II 16-Slot Road Wheels that were popular on Cordobas and New Yorkers in the middle 1970s. Also went back to 1970 with a "splined" center cap.
One would be for the 15x6.5 Rally Wheels which came on the 1976 Charger SE cars. Not sure if those rings were the same as the 15x6 W23s?
One would be for the 15x7 wheels, as in the 1979 Magnum GT wheels. These wheels look like the "cop car wheels", but have no nubs to hold a hub cap as they had a W23-style center cap. Also had a special high-metalflake silver paint on them. Sometimes more of a "mist" than a full-wet coat of paint.
There was also a 15x7 W23 wheel that was on the 1977 Chrysler Lebaron cars. One year only.
Measure the dimension from the outer edge of the wheel's lip to where the two sections meet. Look for trim rings which are less-wide than that dimension. Tell the vendor how wide you think your wheels are, too.
In all cases, nobody's trim rings went fully to the center section of the wheel. Always a gap there. But putting a too narrow ring on can look worse than no ring at all.
Just some thoughts and observations,
CBODY67
One would be for the 15x6 W23 Class II 16-Slot Road Wheels that were popular on Cordobas and New Yorkers in the middle 1970s. Also went back to 1970 with a "splined" center cap.
One would be for the 15x6.5 Rally Wheels which came on the 1976 Charger SE cars. Not sure if those rings were the same as the 15x6 W23s?
One would be for the 15x7 wheels, as in the 1979 Magnum GT wheels. These wheels look like the "cop car wheels", but have no nubs to hold a hub cap as they had a W23-style center cap. Also had a special high-metalflake silver paint on them. Sometimes more of a "mist" than a full-wet coat of paint.
There was also a 15x7 W23 wheel that was on the 1977 Chrysler Lebaron cars. One year only.
Measure the dimension from the outer edge of the wheel's lip to where the two sections meet. Look for trim rings which are less-wide than that dimension. Tell the vendor how wide you think your wheels are, too.
In all cases, nobody's trim rings went fully to the center section of the wheel. Always a gap there. But putting a too narrow ring on can look worse than no ring at all.
Just some thoughts and observations,
CBODY67
1970FuryConv
Old Man with a Hat
Pictures of the wheels help ID them!
They may be 15x7 cop rims, which did not have trim rings. Who knows without seeing what you have?
Cop rims.
Vaanth
New Member
The wheels on your cool looking Polara look like the 80s Chrysler M-body (Gran Fury/Diplomat/LeBaron/Fifth Avenue) 15"x7" steel wheel (#4126675). They could also be found on some R-bodies. That wheel will accommodate up to the 3" deep Chrysler trim ring. The 2" trim ring already mentioned will fit but looks shallow on the 15x7" wheel and looks better on a 15x6" wheel. The 2.5" deep trim ring used on the 1972-1976 15"x6.5" Rallye wheels fits well. The 3" trim ring used on the 1970-1971 B- and E-body 15"x7" Rallye Wheels and the 1970 Challenger T/A standard 15x7 black steel wheels (Rallye was optional) (#2944450) will fit, but in some cases might rub on the center, depending on the stamping. The 3" trim ring was polished for 1970 and brushed for some late production 1970 and 1971 models.
The 15"x7" Police wheels (#3766077) used from 1978-1988 on B-bodies, F-bodies, and M-bodies, and shown on the gold Fury, are dimensionally the same as the 15"x7" M-body wheels and will accept the trim rings and hub caps. The Police wheels are built heavier with cooling slots and the center is full perimeter welded to the rim.
As also mentioned, Magnum GT wheels are 15"x7" and look like Police wheels without the hub cap nubs. Here is a Magnum GT wheel on my Challenger T/A with the 2.5" trim ring. These 2.5" trim rings would fit similarly on your 15x7 wheels.
Here is a 15"x8" Super Coupe wheel that I have on the back, which are the same, just wider. It also has a 2.5" ring which leaves a bigger gap. A deeper ring would match better, but I kind of like the way these look, plus it's what I had on hand.
