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Old Mar 17, 2015 | 12:14 PM
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Default 1968 tire size

What is the largest tire that can be used on a stock bodied 68 with stock wheels and stock suspension?

Thanks,
Rex
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Old Mar 17, 2015 | 02:57 PM
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Default one piece of data, anyway.

Originally Posted by Dr L-88
What is the largest tire that can be used on a stock bodied 68 with stock wheels and stock suspension?

Thanks,
Rex

I do not know the answer to your question, but I can tell you I put 255 60 15's BFG on AG rims on my all stock 68 and everything clears ok. However, there is not any extra room anywhere either.

Hope this might help.
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Old Mar 17, 2015 | 04:57 PM
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Originally Posted by 20mercury
I do not know the answer to your question, but I can tell you I put 255 60 15's BFG on AG rims on my all stock 68 and everything clears ok. However, there is not any extra room anywhere either.

Hope this might help.
front - 255-45-18 - rear 285-40-18
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Old Mar 17, 2015 | 08:07 PM
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I should have clarified.............................I' m looking for 15 inch tires.

Thanks,
Rex
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Old Mar 18, 2015 | 07:27 PM
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Has anyone used a 255-70 x 15 tire on a 68 Corvette with stock 7 inch wheels, stock suspension and no flared fenders? Any issues?
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Old Mar 18, 2015 | 08:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Dr L-88
Has anyone used a 255-70 x 15 tire on a 68 Corvette with stock 7 inch wheels, stock suspension and no flared fenders? Any issues?
225-70-15 on 8" rims rubs a little with the wheels turned all the way...but not enough to scratch the sidewall against the frame.

You probably would have to be careful when making hard turns with 255's.

Just a rookie guess though.
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Old Mar 18, 2015 | 11:57 PM
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When I got my 68 it had 255/60-15s on 15x8s, never heard it rub but there were slight rub marks on the frame where it opened up behind the front wheels. I once put 245/60-15s Radial T/As on 15x7s(not on a corvette) and I dont think Id go any wider(looked funny) although you might get away with it in a 70 series tire.
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Old Mar 19, 2015 | 05:49 AM
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Originally Posted by dugsgms74
When I got my 68 it had 255/60-15s on 15x8s, never heard it rub but there were slight rub marks on the frame where it opened up behind the front wheels. I once put 245/60-15s Radial T/As on 15x7s(not on a corvette) and I dont think Id go any wider(looked funny) although you might get away with it in a 70 series tire.
70 series tires really fill the wheel well and leave about 1&1/2" clearance above the tire to fender lip.....old school look.
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Old Mar 19, 2015 | 01:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Dr L-88
...I should have clarified...
You were very clear and specifically stated stock wheels.

Originally Posted by roscobbc
...front - 255-45-18 - rear 285-40-18...
These sizes are not stock.
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Old Mar 19, 2015 | 01:56 PM
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The widest tire you can install on a '68 that will NOT rub ...guaranteed... is a 235R60-15 (assuming that you want an R60-15 tire). Some folks have installed 245's with no problem; others get rubs with that size.
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Old Mar 19, 2015 | 01:58 PM
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235 x 60 will safely fit, anything larger than that, and you may run into fitment issues. good luck

I just remembered these 16 not 15 Dia. . ....sorry for any confusion !

pic of 235 x 60 Tire front and back, the rear spring had not quite settled down yet in this pic.

Last edited by 69Vett; Mar 19, 2015 at 06:47 PM. Reason: add pic.
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Old Mar 19, 2015 | 06:59 PM
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Thanks everyone for your input. I am now considering the old 70 series tires............................specifi cally 255-70x15....... 29 inches tall and 10 inches wide, on a 15x7 American Racing Torque Thrust D,. with 3.75 inch back spacing. Anybody have experience with this particular size tire?
Thanks in advance for your help.

Rex
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Old Mar 20, 2015 | 06:20 AM
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Dr L-88,

I can only answer the question If you go too big, you end up with this:

Driver's side.


Pax side.


My project came with some old tires I never checked out as to their size, on a set of spare stock steel rims. I trashed the tires, powder coated the 8X15 wheels, and put 225 X 70R 15 Cooper Cobras on them. About as close to G70's as possible without breaking the bank.



Steve
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Old Mar 20, 2015 | 09:51 PM
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70 series tires in that width would be HUGE! You want the OD of the tire to be about the same as the OD of the stock tires. The 235R60-15 diameter is almost identical to the F70-15 tires (stock on '71's).
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Old Mar 20, 2015 | 11:32 PM
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Actually I was considering the 255s for the rear only in order to "fill up" the wheel well a little better, but after looking at the car, I think I'll just keep the repro Firestone race tires on it. They look pretty cool.

Thanks for everyone's input.

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Old Mar 22, 2015 | 01:44 AM
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I'll second that observation.
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Old Mar 22, 2015 | 08:29 AM
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Beautiful tribute car. Like your parts. That's the right size tire for the #3. Guess you have seen the larger rear size on the #2 DX. Think it must be the 29.9 almost 9" wide. Coker? How do they drive on the street?

Have looked for pictures of the #3 car when Fred Kepler raced it for Quaker State. You wouldn't possibly have one with the QS colors?

Sometime would like to order the AIR extension!

Last edited by racervette69; Mar 22, 2015 at 08:31 AM.
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Old Mar 22, 2015 | 09:16 AM
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Originally Posted by racervette69
Beautiful tribute car. Like your parts. That's the right size tire for the #3. Guess you have seen the larger rear size on the #2 DX. Think it must be the 29.9 almost 9" wide. Coker? How do they drive on the street?

Have looked for pictures of the #3 car when Fred Kepler raced it for Quaker State. You wouldn't possibly have one with the QS colors?

Sometime would like to order the AIR extension!
Thanks for the kind words. I was not aware that the #3 DX car went on to live another life as Fred's car. Here is a link that shows the QS paint scheme. It's in Pete Gimenez's book, Corvette Racing Legends.

https://books.google.com/books?id=el...rvette&f=false

http://www.c3registry.com/index.php?...te&car_id=6688

Last edited by Dr L-88; Mar 23, 2015 at 10:34 AM.
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Old Mar 22, 2015 | 06:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Dr L-88
Thanks for the kind words. I was not aware that the #3 DX car went on to life another life as Fred's car. Here is a link that shows the QS paint scheme. It's in Pete Gimenez's book, Corvette Racing Legends.

https://books.google.com/books?id=el...rvette&f=false

http://www.c3registry.com/index.php?...te&car_id=6688

Like the registry of corvette race cars. Own two that are listed in the registry.


http://registryofcorvetteracecars.com/

Last edited by racervette69; Mar 22, 2015 at 06:33 PM.
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