When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
My 66 has a 67 BB hood and 67 rally wheels. Also currently 350 motor but that's likely to change. Just added new front clip, removed rear flares and repainted car in the original Nassau Blue. Beautiful! It previously had 245/60-15 on 7" wide rally wheels. Now w/o the flares looks like a good bump and the tires might scrape or even damage the body work. The big tires make the car look bad *** and I'm just building a good driver so stock isn't important to me. That said, what are the biggest 15" tires I can use with out fear of scrapping. Should I keep the 67 rally wheels or replace with a custom wheel tire combo? If custom what are some sizes that would fit?
My 66 has a 67 BB hood and 67 rally wheels. Also currently 350 motor but that's likely to change. Just added new front clip, removed rear flares and repainted car in the original Nassau Blue. Beautiful! It previously had 245/60-15 on 7" wide rally wheels. Now w/o the flares looks like a good bump and the tires might scrape or even damage the body work. The big tires make the car look bad *** and I'm just building a good driver so stock isn't important to me. That said, what are the biggest 15" tires I can use with out fear of scrapping. Should I keep the 67 rally wheels or replace with a custom wheel tire combo? If custom what are some sizes that would fit?
TIA
John
Keep the '67 Rally Wheels and mount some Diamond Back "Michelins" 215-70R/15 and you'll be a happy camper.
You could use 215/65/15. I used those on several stock fender midyears, including autocrossing, with no issues at all. They give your car a slightly lower-profile look, which I happen to like.
I've also had 245/45/17 on my stock fender 67 and these are also safe to run under any and all conditions without ever hitting your fenders... if you ever get interested in a larger wheel size.
Keep the '67 Rally Wheels and mount some Diamond Back "Michelins" 215-70R/15 and you'll be a happy camper.
I just put those exact tires on my car and while I'm quite happy with them I really think I could have gone to a 225.
I have the same sized Toyo's on a set of TT II's and they seemed a bit wider.
I just put those exact tires on my car and while I'm quite happy with them I really think I could have gone to a 225.
I have the same sized Toyo's on a set of TT II's and they seemed a bit wider.
Gary
Me to. Just got them last August. Very nice, run smooth at highway speed.
Thanks folks! I was hoping to hear from a 225 user as I "heard" they will work. Also what offset are you using to clear the fenders with 245s? Mine will clearly hit with a good bounce.
I have a '64 convert with 225/70-15 tires on bolt-on knock-offs. I had to trim a smidge off the front of the front wheel opening, maybe 1/8-1/4", on the lower edge. They look nice and fat!
Currently I have 245/45/17 on my stock fender 67 and these are also safe to run under any and all conditions without ever hitting your fenders... if you ever get interested in a larger wheel size.
I like that combo! Where'd you get your wheels and what brand and size?
I like that combo! Where'd you get your wheels and what brand and size?
Thanks.
Wheels are 17x7x4.75 backspacing. You must move the parking brake brackets from the sides to the tops of the trailing arm for these to fit, but any welder can do that for under $100 and it has no effect on parking brake operation. Wheels are from PS Engineering in southern Calif., their Trans Am model (which also comes in a 15" diameter).
Tires you see on the car are 245/45/17 Nitto NT-1 DOT100 near-slicks. Man, a street midyear never felt better to me than on those tires; they even work in the rain with care. Currently running 235/45/17 Kumho Ecsta LE Sports, which are a Max Summer tire and have more tread grooves than the Nittos. They have slightly less grip than the Nittos for autocrossing, but at $79 each from Tire Rack, versus $1,000+ for a set of Nittos, I couldn't pass them up.
I've had 235/60-15 tires on stock rims, but they are really too wide for the narrow wheel. If you want more rubber, 245 is about as wide as you will ever fit as LouieM shows above. I used to have 245/45-16 on 16x8 wheels as well, but those are hard to find and I went to 245/50-16 tires. I get really really slight rub. I'm 99% sure these are 4" backspace, and my parking brake bracket has been relocated as well.
The issue with fit is that the bodies are not always centered on the mounts. Being off by 1/4" can even be the difference between what works on our cars not working on yours. But if you check and the tires seem to be pretty close to the same position on both sides, then you should be good with either LouieM's or my fitment for 245 tires.