I custom painted these wheels with hand flaking and added a 1970-71 cap (also painted the same). The paint is over done, but this car is not original itself (it also has a 440 Six Pack rather than its original 340 Six Pak. Stripes are to be added.). This is the wheels on the car:
For comparison to the 2.5" ring depth (and to get in another car picture), the 3" deep ring can be seen on these 15"x7" Rallye wheels on my other T/A:
Sadly, I don't have a C-body yet, so I have to make do with these smaller cars plus a few others....
NOTE: The foregoing information is only for Chrysler original trim rings and proper reproductions. Aftermarket trim rings can fit but may be different.
The 15"x7" Police wheels (#3766077) used from 1978-1988 on B-bodies, F-bodies, and M-bodies, and shown on the gold Fury, are dimensionally the same as the 15"x7" M-body wheels and will accept the trim rings and hub caps. The Police wheels are built heavier with cooling slots and the center is full perimeter welded to the rim.
As also mentioned, Magnum GT wheels are 15"x7" and look like Police wheels without the hub cap nubs. Here is a Magnum GT wheel on my Challenger T/A with the 2.5" trim ring. These 2.5" trim rings would fit similarly on your 15x7 wheels.
Here is a 15"x8" Super Coupe wheel that I have on the back, which are the same, just wider. It also has a 2.5" ring which leaves a bigger gap. A deeper ring would match better, but I kind of like the way these look, plus it's what I had on hand.
I custom painted these wheels with hand flaking and added a 1970-71 cap (also painted the same). The paint is over done, but this car is not original itself (it also has a 440 Six Pack rather than its original 340 Six Pak. Stripes are to be added.). This is the wheels on the car:
For comparison to the 2.5" ring depth (and to get in another car picture), the 3" deep ring can be seen on these 15"x7" Rallye wheels on my other T/A:
Sadly, I don't have a C-body yet, so I have to make do with these smaller cars plus a few others....
NOTE: The foregoing information is only for Chrysler original trim rings and proper reproductions. Aftermarket trim rings can fit but may be different.
Last edited:
Vaanth
New Member
The rear are 15x8 with 275/60-15 tires. The front are 15x7 with 255/60-15.
The Challenger T/A you have pictured has the #2944450 15x7 black steel wheels which have the hub caps and 3" trim rings. Front and rear are the same 15x7. The T/A and Plymouth AAR Cuda had biased tires, larger G60-15 in the rear and E60-15 in the front. The pictured T/A also has biased tires in modern radials, probably in similar sizing such as 255/60-15 rear and 235/60-15 in the front (guessing from the appearance).
Vaanth
New Member
Following are some more specific pictures to the subject that I took this morning. These show a 15"x7" M-body wheel with the three types of trim rings:
Bare M-body 15"x7" wheel:
M-body 15"x7" wheel with Dodge stainless steel cap (2944089):
3" trim ring on wheel and its gap:
2.5" trim ring on wheel and its gap:
2" (actually 1.75") trim ring on wheel and its gap:
M-body 15"x7" wheel with Police stainless steel cap (3699152):
3" trim ring on wheel with Police cap:
Bare M-body 15"x7" wheel:
M-body 15"x7" wheel with Dodge stainless steel cap (2944089):
3" trim ring on wheel and its gap:
2.5" trim ring on wheel and its gap:
2" (actually 1.75") trim ring on wheel and its gap:
M-body 15"x7" wheel with Police stainless steel cap (3699152):
3" trim ring on wheel with Police cap:
Thx for all the pic, appreciate your help !
The tires on mine are 235 70 r15, could I fit a slightly narrower tire on that rim if I wanted, such as 215 or 225? I might possibly go with the whitewall look and 235 is a hard size to find
The tires on mine are 235 70 r15, could I fit a slightly narrower tire on that rim if I wanted, such as 215 or 225? I might possibly go with the whitewall look and 235 is a hard size to find
Vaanth
New Member
Both of those sizes will fit. The 215 will have a more pronounced bulge or curve from the wheel to the tread compared to the 225, as will a 75 series versus a 70 series.
