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Tire width - '67

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Old Sep 21, 2004 | 04:00 PM
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Default Tire width - '67

I want to put wider tires on my 1967 coupe. I've been told 7" rims will fit, but i've been unable to get info on how wide the tire can be...I would like to go with 225 - 60 Goodrich Radial TA's front and rear. Anyone know if that will work?
Thanks, gary.
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Old Sep 21, 2004 | 05:47 PM
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I've been running 225/60's on 15X7 rims (3.75" backspace) on my `65 for several years and without any problems. The fenderwell lips have not been trimmed and the car has been lowered also.
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Old Sep 21, 2004 | 07:46 PM
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Thanks alot!!
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Old Sep 22, 2004 | 12:01 AM
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Originally Posted by Vetterodder
I've been running 225/60's on 15X7 rims (3.75" backspace) on my `65 for several years and without any problems. The fenderwell lips have not been trimmed and the car has been lowered also.
When you get a chance, could you measure the outside diameter of your tire. I am curious how they compare to the 215/65's that we have.

Thanks,
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Old Sep 22, 2004 | 08:45 AM
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FWIW 225-60-15's on 8" ralleys (C-3) wheels will eat the front fender lip. Learned the hard way. They are also short on loaded tire radius.
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Old Sep 22, 2004 | 11:01 AM
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Originally Posted by Dad's '66
When you get a chance, could you measure the outside diameter of your tire. I am curious how they compare to the 215/65's that we have.

Thanks,
215/65 15 = 26.0" diameter, 225/60 15 = 25.63" diameter. These figures are calculated so could be slightly different than actual manufacturer specs.
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Old Sep 22, 2004 | 03:51 PM
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my neighbor has a '67 with the standard ralley wheels (they are 6" i think) with 235/60-15 all around and has no rubbing issues at all front or rear.
The car looks great with the wider rubber and gives it a nice tough stance without having to go up to a larger wheel size.
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Old Sep 22, 2004 | 09:23 PM
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Goodrich lists their 225/60 15's at 25.6"
I am guessing all of this...size, fit, etc. depends on the tire/manufacturer. Also, it seems that the reported tread width varies by manufacturer. Am i correct in believing that 225 represents the width in mm, and 60 indicates the sidewall is 60% of the tread?? Again, Goodrich reports their 225 tread at 7.2", with a total width of 9".
If the info i have is correct (several tire guys claimed not to know, then 225 = +/- 8.8" and not 7.2, but close enough to be called 9...

Thanks all for your input, gary.
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Old Sep 22, 2004 | 09:46 PM
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Originally Posted by gary kettlitz
Goodrich lists their 225/60 15's at 25.6"
I am guessing all of this...size, fit, etc. depends on the tire/manufacturer. Also, it seems that the reported tread width varies by manufacturer. Am i correct in believing that 225 represents the width in mm, and 60 indicates the sidewall is 60% of the tread?? Again, Goodrich reports their 225 tread at 7.2", with a total width of 9".
If the info i have is correct (several tire guys claimed not to know, then 225 = +/- 8.8" and not 7.2, but close enough to be called 9...

Thanks all for your input, gary.
Yes, the tread width can vary between same size tires, even by the same manufacturer. The specified width (225, etc.) is the cross section of the tire, not the tread width. The apsect ratio (60) means that the sidewall height is 60% of the cross section,, not the tread. Take a look at your tires and you will see that they're widest near the middle and then taper down towards the tread. The lower the aspect ratio, the less taper there will be (the tire become more "square" as viewed from front or back) and the closer the tread width will be closer to cross section width.
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Old Sep 28, 2004 | 08:55 AM
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Anyone else have any experience with this. I would like to go with 235/60's (BarryK's note), but never thought that would work. And, as evidenced by 67L36Driver's experience, even 225's can be a problem...
BTW, it is a 1967 327/350, factory air, pw, ps, am/fm, soon to be pb coupe (not sorry for gloating ). I just put an electronic pickup in the distributor and am in the final stages of putting sidepipes on it ( #!##!!* manifold bolts). This is the last thing i need to do to put my 67 back on the road (been sitting for two years!! ).
Thanks all...gary.
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Old Sep 28, 2004 | 09:53 AM
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8" C-3 rims with 225-60's are verboten but I personally don't know if they would cause trouble with 6" or 7" ralleys.
Please note my '67 sits low in front due to BB and AC. Sharp turn/dip causes the most fender grinding.
I will be going to 215-70-15 on my original 6" rims in the very near future. I'm tired of the engine noise at hwy speed with the short tires.
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Old Sep 28, 2004 | 07:57 PM
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I have the TA radials on my SB 64 coupe. 235/60-15, with 3.75 backspace on rims, and no problems. Only real close spot is on front. With wheels cranked all the way, one way or the other, tire just clears frame by about 3/8".
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Old Sep 29, 2004 | 08:59 AM
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Originally Posted by skids
I have the TA radials on my SB 64 coupe. 235/60-15, with 3.75 backspace on rims, and no problems. Only real close spot is on front. With wheels cranked all the way, one way or the other, tire just clears frame by about 3/8".
Thanks Skids, that is exactly what i wanted to hear!! How wide are the wheels you are using?

Thanks, gary.
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Old Sep 29, 2004 | 09:42 AM
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Guys- I think what some of you are getting at is you are concerned about the "percent tread arc", which is a tuning parameter we use when developing tires on production cars.

For a given tire, if the percent tread arc is higher, the tire tends to be more "square" in the cross section. A 90% tread arc will have a wider footprint than a 80 or 85% tread arc. So the shoulder of the tire will be closer to the fender lip on a 225 tire with a 90% tread arc, than a 225 tire with an 85% tread arc. Make sense?
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Old Sep 29, 2004 | 11:35 AM
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Back in the 60's, before CAD design capability, we manually generated "tire flops" on General Arrangement layouts - took weeks to generate enough of them to cover all turn arcs between jounce and rebound; Catia sure solved that problem
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Old Sep 29, 2004 | 11:55 AM
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A subject near and dear to my heart John! I did my GMI senior thesis on generating tire flops using ADAMS anaysis software and UG... boy has technology changed!
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Old Sep 29, 2004 | 05:06 PM
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It does, indeed, make perfect semce, and is exactly what i (unknowingly) was trying to find...now the next question could be...How does (or does) rim width affect the measure? Seems like there are implications from what i've read so far. Nonetheless, it seems as long as i get the right rims 236-60's will work, right??
Thanks for all the info...really great stuff. And, i must admit i am becoming addicted...look at the site before going to work, as soon as i get home, at various times during the night...have not yet gotten up in the midle of the night to check, but as the addiction takes hold...
Seriously, you guys are awesome, and i have easily been convinced it's worth the money, and must now become a paying member.
gotta change my login to bowtieboy
gary
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Old Sep 29, 2004 | 06:12 PM
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dogeared '67 conv., 390 hp/427 Never been trailered.

Very cool
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Old Sep 29, 2004 | 06:15 PM
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PS - Skids...Is your 3/8" measure with driver, driver and passenger, or empty cockpit?
Thanks again....
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