I know my tires are the wrong size. I bought the car with 255/60 15 on it. The front right tire hits inside wheel well on right hand turns. I am installing vbb front and rear suspension kit. I don`t want to jack up the front of the car to clear wheel well. I like the width of the tire would dropping one size to 245/60 fix this problem?

 

Stock size in 76 was a GR70 X 15. When I got my 76, it has P225/70 R15s which was the standard size in 78. P255/60 R15 was an option in 78 too but they made a modification/cut in the wheelwell to accomodate the bigger tire. I am not exactly sure where that cut was made but I guess you know by the RUB!!!

 

I had 245/60/15's on my 73 on late 70's factory aluminum wheels and it did not rub. I know guys who have 255/60/15's that do not rub. There seems to be variations between individual cars.

 

That's true 245's looked like they hit on my 75 I went smaller didn't want to take a chance

 

GM didn't make the proper changes to tooling to allow 60 series tires until the '78 model year. Prior to that, only 70 series tires were authorized.

Since many have no problems running 60 series tires on the earlier cars and just as many seem to have clearance problems, my own theory is it depends on the vendor that supplied the body parts. Chevy did have different vendors for fiberglass panels over time and it could well be different manufacturing tolerances between them.

 

My 255's will hit if I turn the wheel as far as possible ('69). It's totally worth it.

 

C3 tire fitmet is really on a car to car basis. I'm running 255/60R15's all the way around without any rubbing issues. Others do. A 245/60R15 will be a little narrower and a little shorter and should fit fine if the 255's are just barely rubbing. The 225/70R15 is too narrow for my tastes, but it is the direct radial replacement for the GR70-15 and should fit with no issues. If you can find a shop that will let you test fit a 245, I'd say go for it.

 

My 255-60-15 BFG Radials don't rub on my 76. Could a poor alignment be the problem? As in, one tie rod is turned in more than the other side casuing over all alignment to be ok but turn travel is more on one side than the other? Also, not all tire mfg's dimensions are the same. What brand tire are you using?

Jay

 

Good observation. If your steering is not 'centered' [turns the same amount either way from dead-straight steering wheel position], you can create the problem you are having. See where your steering wheel is located when going straight; then see how many turns {from center} to full lock both ways. If the number of turns (including partial turns) is not the same, a proper alignment may fix your problem.

 

I had 225s on the front of my 76 and 255s in back . I liked the look.Tried the 255s in front and they rubbed. Went with 225s all the way around so I could rotate them.

 

BFG's They rubbed proir to my new suspension it hasn't been aligned yet just got my trailing arms back today.

 

Lots of C-3's show a rub on the frame to the rear of the tire on one side. If your tires rub on the edge of the fender your front springs may be weak.

 

Hi,

I have a 76 vette I got about 10 years ago. I had nice overstock tires on the original wheels, that were put on by the previous owner and I made a crucial error. When I bought new tires, I was was a little short on money so I just put a set of stock tires on the car, intending to by a nice set later in the size that was on it when I bought it, when I had the money later.

Well, when later came I had lost the sizes of those tires.

Now I am about to buy a nice set of rubber for the car and I'm researching size options, because finding a shop that will "test fit" until I get what I want is a fantasy around here.

So, I found this forum and thread. You are the only person that mentioned going with a fatter tire on the back and a narrower one up front, which is the look I had and the look I want back.

So, I'm going to give your sizing a whirl and use that as a place to start.

I have a brand new stock suspension already installed on the car and she sets straight and even a little high because all the parts need broken in yet. Kind of sits like an old bootlegger car for the moment like I thought I'd be driving through high grass.

So, just for the record you are saying 255 60 15's on the back and 225 60 15's on the front correct? And that the 255's were too big for the front but the 225's had plenty of room to turn?

And I don't suppose there is a chance you might have a picture of your car when you had it that way?

If I saw the setup I'd know at a glance if it was what I had on it before.

And just for the record I will be replacing my stock wheels with 7" wide American Classics when I get my rubber.

Thanks for reading this.

 

I have 255-60-15 rear and 245-60-15 front on my '76. No rubbing issues in front.

 

check the steering stops lower control arm where the knuckle contacts could be worn. mine were. 255s that rubbed

 

When I got mine back in 76 it had 245/60/15 on all 4 15x8 stock ralley rims. No rub.