Lou- I like stock wheels but your car looks great. I'm also tempted, just as much because. 17" rim and lower aspect rubber really make such a difference! I was in a neutral slide half the time around the NCM track with my 205/75/15's! It's a hoot, but not a very fast way around, no?
JMO but unless the car is lowered (which can promote more rub) 60's and especially 50's on a 15" wheel don't fill the wheel well and just don't look good. No offence meant, but your car looks as though there's too much gap in the wells.
215/70/15 Toyo's on 6" TT II's. Front end lowered about an inch or so.
215/70/15 Michelin Diamondback red lines on 6" bolt on KO's. Same stance.
Last edited by Gary's '66; Jul 14, 2015 at 08:12 PM.
Lou- I like stock wheels but your car looks great. I'm also tempted, just as much because. 17" rim and lower aspect rubber really make such a difference! I was in a neutral slide half the time around the NCM track with my 205/75/15's! It's a hoot, but not a very fast way around, no?
Benton, like stock wheels a lot too, 67 rallys being my favorite. I would have never gone to an aftermarket wheel except I needed the most tire possible in autoxing. The performance-tire selection in the 15" size is pathetic, but in 17" the selection is great.
I rarely think that aftermarket wheels, especially chromed or polished ones, look good on a Sting Ray, because they overpower the body lines IMHO. Once I saw these PS wheels with a dark center, and learned that the spokes closely follow the design of the original Torque Thrust D wheels from the 60s, I was hooked. For some odd reason, none of the current American Racing wheels for our cars look much like original TTDs.
As for tracking your car, sliding around is the most fun! You'll never be the fastest guy out there, but you're probably having the most fun!
Benton, like stock wheels a lot too, 67 rallys being my favorite. I would have never gone to an aftermarket wheel except I needed the most tire possible in autoxing. The performance-tire selection in the 15" size is pathetic, but in 17" the selection is great.
I rarely think that aftermarket wheels, especially chromed or polished ones, look good on a Sting Ray, because they overpower the body lines IMHO. Once I saw these PS wheels with a dark center, and learned that the spokes closely follow the design of the original Torque Thrust D wheels from the 60s, I was hooked. For some odd reason, none of the current American Racing wheels for our cars look much like original TTDs.
As for tracking your car, sliding around is the most fun! You'll never be the fastest guy out there, but you're probably having the most fun!
Lou
When it comes time to put the car back on the road I'm going to consider it. I'll have to price your wheels!
Btw- bang for the buck I have always thought Kumho to be a good choice.
My car came with two sets of wheels. Foose chromes with 245/45/17 on back and 235/45/17 on the front, and '67 ralleys with 215/70/15 all around. I don't really like chrome wheels anyway, but the Fooses don't completely fill up the rear wheelwell at certain angles. I may try a different profile on the rear to see how it looks.
JMO but unless the car is lowered (which can promote more rub) 60's and especially 50's on a 15" wheel don't fill the wheel well and just don't look good. No offence meant, but your car looks as though there's too much gap in the wells.
Even 50 series on 16" wheels needs the car to be lowered to look OK. The 245/45-16 tires with a lowered car did not fill the wheelwell, and if you were buying today I would recommend a 17" wheel so you have a taller tire and better selection when you buy tires.
I forgot to mention that either 245/45/17 or 235/45/17 front tires will rub on the frame when the steering is cranked all the way over. This never occurs during normal driving, or even in autocrosses, but only if I'm maneuvering in a parking lot, etc. Makes for two attractive shiny areas on an otherwise dull black frame.
So you're saying I should stay with the stock 205/75-15 to fill the wheel wells or modify my parking brake and up size my wheels to 17s and lower my car? Or then the 215/70-15 is the most popular option with the stock wheels and ride height? I'm so confused. I'm going to see a man now about some Corvette wheels and tires. I'll report back when I see what he has.
So you're saying I should stay with the stock 205/75-15 to fill the wheel wells or modify my parking brake and up size my wheels to 17s and lower my car? Or then the 215/70-15 is the most popular option with the stock wheels and ride height? I'm so confused. I'm going to see a man now about some Corvette wheels and tires. I'll report back when I see what he has.
Thanks for all the feedback and pictures!
John
That's one reason I usually do my own research first before posting a question.
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.
Tire size
That's one reason I usually do my own research first before posting a question. 