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.
I recently got a 69 and am going to get 17 inch wheels and tires. If I get a 17 x 8 torque thrust 2 wheel, what is the max 17 inch tire size I can run without rubbing? I see posts about later years but is seems like the 69 may be tighter because it doesn't have flares. Is that the case?
GW, I'm going to try to change your mind. From research when I was looking at wheels for my 69 I found that tire manufactures are loosing interest in the 17" sizes, due to the auto manufactures going to larger wheels. Purchasing wheels is a large expense that you only want to do once. I purchased 16's for my 6t8 some 20 odd years ago and I can not get tires for the rear wheels any more. Some of us here have discussed that will also happen to the 17's. I'm running 18x9 4.5 b/s on the front of my 69, stock suspension with 255/40 tires. The only modification needed to the rear suspension to run 9' with 4.5 b/s wheels is relocating the parking brake calbe mount. My spare is a standard Gr60x15 If you check Tire Racks web site they give all the specs for the tires, recommended rim width, diameters, etc, which I found very useful when choosing a tire size. A 26 to 27" diameter tire size is what just about all c3s are running, just match that to the recommended wheel width you decide on. There is a sticky above on wheel and tires, do your research and make an informed decision. T
I have 255/50/17 ZR's is the rear and 255/45/17 ZR's in the front on my very early 78 with zero rubbing using the SLP 17 ZR-1 style rims no longer made...My inner fenders were never modified or cut by GM for the OEM 255/60/15 rims/tires.
Personally I feel the 255/45/17 ZR tires are the best looking, handling, Steering responsiveness and comfort riding tire for the C3 with 17's. The key to the 17/18's is to reduce the bubble sidewall look and effect of the 15 in tires to achieve the noted advantages above. I have 255 /50/17 rears with 255/45/17's in front since with 3.70 gears and the 4 speed, I did not want to reduce the overall diameter of the tire, thus numerically increasing the rear gear ratio...it revs too high to begin with on the highway. Maybe someday if I go for a 5/6 speed OD tranny I could put the 255/45/17's all around.
03-02-2017, 01:56 AM
Max 17 inch tire size on a 69?