Vaanth
New Member
They are original Chrysler 2.5" trim rings. They all have styled, beveled edges. You can see better detail of the edges in the close up gap pictures on the 2.5", and the 3" too, that I posted earlier today.
Not sure exactly what you are trying to say, but possibly incorrect regarding the 15x7 W23 road wheel. They were available on M bodies 78 to 1981, not "one year only".
Sadly, I cannot verify this beyond 79 with brochure images, as they were pushing the aluminum rims after 79, but I do at least have a 79 brochure pic to show they were an M body offering.
I also cannot prove it with Data book info either. As I said, starting in 79 Chrysler Corp really pushed the Aluminum wheels and the W23 did not appear as an option even though they were available...below is the 77 databook, but this is true of 79 data book as well. In clear contradiction with the 79 brochure image:
From what I can ascertain the first road wheel that was 15x7 was in 78 behind the Aluminum Fascia road wheel used on NYB Salons (painted black) and the chrome ones where still 15x6. From 79 to 81 they were all 15x7.
The 15x7 Road wheels I have on my T&C where pulled from an 81 LeBaron complete with plastic colour inserts, which I left off as I prefer the chrome look.
For what it's worth...
The reason I noted the 1977 model year was from brochure research and no more. Back then, that's all I had to go with.
I was not aware that the aluminum fascia wheels had the W23 center sections behind them, either. Had no reason to research that, I just went with what was in the sales brochures for those model years. I did note they were 15x7s, though. Just as the urethane-faced wheels were 15x7s.
As much as I liked the urethane road wheels on the Cordoba-type cars, CAR AND DRIVER claimed they were the reason for the poor braking performance of their small Fury test car. So I decided the 15x6 W23s were the best choice. They claimed "no cooling slots" as the reason, but they never complained about that for cars which had full wheel covers, as I realized. Oh well . . .
I knew about the 15x7 police wheels, but also discovered that every M-car New Yorker with factory wire wheel covers were hiding a set of 15x7 steel wheels, too.
The unsuspected "gem" of the bunch is the 1976 Charger SE 15" Rallye wheels, which are stamped 15x6.5 on the inside of the rim. Why they didn't go ahead and make them a full 7" wide is another one of those "mysteries", probably governed by economics? Similar to why the station wagons usually got 6.5" wide wheels (14" and 15" for C-bodies from 1965 onward), yet the police-spec wheels were just 6" wide.
I probably should have been more diligent about pouring through Chrysler parts books, back then, for wheel issues, rather than seeking upgraded suspension hardware (as in factory rear sway bars for Fuselage cars)in the Police and Taxi sections?
Thanks for sharing your research,
CBODY67
I was not aware that the aluminum fascia wheels had the W23 center sections behind them, either. Had no reason to research that, I just went with what was in the sales brochures for those model years. I did note they were 15x7s, though. Just as the urethane-faced wheels were 15x7s.
As much as I liked the urethane road wheels on the Cordoba-type cars, CAR AND DRIVER claimed they were the reason for the poor braking performance of their small Fury test car. So I decided the 15x6 W23s were the best choice. They claimed "no cooling slots" as the reason, but they never complained about that for cars which had full wheel covers, as I realized. Oh well . . .
I knew about the 15x7 police wheels, but also discovered that every M-car New Yorker with factory wire wheel covers were hiding a set of 15x7 steel wheels, too.
The unsuspected "gem" of the bunch is the 1976 Charger SE 15" Rallye wheels, which are stamped 15x6.5 on the inside of the rim. Why they didn't go ahead and make them a full 7" wide is another one of those "mysteries", probably governed by economics? Similar to why the station wagons usually got 6.5" wide wheels (14" and 15" for C-bodies from 1965 onward), yet the police-spec wheels were just 6" wide.
I probably should have been more diligent about pouring through Chrysler parts books, back then, for wheel issues, rather than seeking upgraded suspension hardware (as in factory rear sway bars for Fuselage cars)in the Police and Taxi sections?
Thanks for sharing your research,
CBODY67
